Bendigo Discoveries

11/06/2026

🚗 💰Have you claimed your Victorian Rego Rebate yet?

Over the last week, our team has been helping some participants access the Victorian Government’s 20% rego rebate, and it got us thinking that there may be others who haven’t heard about it yet.

If you own an eligible vehicle, you may be able to claim 20% back on your registration payment.

With the cost of living continuing to rise, every little bit helps and this could put some extra money back in your pocket. 🚗

We’ve popped the link below so you can check your eligibility and apply.

If you know someone who might benefit from this information, feel free to share this post with them. 💚

https://www.service.vic.gov.au/services/registration-rebate

Rego Rebate | Service Victoria

09/06/2026

A great day out with the crew!
Kyle and Ryan are making Anna and Shari look absolutely pocket-sized in this photo! 😂

Safe to say the girls didn’t win the height competition this day! 📸

08/06/2026

🌿✨ Friday Out & About Adventures ✨🌿

Last Friday, our Out & About crew headed off to beautiful Daylesford for a visit to the stunning lavender farm, Lavandula Farm and what a fantastic day it was!

While the weather was a little chilly, we were determined to make the most of the sunshine and get out exploring. Our participants enjoyed wandering through the beautiful grounds, meeting some very cute and cuddly animals (the Highland cows were a definite favourite! 🐮), and taking in the peaceful country atmosphere.

The group also enjoyed lunch together and a nature walk around the property, creating plenty of opportunities for conversation, connection, and enjoying the outdoors.

At Bendigo Discoveries, our Friday Out & About program is all about exploring new places, building confidence in the community, developing social connections, and creating meaningful experiences along the way.

A huge thank you to the wonderful staff for making us feel so welcome. We had an amazing day and we’re already looking forward to visiting again!

04/06/2026

⚫⚪ PIES FANS...
🐯 TIGERS FANS...

It's time to settle the score at the MCG!

Bendigo Discoveries is heading to Melbourne on Saturday 27 June to watch Collingwood take on Richmond LIVE at the 'G, and we still have a few spots available!

Expect great footy, great company and an awesome day out with fellow supporters.

🏉 Live AFL
🏉 MCG atmosphere
🏉 Friends, fun and community connection

But be quick — places are limited and filling fast!

📞 0457 556 876
📧 [email protected]

02/06/2026

💥 MONSTER TRUCK MANIA 2026 💥

What a day!

On Saturday, some of our Swan Hill Discoveries and Bendigo Discoveries crew headed off to Monster Truck Mania, and while we may have been a little quiet on social media, that’s only because we were far too busy enjoying the day!

Events like these are always a reminder of why we love what we do.

📣Most importantly, these events are participant-led.

Monster Truck Mania wasn’t an activity chosen by management or staff. It was chosen because it’s something our participants were excited about. At Discoveries, our special events are designed around the people we support. They tell us what they’re interested in, what they’d like to experience, and where they’d like to go—and our job is to make it happen.

That’s one of the things we’re most proud of.

We are not a cookie-cutter service. We don’t believe in creating programs and expecting participants to fit into them. Instead, we build our programs around the participants we have. Their interests, goals, strengths and ideas shape what we do.

That means we’re always evolving, always changing and always looking for new opportunities to create meaningful experiences.

Here’s to many more adventures chosen by the people who matter

01/06/2026

PERFORMANCE & DRAMA GROUP 🎶

📅 Tuesdays
⏰ 3:00pm – 6:00pm
🚐 Pick-up and drop-off available

Looking for a safe, supportive space to express yourself, build confidence, and explore your creativity?

Our Performance & Drama Group is all about self-expression, friendship, creativity and fun. Whether your passion is drama, performing arts, singing, music, instruments, storytelling or simply finding your voice, this program provides an encouraging environment where participants can develop skills, explore interests and shine in their own unique way.

We are incredibly fortunate to have talented staff leading this program, including team members with real-life experience performing in bands and working within the music industry. We are also thrilled to have the support and expertise of Caroline Myers-Bock, whose passion for the performing arts is helping shape an exciting future for the program.

The response to this group has been fantastic, and places are beginning to fill. As we continue to grow, availability will become more limited, so now is the perfect time to reach out and learn more.

