Yooralla clients’ photography exhibition

A photography collection produced by a group of Yooralla clients was recently exhibited at the Melbourne City Library.

Eight clients from Yooralla’s Learning Hub, all of whom are people with disability aged between 18 and 35, spent weeks putting the collection together as part of the Hub’s photography program.

Elaine Krassas, Yooralla’s Executive Director of Community Services, said the students worked extremely hard on the project as a team.

“This was evident when the collection was completed. It looked impressive and we thought it deserved to be exhibited to the public,” she said.

Yooralla staff decided to try to find a venue where the work could be displayed, and this is how the partnership with the Melbourne City Library was formed.

“The exhibition was the first example of Yooralla’s engagement with the Melbourne City Library, but not the last. They have expressed an interest in working on more creative projects with our students,” said Elaine.

The exhibition involved projecting the photos onto a large screen inside the Melbourne City Library for all visitors to see.

As part of the program the customers have been going out and about in Melbourne, learning how to take photos with an instructor who is an experienced professional photographer.

Elaine said the program has been more than learning how to take great shots.

“It has increased the group’s ability to manage their anxiety in busy situations, to think creatively, and work together as a team,” she said.

Yooralla’s Learning Hub is one of Yooralla’s many Community Hubs. It offers a variety of programs for people with disability including: gardening, literacy and numeracy, health and wellbeing, communications and life skills, art appreciation, photography and video, as well as a book club.