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Gig Buddies Welcomes Gigi the Car

Published on: September 2024

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-145823

Gig Buddies Welcomes Gigi the Car

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore)

—Speaker, I welcome Gigi the Fiat 500 to the North Shore. Gigi is an assistance vehicle for the Gig Buddies organisation, an initiative of the not-for-profit ACL Disability Services. In 2022 I was excited to provide Gig Buddies with the funding to purchase an assistance vehicle. Now, Gigi is out on the road making a statement, flaunting bold artwork symbolising the work Gig Buddies does. I met Gigi for the first time down at Neutral Bay Wharf last month and she looked stunning. Gig Buddies partners volunteers with an adult who experiences mild to moderate autism and/or has a learning disability who wants to make new friends. The buddy system pairs volunteers and participants who have similar hobbies and interests. Once paired, the buddies meet up once a month for a year. Some pairs choose to meet up more often or keep meeting up after the year is done. Gig Buddies is such a positive force, and I have enjoyed watching them flourish over the years. I thank Carol Smail, CEO of Gig Buddies Sydney, for facilitating my meeting with Gigi, and for all the amazing work you do for our community.