Empowered to Bloom

15/09/2026

🌱💜 EMPOWERED TO BLOOM IS 1! 💜🌱

Today marks one whole year of Empowered to Bloom Disability Support Services, and what an incredible year it has been.

When I started Empowered to Bloom, I wanted to create something that felt different. As a mum with lived experience, I knew how important it was for people and families to find support that was genuinely personal, consistent and caring — where participants were seen as people first, not just another shift on a roster.

What started as an idea and a passion to do things better has grown into a beautiful little team of people who share those same values.

Over the past 12 months there have been so many adventures, laughs, challenges, achievements and proud moments. We've watched people step outside their comfort zones, build confidence, develop independence, try new things and achieve things that may once have felt impossible.

And we've bloomed right alongside them. 🌸

To every participant and family who has trusted Empowered to Bloom to be part of your journey — thank you. That trust means more to me than I can put into words.

To my amazing team — thank you for bringing your kindness, experience, personalities and hearts to what you do. I'm incredibly proud of the support we provide and the team we are becoming.

And to everyone who has recommended us, shared our posts, passed on our details, encouraged me or supported the business over this first year — thank you. 💜

One year ago, Empowered to Bloom was just beginning.

Today, we're growing, learning and creating something I'm incredibly proud of — while still holding onto the reason it all began:

🌱 Supporting people to build confidence, independence and connection.
🌱 Celebrating people for exactly who they are.
🌱 Providing support with dignity, choice and genuine care.
🌱 Helping every person we support have the opportunity to bloom in their own way.

Happy 1st Birthday, Empowered to Bloom! 🎂🌸

Here's to everything we've achieved in our first year — and to all the blooming still to come. 💜🌱

13/09/2026

🎉🌸 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TENILLE! 🌸🎉

Wishing our wonderful support worker Tenille a very Happy Birthday! 💜

We hope you have an absolutely amazing day and get thoroughly spoilt — you deserve it!

Thank you for being the kind, caring and amazing person you are, and for the wonderful support you provide to the people we have the privilege of supporting.

We are so grateful to have you as part of the Empowered to Bloom team. 🌷

Have the BEST birthday, Tenille! 🎂🥳💐

From all of us at Empowered to Bloom 💜🌸

06/09/2026

💙 Happy Father’s Day from Empowered to Bloom 💙

Today we celebrate all the dads, grandads, pops and stepdads — but we also want to recognise all the incredible people who step into that special role in someone’s life.

To the mums doing the job of both Mum and Dad, the carers and support people, the uncles, brothers, family friends, mentors and those wonderful people who simply choose to show up and be a positive father figure and role model in a child or young person’s life — thank you. 💙

Being a father figure isn’t always about biology or a title. Sometimes it’s simply about being the person who is there. The one who listens, encourages, teaches, protects, believes in them and stands beside them through everything.

And on a personal note, I want to say a very special Happy Father’s Day to my amazing Dad. 💙

My Dad is my rock, one of my biggest supporters and a huge inspiration behind why I do what I do.

When autism became part of our family's journey, Dad didn't just stand on the sidelines. He took it upon himself to learn. He has taught himself so much about autism so that he could better understand, support and be there for both my son and me.

He has embraced my son for exactly who he is, taken the time to understand his world, and continues to be such an incredible source of love, patience, strength and support for our little family.

Watching the relationship he has with my son and knowing that we always have him in our corner means more to me than I could ever put into words. He has shown me what it truly means to show up for the people you love — and that is something I try to carry into Empowered to Bloom every single day.

So today, to my Dad and to every person who chooses to show up, learn, understand, guide, encourage and love…

🌱 Thank you for showing up.
🌱 Thank you for caring.
🌱 Thank you for making a difference.

From our Empowered to Bloom family to yours, Happy Father’s Day. 💙🌻

18/08/2026

🌻 Welcome to the Empowered to Bloom team, Michelle! 💛🦋

We are so excited to have Michelle joining our team, bringing with her a wealth of experience, compassion and a genuine passion for supporting people to live their best lives.

Michelle’s values align beautifully with what Empowered to Bloom is all about — person-centred support, choice, independence, inclusion and truly getting to know the person behind the support.

