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Support Programs

We support both families with children and young people who have a disability. We believe friendship and support are important cornerstones of a meaningful and fulfilling life. Our programs focus on building meaningful companionship and social experiences in the community through sport, arts, recreation and general participation in all life's experiences.

Volunteer Match Program

Our Individual volunteers provide genuine friendship, practical assistance and mentoring support to a child or young person, helping them develop important life skills.


Volunteer Match Program


Our Individual volunteers provide genuine friendship, practical assistance and mentoring support to a child or young person, helping them develop important life skills. They also help them take part in social activities such as a variety of sport, recreation and leisure events that are of interest to the child. Some volunteer matches also provide direct support for the family.


Extended Families

Our volunteer match program assists participants with developing: 

  • Social and community participation; 
  • Independence; 
  • Health and Wellbeing; and 
  • Service Coordination


How it works: 

  • Each of our volunteers undergo an assessment process that determines their suitability as well as screening checks including police checks and referee checks, before they are selected. They then undergo comprehensive training. 
  • The length of time for the matching process can vary. Finding a volunteer to provide the right support for a family can take time. Our family match coordinators are trained to find the perfect volunteer to match your needs and goals
  • Once a match is made there is a Ǯgetting to know youǯ period which allows everyone a chance to see how well the match fits. In some cases, we see instant connections but others take a little time to develop like any friendship. 
  • We regularly undertake reviews with our volunteers and families to ensure the program/service is meeting your needs and adjust the support where necessary. At each review we also update key match information e.g. behavioural management, health & medication requirements. 

NDIS Category: 3.09 Increased social and community participation

LinC Program

Whether you need skills training to enable participation, support to overcome barriers to access mainstream services or assistance to access the community,
LinC can provide it all.

LinC: Linking + Including + Connecting


Whether you need skills training to enable participation, support to overcome barriers to access mainstream services or assistance to access the community, LinC can provide it all.


Extended Families

Skills Development

Our Experienced staff provide individual life and social skills training for children and young people with a disability, to enable them to participate more fully in the community and improve their relationships with others.

Service Capacity Building: We support mainstream services which enable the inclusion and participation of children and young people with disability. We support participants to overcome barriers in attending main stream services. 

Inclusion Support: Inclusion support workers provide support to enable a child or young person with a disability to independently engage in community, social and recreational activities. They support the achievement of specified social, personal and developmental needs and goals. This program can also incorporate a volunteer to support the child or young person alongside the worker to further the experience and build meaningful connections. 

NDIS Category: 3.11 Improved relationships 3.09 Increased social and community participation

Recreation Program

We offer a variety of activities for school aged children and young adults. These take place on weekends, after school and during school holidays including one-off events, skills series, day outings, friendship groups, camps and peer support. Activity costs may apply to some events

Explorer Days


Outings for children with a disability to explore new places and activities in the community, spend time together to develop friendships, experience new things and gain new skills. Outings are supported by a mix of paid workers and volunteers.


Extended Families

AVAILABLE FOR:

All eligible children and young people, including NDIS participants

NDIS CATEGORY:

1.04 Assistance with social and community participation
3.09 Increased social and community participation


ExtendABLE


A one-off activity or program series that provides an opportunity for school aged children and young adults to try a variety of recreation activities in a group setting with support from staff, volunteers and facilitators. Activities cover a range of recreational interests including art, dance and sport. They aim to be a fun activity that also provides opportunity to develop friendship, social skills, communication and more.


Extended Families

AVAILABLE FOR:

All eligible children and young people, including NDIS participants

NDIS CATEGORY:

1.04 Assistance with social and community participation
3.09 Increased social and community participation


Friendship Group (Vietnamese)


Small to medium sized groups of children or young people with disabilities meet regularly, in a community venue and/or to access the community.


Extended Families

The group is supported by staff and volunteers. The groups build peer connections, help participants learn and strengthen social skills, build confidence and encourages participation in community activities and
events. Parents and siblings may attend some groups. Some groups are culturally specific and led by multi-lingual staff.

AVAILABLE FOR:

All eligible children and young people, including NDIS participants

NDIS CATEGORY:

1.04 Assistance with social and community participation


Family Camps


A weekend away for families held at a camp facility to enable positive connections, mutual support and fun experiences - a family holiday in a supported way. 


Extended Families

Possible (optional) additional support for part of the time to enable respite and opportunity for parent activities and interaction.

AVAILABLE FOR:

All eligible children and young people, including NDIS participants

NDIS CATEGORY:

3.09 Increased social and community participation


Overnight camps


Weekend or school holiday camps - facilitated opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to spend time at a camp location to develop connections, friendships, life-skills and confidence.


Extended Families

AVAILABLE FOR:

All eligible children and young people, including NDIS participants

NDIS CATEGORY:

3.09 Increased social and community participation

Parent Peer Program

Regular get-together programs for parents of children with a disability to share experiences, develop connections and receive support, information and education relevant to their care role.

MyTime


We currently offer My Time peer support groups in Springvale and Deer Park and a play group program for pre-school children with autism which supports developmental play experiences. These groups are facilitated by a Vietnamese speaking worker.



Extended Families

Other groups, including culturally specific groups, will be developed based on request or identified need. 

Parent education is provided as a one off session or a short series.

AVAILABLE FOR:

All eligible children and young people, including NDIS participants

NDIS CATEGORY:

3.09 Increased social and community participation

3.15 Improved daily living skills



Autism Play Group


Support program intro text before image


Extended Families

Parent and Peer program content

InVOLve Program

Support for young adults with a disability to have meaningful volunteering opportunities.  


InVOLve (Volunteering for people with a disability)


Support for young adults with a disability to have meaningful volunteering opportunities.  


Extended Families

We assist young people 18 years and over to find and engage in volunteer opportunities. We provide assessment and skill development, access suitable volunteer opportunities and provide ongoing one on one support as required.

Meaningful volunteering can help people build self-esteem, develop life skills and experience the rewards that volunteering brings. Sometimes volunteering can be a pathway to paid employment.

AVAILABLE FOR:

Young adults 18 to 30 years with an NDIS Plan or other funding source

NDIS CATEGORY:

3.09 Increased social and community participation

3.15 Improved daily living skills

Support Coordination

Finding your way through the process of planning and connecting with services can be challenging and time consuming. If you have Support Coordination as part
of your NDIS package, we can help you with this process to achieve your goals.


NDIS Support coordination


Extended Families provides independent support coordination to help you manage your plan.


Extended Families

Our team of experienced staff will help you:

  • assess support options
  • connect with services
  • manage your plan
  • build your skills and confidence

For Support Coordination our age range is wider, also working with parents who have a disability, utilising both our strong individual and family focus to ensure positive outcomes.

Our support team are culturally sensitive and include bi-lingual staff in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese and Arabic.

AVAILABLE FOR:

Children, young people and parents with a disability who have an NDIS plan

NDIS CATEGORY:

3.07 Coordination of support

Living with a disability can be difficult. We support people aged 0-30 and their families in Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula to build friendships and connect with their community.

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Contact Us

Suite 1, 95 Bell Street
P.O.Box 275
Coburg Victoria 3058