Driven by an acute understanding of the challenges of raising a child with a disability, One&All Hub founder and director Romy Wolman has been involved in a number of organisations advocating for positive change in the disability sector, including Epilepsy Action, Family Advocacy, and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

In 2019, Romy founded The Single Sock Solution, a social responsibility initiative that partners with charities and corporates in social impact by facilitating inclusive weaving workshops for people of all ages, abilities and cultures.

The success of this initiative in turn led Romy to found One&All in 2021.

In 2022, Romy was selected as a participant in the LaunchPad Leadership program, an initiative that empowers leaders of for-purpose organisations with the skills and resources to lead their organisations through change.

Here, she shares her story with Developing Australian Communities in this Q&A.

1. One&All Hub – the name is intriguing. Tell us a bit about the organisation’s history and the people behind it. How has it grown? What is your mission and vision?

The magnificent souls for whom this centre has been created – too often shut out, shunned, ignored , overlooked – It is for each and every one of you that we raise the bar in services being offered.

In the space and environment it occurs in and with the right energy, love, commitment and feeling that is required to ignite spirits, improve self-esteem and social engagement, and impact lives positively. This, my dear friends, is One&All.

The One&All Hub is a place where you can be inspired and feel safe, fulfilled, and respected. As the first 18+, all abilities-focused arts concept of its kind in Sydney, we provide innovation in disability and mental health engagement through our vibrant community of artists. We deliver this by providing high quality workshops that empower you to create, socialise, up-skill and experience life wholeheartedly.

We bring together individuals, families, carers, creatives, and artists who are passionate about creating lasting change for people with disabilities and mental health challenges, by facilitating elevation of the body, mind, and soul.

Our mission is to help and to heal. The vision – to raise the bar in disability services. Our centre is based around authentic inclusion, building a loving and respectful community who feels supported and engaged in meaningful workshops

2. What services do you offer and where are you located? What’s your organisation’s strengths?

A first of its kind, One&All is a creative hub for people with mild to moderate disabilities and mental health challenges. We offer unique workshops and daily activities at our 400sqm loft type space in a heritage building in Rosebery Sydney.

These include body, mind and soul – person centred and holistic opportunities for our participants. They engage in art, dance, singing, movement, socialising, events, dating, festivals, boxing, self defence and ceramics.

We also offer a social enterprise program, urban vegetable garden and an innovative high end offering to all our participants.

Servicing almost 40 new participants in the first six months of being open the One&All Hub is:

• Changing the face of disability
• Providing genuine connections and community participation
• Offering creative engagement in a unique environment
• A place where people are proud to go and proud to send their loved ones
• A place where everyone can participate and where everyone belongs
• A place to meet, a place to catch up, a place to learn, a place to be inspired, a place to just BE…

3. What is your background in the disability sector? Tell us a little about yourself in 100 words.

My daughter has cerebral palsy. Born with no heartbeat, Milla was resuscitated back to life after 10 minutes. The prognosis was devastating – a child who was never meant to be able to walk or talk.

Since her birth, my daily mission and duty has been to discover ways I can alleviate some of the challenges of living with a disability in a frenetic and disconnected world, and how to foster a framework for real inclusion in our community.

4. Where do you see One&All Hub in the industry in, say, five years from now?

We hope to see many One&All centres offering high end services to community. Every council needs One&All community centres where vulnerable people can go, feel supported, engaged, respected and be in a loving and fun, social environment.

5. If you could wave a magic wand, what changes would you like to see within the sector, moving forward?

Raising the bar in service delivery and offering places and activities that up skill and are meaningful and fulfilling each person’s unique strengths curated programs for each participant considering the whole family and whole person-centred approach.

Body, mind and soul holistic healing and helping.

6. Do you find support staff difficult to source? Could more be done to recruit or perhaps better train new support workers in the industry? Share your thoughts and experience on the subject with us.

Yes, it is always difficult to find the right staff with the right heart and who stay and are committed to the cause. We also aim to use disability support workers who are experienced and we offer transport for participants.

To find out more about One&All Hub, look for them at the Sydney Disability Connection Expo 2022, or visit their website https://www.oneandallhub.org/ for more information on their services.