VALID is Victoria’s peak organisation for people with disability. Registrations are now open for their 2025 Having A Say Conference. The theme for this year is Our Lives Our Voices!

The conference will include an Expo, a Talent Competition and an Art Exhibition.

When: 28^th, 29^th & 30^th January 2025

Where: Deakin University, Geelong – Waterfront Campus

City of Whittlesea run an Inclusive Employment Program, which offers short-term work placements for local residents who face barriers to employment.

To apply for these positions, you must:

• Be a City of Whittlesea community member
• Be facing barriers to employment
• Identify as one (or more) of the following:
  • Culturally and linguistically diverse
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
  • Living with a disability
  • Older.

The Inclusive Employment Program ends on 30 June 2025.

Sports and Recreation Victoria has announced the Regional All Abilities Participation Grants to increase opportunities for people with disability living in regional Victoria to get involved in the sports they love.

Grants of up to $25,000 are available in three categories: Equipment and Travel, Inclusion Workforce, and Programs and Disability-led Initiatives.

North East Citizen Advocacy is a not-for-profit volunteer run organisation that offers free advocacy services to people with disability and their families and carers living in the City of Whittlesea.

For more information, visit their website or phone (03) 8407 3684

DPV Health has opened a new Health Centre-Based Disability Service in Whittlesea Township and is currently accepting new clients.

The office is located behind the DPV Health Dental Clinic and next door to the Whittlesea Motel. It is a short walk from the Whittlesea Uniting Church and connects to the 382, 384 and 385 bus lines from the Walnut St/Church St bus stop just 200 metres away.

The office is open Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5pm.

The service can be contacted on Ph: 1300 234 263

The City of Whittlesea invites residents to help set our community priorities for the next 5 – 10 years. Your feedback will help shape Council’s key planning documents and actions for the next 5-10 years, including the Budget 2025-26.

We will also be holding a series of community focus groups early next year and are receiving Expressions of Interest from residents who want to participate.

Fill in an EOI to be part of our Community Focus Group

The disability advocacy organisation, VALID, is running the My Housing Plan Project, supporting people with disability to access information about their NDIS home and living options.

The ‘My Housing Plan’ workshops are free to NDIS Participants across Victoria.

If you are interested in being part of a workshop, please call VALID on 03 9416 4003 or email rick@valid.org.au

Help Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network delivery better health outcomes for communities in the north east of Melbourne.

Complete the anonymous survey and go into the draw to win a $100 voucher.

The survey only takes 10 minutes to complete and your answers are anonymous. You must be over the age of 16 and living in the north east catchment areas of Melbourne.

All Abilities Golf Program

Come and learn how to play golf at the Growling Frog Golf Course.

This 6 month program is open to people of all abilities and runs for 6 months. Limited spots available

When: The first Monday of every month in July 2024 11am - 12pm

Where: Growling Frog Golf Course

1910 Donnybrook Road, Yan Yean

MyTime is a free resource offering support for parents and carers of children under 18 years old who have a disability, chronic medical condition, or additional needs, including developmental delay.

A simultaneous playgroup, which is inclusive of all abilities, is also available.

Where: Oakbrook Kindergarten, 36 Holroyd Drive, Epping

When: Wednesdays fortnightly 9.30am – 12pm. For more information, please visit the link below or contact facilitator, Karen Allen

Mob: 0411 523 187

My Everyday Life

My Everyday Life sets out to share the real life and everyday stories of Aboriginal community members with disability. The films seek to educate and encourage individuals with disability to pursue the supports that will work best for them in their everyday life.

Across a showcase of five short films, My Everyday Life explores the stories of Aboriginal community members with disability who are receiving support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The Edendale Community Environment Farm website now offers a range of accessible information resources including:

• a Cerge Visual and Sensory Story Guide,
• 360 Degree Virtual Tour and
• Audio Guide

The resources offer accessible information about the farm’s layout, features and activities.

Carers Victoria has announced a new found of small grants for ‘Connecting Carers in the Community.’

Grants of between $15,000 and $25,000 are available for:

• Establishment of a new carer support group, including peer support groups and yarning circles
• Activities to support carers, including work readiness mentoring and support
• Enhance and improve the reach of existing carer support groups

For more information, register for the Webinar on 3^rd July

New service for people with mild mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, depression and grief.

The service providers:

• Support when a mental health helpline may not be sufficient
• Advice on next steps and recommendations for ongoing support services
• A follow up review to see how things are going

This is a free service and no appointment is necessary. You can remain anonymous, no Medicare card needed

For more information contact ahmhns@healthability.org.au, call or text 0450 628 870

The Sport Access Foundation annual grants round is open. A number of grants are available to support children and young people aged 7 to 17 years who live with a disability to participate in sport.

For more information go to the Sport Access Foundation website 2024 Grants (sportaccessfoundation.org.au)

African drumming has come to South Morang and you are invited.

Join one of the scheduled 5 week block of classes to learn with experienced teachers who can work at your pace. No prior experience or drum necessary!

WDN members are eligible for a 40% discount. Simply enter the code WDN when you book online.

A motorised all-terrain wheelchair is available to hire from the Kinglake Parks Victoria Office.

Trailriders are wheelchairs with adjustable seating and supports, making them suitable for adults and children with varying abilities.

