Testimonials
Little Souls Taking Big Steps Child Care and Early Intervention Centre for Children with Autism has been very fortunate to receive wonderful support from the Dream Workers. Not only do they provide support in financial terms through their fundraising, but they also offer great moral support because of their genuine interest in what our centre is achieving and the children who are in our care. We have been lucky to have several visits from Deb Smith and other members of Dream Workers to our centre, and it is always gratifying to witness their obvious commitment to understanding and helping others. I recently attended a fundraising golf breakfast put on by Dream Workers to raise money for Little Souls, and it was a great morning enjoyed by all, that also raised a substantial amount of money to help us provide early intervention to children with autism. On behalf of all the families and staff at Little Souls Taking Big Steps, I would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Dream Workers for their role in helping our children with autism to reach their full potential.
Robyn Hawkins, Director
Little Souls
www.littlesouls.com.au
It is with pleasure that I provide this testimonial to Dream Workers. I first became involved with the team at Dream Workers whilst with the Abused Child Trust (now called ACT for Kids). I was approached by the team as they were interested in evaluating what level of support they might be able to provide the Abused Child Trust.
As an organization that relies heavily upon fundraising and the support of both corporate and individuals within the community, their offer of assistance was greatly appreciated.
Dream Workers worked tirelessly on putting together a Cocktail Party called “Art of Giving” at Art Gallery Collections in Surfers Paradise. It was a very successful evening with over $30,000 being raised to help with the provision of services to assist abused and neglected children in the Gold Coast community.
I found the team at Dream Workers to be professional, dedicated, resourceful and their commitment to helping others was over whelming. This group are all volunteers and work so hard in order to help make a difference for those less fortunate within our community.
It was a pleasure to work with the team, and I’m confident that if you have an opportunity to support them in some way, you will experience the same.
Kind Regards,
Janet Davis, State Manager
SIDS and Kids Queensland
Tel: (07) 3849 7122
Mob: 0417 077 477
You folks really live up to your name, and your support to Hopewell Hospice at this time has been like having a dream come true.
We started Hopewell to provide a home style environment for people unable to be in their own home for their final days in this life. Here they receive residential palliative care, which includes full nursing care, as well as counselling and spiritual support for them and their loved ones.
We limited the size of the Hospice to eight bedrooms to maintain the sense of being part of a small homely community, although this also makes it essential to supplement our income with fundraising activities. For us, with our limited resources, the ideal fundraising activity is one where an organization decides to support us and then organizes an event. This is what the Dream Workers have done, and have done it extremely well, by holding the Race Day and donating $11,000 to Hopewell Hospice.
For this we thank you as do those for whom we care.
Rev.Dr Ian Mavor, OAM
Executive Director
Hopewell Hospice Services Inc.
88 Allied Dve., Arundel
Tel: 07 5563 2930
www.hopewell.org.au
Dream Workers are really Dreamweavers - they are a groovy bunch of Gold Coast community people who have taken a stand and said "Yes, it is possible to help individuals and organisations to achieve their visions."
Through fund raising and personal / professional support they have rallied behind us by acknowledging that our vision - the vision of the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre is one of a violence free Australia - and through courage hope and resilience we will collectively achieve this.
Donna Justo
Director
Domestic Violence Prevention Centre
I have been one of many fortunate people to be on the receiving end of help from Dream Workers both emotionally and financially in my time of crisis when my 19 year old daughter, Jessica was struck down with Meningiococcal Meningitis in September 2008 leaving her unable to talk, eat or move.
I made a phone call to Deb Smith, the director of Dream Workers and we met and discussed my needs that day. Jessica was destined for an aged care nursing home, a place I did not want to contemplate for my young daughter. I wanted to bring her home, care and rehabilitate her to give her a quality of life and hope for her future.
Dream Workers went to work and printed beautiful glossy fliers outlining Jessica's situation and asking for help with items needed for rehabiliation and a home to bring her to after leaving the hospital.
Dream Workers rallied around us and modified my home with a large bathroom fitted out for a disabled person, larger bedroom for Jess, therapy room with a patio adjoining, new kitchen, carpets, fresh coat of paint both inside and out, concrete driveway, wardrobes transformed with shelving, baskets etc, furniture, lounges, tables, chairs,crockery, linen and decorative items. By the time Dream Workers had finished my house looked like a display home and very liveable for Jess and I for the many hours spent at home with carers helping Jess to be rehabiliated.
All this was achieved by contacting builders, tradespeople, suppliers of goods to donate time and items for the transition home from hospital for Jessica.
I was astounded by the generosity of business and people alike of the Gold Coast Community.
Fundraiser's were held and money raised for specialized equipment for Jessica like a Tilt Table (to enable Jess to stand upright), exercise equipment, a special air circulating mattress and bed etc.
