What we’ve been up to across our Programs.

Over the past few months, we’ve been busy chatting with more than 40 participants across our program sites to learn what they enjoy, what helps them feel confident, and what makes their time with us meaningful. Client voices are incredibly important, and everything they shared is helping us shape programs that are more creative, more accessible, and even more focused on their goals.

One of the strongest themes we heard was just how much they value friendship, creativity and a sense of belonging. Many participants told us that art, music and social activities are the highlight of their week. We loved hearing comments like “I feel so happy when I come to programs” and “my art inspires the world.” These moments remind us why person-centred practice matters and how important it is that our programs continue to build confidence, independence, and genuine social connection.

We also heard that community access is a big part of what makes programs enjoyable. Whether it’s being out in nature, visiting new places, or practising skills in real-life settings, many participants said that getting out and about helps them feel more confident and engaged. For some participants, this also connects to work or volunteering, and others shared dreams of working with animals, childcare, retail, creative arts and more. We also heard about some of the barriers they face, including transport, confidence or uncertainty about future employer expectations in the workplace. Their honesty helps us build supports that are safer, more inclusive an aligned with participants strengths and choices.

We also learned that goal setting is something many participants would like more help with. Some people had clear goals, like learning to read, improving money skills, or taking part in big events like the Cadel Evans bike ride, while others weren’t sure what their goals were yet. That’s completely OK, it simply tells us we need to keep improving how we talk about goals in a way that are visual, accessible, and client led. Over time, this will help everyone feel more confident in saying what they want to learn, do and achieve.

We appreciate participants honesty, their ideas and sharing with us. Everything we do is shaped by their experiences. For any participants who might like to share more thoughts or get involved in future conversations, our doors are always open.