✨ Free meet and greets available
✨ Come and observe a session before committing
✨ Welcoming and inclusive environment
✨ Build confidence, social skills and friendships
✨ Explore music, drama and performance opportunities

If you'd like to find out whether this program might be the right fit, we'd love to have a chat.

📞 Contact Discoveries today to learn more.

26/05/2026

📣Day in the Life — Support Worker Edition

The photos are simple… but the impact isn’t.

This is structure.
This is routine.
This is building independence.

It’s actively supporting someone to live their everyday life — while also creating opportunities to explore new places, connect with new communities, and meet new people.

Some days are quiet, some days are action-packed and spent on the road — but these are the days we prioritise the most, because we know we’re contributing to someone’s confidence, growth, and success each week ✨

26/05/2026

WE ARE SO EXCITED to finally share our 2026 Winter School Holiday Program! 🤍❄️

We know most kids COUNT down the days until school holidays… but for parents and carers, school holidays can sometimes bring a whole different level of planning, juggling work commitments and trying to keep everyone entertained and engaged 🤍

That’s exactly why we are SO excited to be offering a full school holiday program this year — including our Melbourne Kids Camp and a range of fun, engaging day activities across the holidays.

Our goal is not only to take a little pressure off families, but to create a safe, supportive and exciting environment where young people can genuinely enjoy their holidays, build friendships, increase independence, develop social skills and get out into the community making amazing memories along the way.

From slime workshops and cooking challenges to campfires, adventures and social groups — every activity has been carefully chosen to be both fun and meaningful.

We cannot wait to spend the holidays with our existing participants and are also so excited to welcome some new faces into the Discoveries crew these holidays 💙✨

Contact Jess on
📧 [email protected]
☎️ 0457 556 876

22/05/2026

Out & About Fridays 🦙🌿
📍 Hanging Rock Llama Treks

Out & About Fridays 🦙🌿

Today our group headed off to Woodend Llamas where participants got to pat, feed, walk and spend time with the llamas before heading to Hanging Rock for an afternoon hike and adventure together.

As fun as these days are, this program is honestly one of my favourite things that we do. It’s so much more than just a Friday outing. It’s the little things you notice over time that end up meaning the most.

It’s watching someone who once struggled with confidence now ordering their own meals and interacting with staff at venues and activities. It’s seeing participants build trusting relationships with their support staff and grow the confidence to try new things knowing somebody is there cheering them on every step of the way. It’s the friendships forming naturally between participants and seeing people genuinely happy, connected and excited about life.

A huge part of these programs is also community. The NDIS was built around inclusion, connection and creating opportunities for people to actively experience and participate in their communities. These days allow our crew to get out and about, meet new people, try new experiences and build confidence in everyday community settings — all while genuinely having fun along the way.

If you haven’t been we highly recommend it! A massive thank you for having us.

We currently have limited spots available in our Friday Out & About group and would love to continue growing this beautiful little community.

21/05/2026

Let’s talk about how we support participants experiencing behaviours of concern and emotional dysregulation.

For us, support has never been about “controlling behaviours.” It’s about understanding the person, building trust, and creating environments where participants feel safe, respected, and genuinely supported.

Jess has spent many years working within behaviour support and complex care settings throughout the disability sector, and that experience has naturally become a big part of the culture we’ve created within Bendigo Discoveries. It influences the way we train our staff, how we approach redirection, and the importance we place on consistency, patience, and emotional safety.

Every participant is different. What works for one person may not work for another, which is why we place such a strong focus on relationship-based supports and getting to know the individual behind the support plan.

A huge part of our approach is recognising early signs of escalation and understanding that behaviours of concern are often a form of communication. Rather than reacting once someone reaches crisis point, we focus heavily on proactive support strategies and emotional regulation techniques.

This can look different for every participant, but may include:
✨ recognising triggers and environmental stressors
✨ reducing demands during periods of dysregulation
✨ offering reassurance and co-regulation
✨ providing space and processing time
✨ redirecting through preferred interests or humour
✨ maintaining calm and consistent communication
✨ supporting choice, control, and predictability
✨ understanding sensory needs and overstimulation

Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference — changing environments, adjusting communication styles, allowing someone time to regulate, or simply knowing when someone just needs a familiar face and calm support beside them.