One such fundraiser was held by "Southport Carrara Netball Carnival" on 1/11/2009 with Dream Workers once again gathering donations of items from over 22 local business and raising $11,500.00.The club had never had a reaction to a fundraising event like this before. Young children, teenage's and adults came together to help Jessica raise funds to buy a computer in a fun day by playing netball. This was a great community day that showed the Gold Coast youth how pulling together as a community can help a friend in need and how they could make a difference.
The Dream Workers team work largely unacknowledged and have enriched the lives of those around them in the community. Several Dream Workers have given their time and expertise for free with regards to physiotherapy for Jessica and home organisation services to help me through the paperwork nightmare.
I am so thankful I found this wonderful group of people called Dream Workers on the internet one night whilst on the computer searching for help!
A special group of 8 people and growing,devoting their time and money to help my beautiful daughter Jessica reach for the stars!
The name 'Dream Workers" is very fitting for these wonderful people whom have become friends now and always. I will be eternally greatful for the support and my biggest dream would be for Jessica to be able to hug each and every Dream Worker and say thank you!
Warmest regards
Karen Dunne ( Jessica's mother and carer)
DREAM WORKERS as the name suggests is a wonderful group of individuals working together to make dreams come true and make life easier for many Gold Coast families.
I phoned the founder of Dream Workers, Deb Smith about 6 months ago to ask if they could help our family with our beautiful daughter, Nicole.
Nicole had a routine operation for Crohns Disease and suffered a post operative complication that resulted in her having a stroke and multiple seizures which has left her with an Acquired Brain Injury. Nicole was hospitalised for 8 months and we then finally got to bring her home at the end of January 2010.
As many of you know, caring for a loved one at home is a 24/7 job, it is also very costly, not just financially but also emotionally. Dream Workers came to our rescue organising so many events, flyers were sent out and fundraisers were organised to help out.
Deb Smith and her band of wonderful helpers worked tirelessly week after week with only their reward, knowing they make such a difference in our lives. Deb is such a selfless person always looking for ways to help everyone. She is such a wonderful, kind and caring person who deserves to be rewarded for her work. She volunteers her time to this organisation and not only provides practical assistance but also emotional support which is invaluable.
I can’t speak highly enough about Dream Workers, we as the Gold Coast Community are so lucky to have such a wonderful organisation to be there for us. Without them, we as a family, and the community in general would struggle to fight the challenges that we currently face.
Our family is eternally grateful to Dream Workers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Jen, Steve Tierney and family.
Words can’t begin to describe how I felt as a mother needing to make awareness of my sons disability. The fact of knowing we weren't alone and the feeling that there was a dedicated team to make a difference in Jack's life, along with making life easier for our family in general.
I had sent an email out through family where a colleague of a family member had told me about the Dream Workers organisation. I sent an email to Deb and soon after I had a reply for a lunch date to go over the needs of Jack's disability and how Dream Workers could make life become easier to deal with his condition.
Jack was diagnosed in November 2009 with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2. Our family and extended families world had spun for a little before realising this was to be our reality.
As an organisation that totally depends upon the fundraising and support from individuals and corporate bodies throughout the Community, Dream Workers care and assistance is highly appreciated. I personally would like to thank Dream Workers for caring and making an effort to "Make that difference" to help those less fortunate and their families to make life easier.
We ourselves as a family realised we couldn't do it alone and are so very thankful for the help of Dream Workers and the community for making that special difference in Jack's quality of life.
Joey and myself could never accomplish the life quality that Jack deserves 'alone'.
To ALL the DREAM WORKERS who really care to make life a quality for the less fortunate, you are all blessed with a special 'Star Spark'. You are totally giving and making that difference to many individual families and special organisations on the Gold Coast, well done!
Regards,
Cassy Lenehan
Youngcare is very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Dream Workers. The organisation is run by volunteers whose generosity and commitment is larger than life.
Dream Workers provide genuine support on a grassroots level, connecting with people in real need in the Gold Coast and wider community. They have a strong belief in the power of collaboration – a belief that Youngcare shares and which guides our work on a daily basis.
Both Youngcare and Dream Workers have worked closely with the Dunne and Tierney families – two Gold Coast families who know too well the challenges faced when caring for a loved one with high care needs.
In March 2011, Dream Workers organised and hosted ‘A Day at the Races’ – a fundraising event in support of Youngcare and young people around Australia needing 24/7 care. The event raised over $11,000, which will help us to continue our work to provide real choices in care and accommodation options. As well as being a thoroughly enjoyable and spirited day, the event was a great opportunity for Youngcare to connect with the Gold Coast community and raise awareness of the issue we work to address.
Our work would not be possible if it wasn’t for the support of organisations like Dream Workers. We cannot thank them enough for all the time, effort, and generosity they have given. Thanks to the support of Dream Workers, we are one step closer to providing young Australians with the young lives they deserve, regardless of their care needs.
Youngcare
www.youngcare.com.au
