‘We’re loud, we’re proud’: This team’s in the business of adventure
It was a tumultuous start for Heidi and Rob Mercer’s business: their plans to provide group adventures for people with disabilities was rocked by COVID-19. “We wanted to create a social inclusion business six weeks before we weren’t allowed to socially include,” Ms Mercer said after being shortlisted for two categories in the Be.Bendigo Business Excellence Awards, which will be held at a gala night on August 15.
But they made the most of their time, organising one-to-one sessions with clients, creating an adventure shed, making sure their paperwork was in order, and even making buggies for pets. And when the country opened up, Adventurebilities was “prepared and ready to go”.
“We haven’t looked back,” Ms Mercer said.
With Rob and Heidi Mercer at the helm, heading operations and communications respectively, the business has grown into a successful support provider with around 150 clients, filling a unique niche providing ‘adventures’ for disabled people across the region.
Ms Mercer said being selected for two business excellence awards – the Small and Succeeding Award and the Customer Focussed Award – was well-appreciated recognition for their staff’s hard work. “I think that we offer something really unique,” Ms Mercer said. “We’re pretty much the only [service providers] up here that solely focus on groups and friendships and getting people together.
“We’re fun, we’re loud, we’re proud and we want everyone to look at us and see what we’re doing.”
According to Ms Mercer, moving to Bendigo prompted the pair to combine their skills and they “handpicked the best in Bendigo” to work for them. Since then the company has “exploded” in popularity. “We get people calling us every day, wanting to join us or even come and work with us.” she said.
‘Our passion is friendships’
Adventurebilities is a disability support provider offering experiences and weekly programs for disabled teenagers and adults.
Sessions can include live music concerts, theatre shows and gaming conventions, or even camps that foster independent living skills.
Ms Mercer said people with disabilities can struggle to make friends due to anxiety or a lack of communication skills, but with the help of service providers can gain the confidence to go out by themselves.
“Our passion is friendships,” she said. “We really try and bring people together and just teach them how to communicate, how to be friends, and to do it doing something that they all love.”
Despite their popularity, the nine-person business will remain a “boutique agency”, said Ms Mercer. “We don’t plan to go big. We’ll let the big guys do their big guy thing.”
By Brodie Everist @ The Bendigo Advertiser
August 14 2024