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As a speech pathologist specialising in early intervention, Jasmin Beks knows how important it is for everyone to have a way to communicate.
And when she saw that the Warrnambool City Council had grants available for community-led projects, she saw an opportunity to help people beyond her own clients.
Jasmin successfully applied for funding to install a communication board at the main Lake Pertobe playground via the Cheers to Ideas program.
The board features pictures, symbols and words that people can point to in order to express themselves, helping people who have difficulty communicating through speech.
“Communication symbols are a really popular form of communication for a lot of people,” she said.
“They are used on paper-based boards, in apps, so this is another way that the boards can be used in public spaces.”
She said that as well as helping people with additional communication needs, she hoped the new board would start conversations about the different ways people communicate.
“When we think about accessible spaces and supporting those with additional needs, we often think that we need to sort out physical spaces, which we absolutely do, but communication challenges can be harder to see,” she said.
“By having this board here... we are able to create conversations around what communication access looks like, what different kinds of communication look like and we create a space where everyone feels included.”
Cheers to Ideas provides funding of up to $2,500 to support clever ideas to improve public spaces.
Finalists are shortlisted, with a public vote helping to determine the winning project.
Jasmin said she had never undertaken a project like this before, and the support she received from Council staff had been a big help.
“Everyone at the Council was so helpful,” she said.
“Being a first time mum, and this happened around a similar time to me having my baby, it was great to have the support from everyone at the Council and it was a great project for me to keep my brain ticking over.”
With the next round of funding now open, Jasmin encouraged anyone with an idea to make a submission.
“It doesn’t hurt to put it out, let it grow, and go from there,” she said.
And while this is the first public communication board in Warrnambool, she hopes it won’t be the last.
“Let’s talk about communication, make it accessible for everyone and hopefully we’ll see some more boards pop up,” she said.
Visit www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au and search Cheers to Ideas to find out more and to submit your idea. Applications for the next round close on Sunday November 8.