We’re thrilled to have you with us, Michelle, and can’t wait for our participants, families, Support Coordinators and NDIS community to get to know you! 🌻

Welcome to the Empowered to Bloom family! 💛

16/08/2026

🌸 Weekends at Empowered to Bloom are all about getting out, exploring, learning and having FUN! 🌸

What a fantastic weekend our participants have had out and about in the Adelaide community! 💜

🦁 Adelaide Zoo adventures – exploring the zoo, using maps to navigate our way around and find favourite animals, making choices about where to go next, and learning so many interesting facts along the way. There was plenty of walking, talking, laughing and discovering! 🐒🦒🐼

🎨 Art Gallery adventures – taking in the incredible new artworks, exploring different displays, sharing thoughts and interests, and simply enjoying being out and part of the community.

One of the most rewarding parts of what we do is watching faces light up and personalities come to life when our participants are excited, engaged and enjoying being out in the community. 💜 Seeing that confidence grow, hearing the laughter and conversations, and watching someone genuinely enjoy an experience is exactly why we love what we do.

We are so lucky to live in an amazing state with so much to see, experience and explore, and we love supporting our participants to discover everything South Australia has to offer while creating some pretty special memories along the way. 🌿☀️

These outings might look like a day of fun – and they absolutely are! – but they're also wonderful opportunities to build independence, confidence, communication, decision-making, navigation skills and community participation in a natural and enjoyable way.

At Empowered to Bloom, support isn't just about filling hours. It's about creating opportunities, building confidence, making memories and supporting every participant to get out there and live their best life. 🌻💜

Another beautiful weekend doing what we love!

05/08/2026

🌱 The heart behind Empowered to Bloom… 🌱

When I created Empowered to Bloom, it was never about building a business. It was about building something meaningful.

It came from a passion and a belief that every person deserves the opportunity to live their best life, with support that is truly right for them.

My dream was to create a service where participants were not just allocated a support worker based on availability, but where we took the time to understand the person — their personality, their interests, their goals, their challenges, and what would help them truly thrive.

Because the right connection can change a life.

A great support worker is not just someone who attends a shift. They are someone who builds trust, encourages independence, celebrates achievements, creates opportunities, and stands beside someone as they discover what they are capable of.

That has always been the heart of Empowered to Bloom.

This is not just a job to me. It is not just a business. It is a passion. It is about making a genuine difference in people’s lives and ensuring every participant we support feels valued, respected, understood, and empowered.

The greatest measure of success is not numbers, milestones, or growth — it is the lives we have been fortunate enough to be part of.

It is watching someone gain confidence where there was once uncertainty.
It is seeing goals that once felt impossible become achievable.
It is celebrating the small wins that are actually huge victories.
It is seeing participants try new things, build independence, find their voice, and believe in themselves.

It is the families who have welcomed us into their lives and trusted us to support the people who matter most to them. Becoming part of the Empowered to Bloom family means so much, and we are incredibly grateful for every person who has allowed us to be part of their journey.

None of this would be possible without the incredible team of support workers who bring this vision to life every day. I am beyond proud of the amazing people who represent Empowered to Bloom — people who genuinely care, who go above and beyond, and who see the person first, always.

They don’t just provide support. They create connections, build confidence, encourage dreams, and help change lives.

Looking ahead, I cannot wait to celebrate with the team next month and take a moment to recognise the impact we have made together.

I started Empowered to Bloom with a simple dream — to ensure people received the right support, from the right people, for the right reasons.

And seeing the difference that dream is making in people’s lives is something I will forever be grateful for.

🌟 We are also currently welcoming new participants and have amazing support workers ready and available to help. If you or someone you know is looking for compassionate, person-centred NDIS support, we would love to connect and see how we can help. 🌟

This is only the beginning… 🌱✨

03/07/2026

🍿✨ To infinity... and beyond! 🚀🤠

Today was more than just a trip to the movies to see Toy Story 5... it was another opportunity to build confidence, independence and meaningful community connections.

Community access isn't just about getting out of the house—it's about developing life skills in real-world environments. From buying tickets and snacks, waiting patiently in line, navigating busy spaces, making choices, and sharing experiences with others, every outing provides valuable opportunities for growth.

