Chasing Hope

05/09/2026

🥕 What’s better than fresh vegetables? Fresh vegetables you’ve helped grow! 🥬

Our team has been working hard on Phase 1 of The Food Project- building garden beds, cultivating the soil, sowing seeds and caring for the plants. Now they’re reaping the rewards in more ways than one!

Gardening can support:

• Increased physical activity, mobility and strength
• Improved fine motor skills and coordination
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Greater confidence and a sense of accomplishment
• Mental stimulation through planning and problem-solving

The smiles and the fresh vegetables say it all! 🌱🍅

Massive shout out to our team and the Jane Goodall Institute who have helped make this possible and of course a special mention to the amazing Brooke for all of her hard work. We can't wait to keep growing this project.

03/09/2026

03/09/2026

Throwback to July when the Mix it up Monday group headed to Melbourne for an exciting day trip to the Sea Life aquarium.

Beyond being a fun day out and a chance to strengthen social connections, the experience provided opportunities to develop important everyday skills, including:

🐧 Following a schedule and managing time
🐠 Purchasing tickets and meals
🦈 Navigating public spaces and transport
🐙 Making choices and solving problems
🐊 Participating safely in the community
🪸 Developing confidence and independence

Community outings like this encourage participants to try new experiences, connect with others and practise practical skills in a supportive environment.

24/08/2026

Same place, same cause, new faces. Today our Ladies Day crew will be manning the BBQ to raise funds for Tri State Games.
A big thank you to Doey's Meats for thier generous contribution 🥰

13/08/2026

A beautiful morning to pop down to Coles and grab a snag, a succulent or a soft drink... (or all 3).
Call in, say G'day and help our team raise funds to attend Tri-State Games in Mildura this November.

12/08/2026

Our team will be back behind the BBQ tomorrow helping raise funds for Tri-State Games. They will also have a selection of succulents for sale and of course a donation tin.
We hope to see you tomorrow
Cash only 💰

26/07/2026

Every Thursday our Social Dinner group comes together for an evening filled with great food, laughter and meaningful connections.

What makes it extra special? The participants are in charge! Each week, one participant chooses the menu and together the group:
📝 Writes the shopping list
🛒 Heads to the supermarket to purchase the ingredients
💰 Practices budgeting and making purchasing decisions
👩‍🍳 Prepares and cooks a delicious two-course meal
🧹 Works together to clean up afterwards

Along the way, participants are building valuable life skills including meal planning, teamwork, communication, budgeting, cooking, food safety, problem-solving and independence.

Most importantly, Social Dinner is about coming together. Around the table, friendships are formed, confidence grows, conversations flow and everyone enjoys being part of a welcoming community.

There really is something special about sharing a meal you've created together. 💙🍴

If you'd like to join us for a future Social Dinner, we'd love to welcome you! Please reach out to Brodie on 0407 238 726 or [email protected]

24/07/2026

For many people, a few days away in Melbourne might look like a holiday and while our participants certainly have fun and create lasting memories, there's so much more happening behind the scenes.

Respite provides carers with a well-deserved break, while giving participants the opportunity to build independence, confidence and real-world life skills in a safe, supported environment.

Throughout the trip, participants have been developing skills such as:
🚌 Navigating public transport and reading timetables
🏨 Checking in and out of accommodation
🎟️ Understanding security procedures and queues at major events
💰 Budgeting and making spending decisions
🍽️ Ordering meals and making choices independently
🗺️ Planning their day and managing time
🤝 Building social skills by interacting with new people
💬 Communicating needs and asking for assistance when required
🧩 Problem-solving when plans change
💪 Increasing confidence in unfamiliar environments
🌱 Building capacity to participate more independently in their community

Whether they're attending the footy, exploring the city, catching a train or sharing a meal together, every experience becomes an opportunity to learn, grow and build skills that transfer into everyday life.

These are the moments where confidence grows, friendships are strengthened, and participants discover they're capable of more than they thought possible.

We're so proud of everyone for embracing new experiences and stepping outside their comfort zones. A huge thank you to our dedicated support staff who make these opportunities possible while ensuring everyone feels safe, supported and included. 💙

21/07/2026

🏹We are winding back the clock to June when the Mix-It-Up Monday crew were right on target! 🎯

Last month our Mix-It-Up Monday crew headed to Nyah West Archery & Golf Club grounds for a fantastic day of learning, laughter and friendly competition, complete with a delicious BBQ lunch.

Archery is more than just hitting the target, it gave everyone the opportunity to build valuable life skills in a fun and supportive environment. Throughout the session participants practised:
🎯 Listening carefully to instructions
🎯 Following directions and safety procedures
🎯 Concentration and focus
🎯 Patience and persistence
🎯 Hand-eye coordination
🎯 Encouraging and celebrating each other's achievements

It was wonderful to see everyone stepping outside their comfort zone, cheering one another on and growing in confidence with every shot.

A big thank you to Melanie, Dennis, Graeme and the Swan Hill Archery Club for welcoming our group and making the experience so enjoyable!

16/07/2026

Can you smell the onions yet? Our team is back at Coles manning the BBQ this morning. Pop down for a snag and have a chat about the Tri-State Games (the cause behind the fundraising efforts).