Helen Neale

Helen works for the Community Living Project (CLP) in SA as the Project Lead of ‘Discover Micro Enterprise: Exploring Possibilities’, a four-year ILC grant project. She is passionate about increasing people’s expectations about the capacity of people with disability to work and contribute via meaningful careers.

Helen is inspired by her son Tom who has had his own Micro Enterprise for seven years. Tom holds many valued roles, such as business owner, homeowner, godfather and skydiver!

Safeguarding a Micro Enterprise for the future

A Micro Enterprise is a small business that offers a service or product based on a person’s interests, gifts, talents, and available resources. It is a form of Customised Employment. It starts with the person; then, a job role is crafted, not the other way around.

A Micro Enterprise provides the owner with many benefits, including the opportunity to learn new skills, establish a valued presence in the community, meet people, and, of course, generate income and perhaps even profit.

As with all small businesses, establishing and operating a Micro Enterprise requires some effort. It’s definitely not a set-and-forget model! So how can families and allies safeguard a person’s Micro Enterprise for the future?

In this presentation, Helen Neale gave valuable insights, strategies, and tips on how to maintain and secure a Micro Enterprise by leveraging both paid and unpaid support. The session provided many practical ideas on who to engage, how to involve them, shared roles and responsibilities, and how to set up monitoring systems.

Learn about the other conference speakers and their presentations

Pre-conference webinars

• Webinar 1 – Decision-making in everyday life – Janet Klees
• Webinar 2 – Medical safeguarding – Jo Massarelli and Cathy Ludlum
• Webinar 3 – Now is the time for vision – Darcy Elks

Main conference

• Never too late to get a life – Cathy McMahon and Josey McMahon
• The secrets of fabulous skin self-direction – Margaret Ward
• What happens when I cark it? – Linda Hughes
• Planning ahead: Safeguarding decision-making – Helen Connolly
• The importance of trust and relationship in supported decision-making – Kim Roots
• Dream big! – Laura Esplin and Bernadette Esplin
• Building bridges to neighbourhood – Sarah Faulkner
• Safeguarding a Micro Enterprise for the future – Helen Neale
• Finding and safeguarding a job – Jan Kruger
• What’s the plan? Estate planning consideration for parents and carers – Stacey Bell
• Passing on the “How”: A sibling’s journey – Rebecca Altaffer
• It’s a long game: Planning for a great future for Valen in a constantly changing world – Ann Greer, Valen Litster, and Sally Aubrey
• How to set your Executor up for success – Stacey Bell
• Safeguarding the future: A sibling’s perspective – Libby Ellis
• Dispelling myths about the Disability Support Pension, Rent Assistance, and employment income – Paul Kruger
• Your money, your future – Carolina Albornoz
• Helping relationships flourish – Tim Bavinton
• Who is the person behind the behaviour, and what do they need? – Kane Morgan
• Safeguarding Isaac’s good life through a Service for One – Sheree Henley
• Emma Davidson MLA
• Planning future finances – Chris Oates
• Crafting and safeguarding a meaningful week for Cameron – Karen Caldwell, Cameron Zellner, and Markus Zellner