There were plenty of smiles, laughs, popcorn (of course 🍿) and excitement as we watched Woody, Buzz and the gang back on the big screen. But behind all the fun were important goals being achieved—building social skills, increasing confidence in the community, practising emotional regulation and creating positive memories.

Sometimes the biggest achievements happen in the smallest moments.

At Empowered to Bloom, we believe supports should be meaningful, enjoyable and centred around what our participants love. Because when people feel safe, supported and included, that's when they truly bloom. 🌸

Here's to more adventures, more laughter and many more community experiences together! 💙

30/05/2026

💙 Together We Can Make a Difference 💙

At Empowered to Bloom, supporting people to live their best lives is at the heart of everything we do. That's why we are incredibly proud to be partnering with The Dock W**e Bar to help raise funds and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

MND is a devastating disease that impacts not only those diagnosed, but also their families, friends, carers, and entire communities. While there is currently no cure, together we can help fund vital research, improve support services, and bring hope to those battling this disease every day.

As the founder of Empowered to Bloom, I am proud to be personally getting involved by taking part in the Big Freeze on the day and sitting under the ice bucket. It's a small sacrifice compared to the challenges faced by those living with MND, and I'm honoured to do my part to help raise funds and awareness for this incredibly important cause.

We believe strong communities come together when people need support most. Whether it's through a donation, attending the event, participating in the fundraising activities, or simply helping spread the word, every contribution brings us one step closer to finding a cure.

We invite our participants, families, friends, and the wider community to join us in supporting this important cause. Together, we can stand beside those living with MND and show them they are not alone.

A huge thank you to The Dock W**e Bar for having us partner with them and helping turn community spirit into meaningful action.

💙 Donate. Participate. Share. Support.

Together, we can help fund research, support families, and work towards a future free from MND.

**eBar

🧊❄️ THE DOCK BIG FREEZE – NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED! ❄️🧊

The brave souls who have put their hands up to get absolutely soaked for a great cause or maybe just been nominated by someone who wants to see them get wet are:

🎤 Pigsy – absolute legend of the Port

🎶 Peter Stewart – ONE2 MANY lead singer and all-round great bloke

🍷 Frank – representing Farm Yard W**es and taking one for the team

🌻 Rachel Collis – founder of Empowered to Bloom and event partner

🍺 Stretch – regular patron and great bloke who enjoys a b**r or two

🧀 Karen Munro – carer extraordinaire and a regular patron who supplies our delicious quince paste for our cheese boards

🍇Tania Collis – representing Port & Vine and The Dock W**e Bar and looking forward to dressing up for Big Freeze!

❄️ Jenny Perry – one of our very brave patrons

🎤Aaron Collis – entertainer extraordinaire and brother of Rachel and Tanya

🏨 Angela – representing the Mt Torrens Hotel

🏆 Lee – British Hotel Pub Quiz winner and apparently not fast enough to avoid nomination!

A massive thank you to these amazing humans who are about to freeze their bits off for a very worthy cause.

Now it’s over to YOU…

💙 Want to be the one who tips the bucket?

Start donating today!

Use the QR code on the poster below or the following link (https://support.fightmnd.org.au/fundraisers/bigfreezethedock?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=print ) to make your donation. Don’t forget to include the name of the nominee you’d like to dunk in the comments section when you donate.

The more donations a nominee receives, the better their chances of getting an icier experience! 🧊

Let’s raise some money, have some fun, and support an incredibly important cause.

Bring on The Dock Big Freeze! 💙❄️🪣

**eBar

02/05/2026

There’s something truly special about the work we get to do every day 🌱

Being invited into the lives of our participants and their families is a privilege we never take lightly. Watching confidence grow, independence build, and personalities shine brighter over time is what it’s all about. Every small step forward is worth celebrating.

We don’t just provide support — we build genuine connections, share in milestones, and become part of each participant’s journey. Along the way, we also support families, offering reassurance, consistency, and care when it’s needed most.

A heartfelt thank you to the families who trust us, welcome us, and allow us to be part of your journey and your lives. It means more than words can say 💛

Seeing our participants grow and bloom into their best selves is the most rewarding part of what we do.