A number of Trailrider wheelchairs are available, free of charge, at various parks across Victoria.

For more information, please go to

For more information, contact Parks Victoria:

Phone: 13 19 63

A new baby sign language 6-week Playgroup Course is running at Watsonia Library.

The course will be delivered by a certified Auslan interpreter. People can also access a self-paced online course.

When: starting Wednesday 17 April, 9.30am

Where: Watsonia Library, 4/6 Ibbottson St, Watsonia

This volunteer, community-run playgroup is for LGBTIQA+ parents, carers, and children aged 0-5 years old.

You will need to be a member of Playgroup Victoria to join. See link below to organise your free membership.

Please bring a piece of fruit to share for morning tea.

When: Weekly on school term Fridays, 10am-12 noon.

Where: Goodstart Early Learning, 412 Main Street, Lower Plenty

For more information, please contact Cristina:

Email: BanyuleRainbowPG@gmail.com

Phone: 0422 245 705

Virtual MyTime is an entirely online peer support group. MyTime is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and is nationally coordinated by the Parenting Research Centre.

The group provides the opportunity to connect with others from your own home. The facilitator is a parent of a young person with disability and will provide support and guidance during the sessions.

When: The first session begins Monday 22 April at 7.30pm, and will continue every week.

Program for parents raising children with disabilities or developmental concerns

Envisage is a program co-created by Australian and Canadian researchers and parents of children with developmental concerns and disabilities.

The 5 week program offers workshops facilitated by early childhood professionals and parents with lived experience, designed to provide time and space for participants to connect and share experiences, and opportunities to discuss how children’s development is best supported.

Are you a parent of a child with a disability?

Monash University wants to hear about your child’s educational experiences.

This Monash University research project wants to learn more about the experiences of parents of children with disability. The voice of parents is crucial to informing further research and policy related to education for children with disabilities.

For further information, please contact:

Fiona May at fiona.may@monash.edu or Professor Umesh Sharma at umesh.sharma@monash.edu

Federal government grant opportunities are now available for disability service providers working in employment.

See below for details or go to the Australian Government Grants Connect page (http://help.grants.gov.au) for up to date information about grants related to disability, accessibility, inclusion and equity.

Respite Care Service for People with Dementia and their Carers

A new Dementia Wellbeing Centre in the City of Hume offers free, comprehensive support and care to individuals living with dementia and their carers.

Residents of Whittlesea are welcome to use the service and can be any age and from any background, although there is special capacity to work with people from culturally and linguistically divers (CALD) backgrounds.

For more information Phone: 03 9689 9170

Women with Disabilities Victoria is delivering a state-wide Youth leadership program – Enabling Young Women.

The program is designed to help young people to increase their confidence and build leadership skills, including advocating for others in the community.

The program is open to women and non-binary people, aged 18 – 25, helping them to build their confidence and leadership skills.

Women with Disabilities Victoria is releasing a new podcast, From the Outskirts, featuring the stories of 12 women with disabilities living in regional Victoria.

The podcast will be available across platforms from September 09, 2023 and a full transcript can be downloaded at wdv.org.au.

For more information, please contact:

Brigitte Stone
Phone: (03) 9286 7807
Email: brigitte.stone@wdv.org.au

New Parents and Carers Group

My Time is a new group for parents and carers of children with a disability, chronic medical condition or other additional needs including developmental delay.

The group meets fortnightly to enjoy coffee and chats, activities and trips and guest speakers.

When: Fridays (fortnightly), 9.30am – 12pm

Where: Mill Park Drive Children’s Centre

152, Mill Park Drive, Mill Park

Contact Karen Allen on mob: 0411 523 187, email karena@mytimevic.com.au

Free to be Me is an inclusive support group for parents, carers and their children with additional support needs aged 18 months to 6 years.

The program helps families connect to local supports and services and other families on a similar journey. The group also supports you to gain skills and knowledge through play and workshops to help you support your child.

When: Tuesday 12 – 1pm (during school term)

Where: Goodstart Early Learning, 156 Centenary Drive, Mill Park

The North East Metro Family and Carer-led Centre is a warm and welcoming space available to family, carers, friends and supporters of people living with mental health or alcohol and other drug use challenges.

It is available to people of all ages and backgrounds.

The Centre is co-designed and led by people with lived/living experience of being a family member or carer.

Limited drop-in sessions have now started.

City of Whittlesea have a Marveloo on site for use. This is only accessible to people with a MLAK (Master Locksmith Access Key). Marveloo is only available for the use of people who need a ceiling hoist, an adult change table and who cannot use a standard accessible toilet.

Aspergers Victoria is a small not-for-profit organisation providing opportunities for Victorians who have Aspergers, autistic individuals, and the wider neurodivergent community to connect, share stories and information, find meaningful employment opportunities, and most importantly, feel part of a community who just “get” us.

The Access All Abilities Play Program (AAA Play) is a free information and referral service to help people of all ages with a disability to get involved in sport and recreation. The Victorian Government funds Reclink Australia to provide the program.

Learn more about the All Abilities Play Program

Please contact AAA play by email, phone or visit our website:

Email: request@aaavic.org.au
Phone: 1800 222 842
Website www.aaaplay.org.au