Melbourne – Milan Youth Exchange

Melbourne – Milan Youth Exchange

17th February 2010

A group of young adults, accompanied by an Italian politician, will visit Melbourne as part of a new Melbourne-Milan Youth Exchange Program for people with disabilities in late February 2010.

Interchange Outer East www.ioe.org.au has developed a relationship with the Italian disability agency Atlha Onlus www.atlhaonlus.eu and will co-host them for their first visit to Australia through the new program.

The purpose of the partnership is to provide cultural exchange and tourist opportunities to the young people and to provide the agencies involved with opportunities for the exchange of best practices involving disability services and related issues.

Interchange Outer East will show their international guests some of the tourist attractions in and around Melbourne such as Lygon Street, Melbourne Zoo, Phillip Island, Healesville Sanctuary and an AFL game.

Belinda James, Interchange Outer East General Manager, said, “We are really excited to be involved in the exchange program with our sister city Milan and are looking forward to meeting everyone and developing the partnership further.”

To complete the first exchange the aim is to send some young adults from Interchange Outer East over to Milan later in the year, “We’d love to provide the opportunity for young adults at Interchange to experience travelling and what Milan has to offer, we already have a number of young people interested in the participating,” said Ms James.

Nick Wakeling, State Member for Ferntree Gully, said, 'It's really important that all people have access to a range of opportunities, including young people with disabilities. Programs and partnerships like the one between Interchange Outer East and Atlha Onlus help provide these opportunities.'

The City of Melbourne, Italian Chambers of Commerce an Industry in Melbourne, Bayley House and the Aussie Hands Foundation are also involved in the initiative.

An official welcome for Atlha Onlus will be hosted by the City of Melbourne and the Aussie Hands Foundation on Sunday 28th February from 2pm-3pm at Yarra Room, Level 2 Melbourne Town Hall 90-120 Swanston Street, Melbourne.

Interchange Outer East is a non profit, community based organisation that aims to assist people to achieve the life they want and provides support and services to families who have a child or young adult with a disability. For more information about Interchange Outer East please check out www.ioe.org.au or call (03) 9758 5522.

by Rebecca Gallaher