From loss comes action and that is where Magenta Community Services has found its purpose.
Founder and Director, Jonny Iuso, says she put her money where her mouth is, investing in what she knows, what she has experienced and making it easier for other parents and carers navigating the overwhelming world when advocating for a person with disability.
Jonny is Magenta Community Services, and her heart is in every client, staff member, program and its legacy is for her daughter, Emily.
Emily was born significantly disabled with a chromosome abnormality and left this world all too soon weeks before her fourth birthday, but her story lives on as Magenta Community Services, delivering NDIS and aged care services across the region.
“We thought we could do it better than other people and give people a better bang for your buck.” said Iuso.
Jonny worked in the disability sector, she knew how things should work, and then she became a mum to a child with a disability.
“We had people coming into my home, we had doctors, we had therapists, all judging our beautiful little girl who we loved to death, but she wasn’t doing things that she should be doing,”
“To them, she wasn’t meeting the mark. To us, she met the mark every day.”
“What I learned was when you’re a family with a person with disability or you have an elderly person, you’re like a goldfish in a bowl.”
“They come into your personal space, and they judge, and no one can walk in your shoes.”
And that is where Magenta makes their point of difference.
“Our difference has always been connecting with people, presenting staff that participants and their families connect with. We don’t try and know; we listen and do what we can.”
“By having set times people know exactly what they’re going to get. And our key value is keeping the people at the heart of all we do.”
Primarily delivering NDIS and ages care services, Magenta started out with just one person dedicated to making a difference and now boasts a thriving business, while still carrying their core message, values and beliefs.
“We now have over 300 staff, and we provide support up to 600 people a year.”
Starting out in Lismore in 2013 and then making waves in Toowoomba and Gladstone, Magenta has been growing their brand across the New England for five years, enjoying the good ol’ backbone country feel.
“Every region is very, very different, and something we do is to get to know our communities, we’re a part of,” said Jonny.
“We adapt things to meet the community need. I’ve lived in Tamworth, I actually got married in Tamworth, and I know the people here have good roots and deserve great care.”
Magenta Community Services delivers NDIS Support Services; Plan Management services: and Supports Coordination. My Aged Care Home Care packages ranging from Personal Care to Social support /domestic.
“Juggling the NDIS and the different service sectors is not always very easy.” said Jonny.
“On the ground, we’ve got an amazing team of support workers who can do daily activities, community access, drop -in support, welfare checks, and helping with holidays away.”
Get to know your Magenta team
Look to your neighbours, your friends and your family. These are the people who work for Magenta.
“They’re all a bit quirky, they’ve all got their individualities which we all do and they’re all locally based. They’ve been born and bred or moved into the New England area for a long period of time.” said Jonny.
“They’re very committed to the people, they’re aligned with our values and that’s keeping the heart- being professionals with heart, thinking outside the square and being part of our community.”
“They walk the walk and they’re the reason people want to be with us and have a service with Magenta.”
You can meet the local Magenta team at the Links for Life Disability Expo on Thursday 19th September at the Tamworth Sports Dome.
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