Event
‘Communicate with Confidence’ Workshop Series
September 19, 2024
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Wellbeing Services at Guide Dogs
What are Wellbeing Services?
Wellbeing is more than just being happy or having good health. It’s about having positive relationships, engaging in enjoyable activities, knowing what our strengths are and staying connected. Looking after our wellbeing is what helps us to have good mental health and to find meaning in life.
Our Wellbeing Services provide opportunities to meet and connect with others who have low vision or blindness. They will also offer a space to share experiences, learn more about yourself and develop new skills. If you haven’t accessed mental health or wellbeing support before, this will be a good place to start.
Who can access Wellbeing Services?
Looking after your wellbeing is important for everyone, no matter how old you are.
Wellbeing-focused group programs are open to all people living with blindness or low vision, and there will be a range of topics and formats available so you can decide which sessions are right for you.
Explore some of our events below.
Upcoming Wellbeing Events
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EventFreedom of Movement: Beginner Yoga WorkshopsOctober 1, 2024
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Event‘Building a Resilient and Capable Mindset’ Workshop SeriesOctober 29, 2024
Young Adults Program
Connect with others, form new friendships, enjoy activities together and share stories of lived experience.
The Young Adults Program (YAP) is designed for young Victorians aged between 18 and 35 who are blind or have low vision. The program aims to enhance independent mobility and living skills in a supportive group setting, focusing on areas of interest for young adults including:
- Social skills
- Technology
- Travel skills
- Health and wellbeing
- Adventurous activities
- Personal Development opportunities.
YAP events run every month either online or at various locations around Melbourne.
YAP is proudly supported by the Collier Charitable Foundation.
Call Guide Dogs Victoria on 1800 804 805 or email CSAdmin@guidedogsvictoria.com.au for more details or to join YAP today!
Connect with community and peer groups
Build your community of people going through similar experiences.
The community and peer group directory has been developed in collaboration with people living with low vision and/or blindness to promote community connections and linkages. Learn more about the reach and impact of our connections service.
The directory provides information on peer groups across Australia engaged in art and culture, sport and recreation and social and community initiatives. Find the link to our National Community and Peer Group Directory here.
Please get in touch with connections@guidedogsvictoria.com.au, if you would like more information about the peer groups, if you would like to be included in this resource, or you need to provide updates for your group.
Victorian Directory
Community and Peer Support Groups
Blind Golf Victoria is an organisation for vision impaired and other golfers that promotes participation in social and competitive golf. Whether you’re looking to improve your swing, compete in tournaments, or simply enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded golfers, Blind Golf VIC is your place to thrive in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Contact: Doug
Email: blindgolfvic@gmail.com
Website: www.blindgolf.com.au/vic/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/100070186740005/
Teaching origami and contributing towards a charitable donation.
Location: Vision Australia, 454 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong
When: To be announced each year
Contact: Rob
Email: robfletcher1@hotmail.com
Choice Voices is an inclusive community choir based in Bendigo. The choir includes people who live with physical, intellectual and mental health disabilities, their supporters and carers, and others who simply love to sing! The choir meets for 30 weeks in the year and performs publicly in places including libraries, hospitals, nursing homes, farmers markets and for civic events.
James Rigby, a well-respected local musician and choir leader, rehearses and directs the choir. The choir is managed and run by volunteers. Golden City Support Services is the host organisation for Choice Voices.
People who are blind or with low vision are encouraged to join and provision is made for their needs.
Please contact Suzanne prior to visiting the choir for the first time.
Location: Anderson Room, St Paul’s Cathedral, 8 Myers Street, Bendigo
When: Thursdays, 4.45 pm to 6 pm
Contact: Suzanne (Choir Manager)
Email: bsgould@bigpond.net.au
Phone: 0408 179 382
Facebook: www.facebook.com/choicevoiceschoir
A local community support group providing social activities, encouraging independence and involvement in community events.
Location: Dandenong
When: Social lunch on second Tuesday of the month and an outing on the fourth Tuesday of the month. (Excluding January).
Contact: Carol
Phone: 0416 605 906
Email: grahamunger@bigpond.com
The purpose of the group is to encourage Deafblind group advocacy; creating changes for better accessibility and overcoming barriers for deafblind people and community members. Deafblind people are invited and meet regularly for group activities. Please get in contact to find out when they are next meeting.
Location: Victoria-wide
Contact: Trudy
Email: Trudy.ryall@bigpond.com
The Divas are a group of mature women who meet monthly. Discussion is usually around living life with vision loss. They occasionally have day outings and hope to get back to running annual trips away for a few days. Lots of laughter and the occasional tears. Sharing our lives, trials and tribulations. Most of all, our success stories. Bring your own lunch or buy at the café. Tea and coffee are provided free.
Location: Betty Amsden Education Centre, Guide Dogs Victoria, 2/6 Chandler Highway, Kew
When: 10 am to 2 pm on the last Monday of every month except December and January.
Contact: Dorothy or Pam
Phone: Dorothy: 0401 887 149 Pam: 0414 406 449
Email: dorothydoc@hotmail.com
Social catch up for coffee, tea, hot chocolate and a chat. Chance to meet other blind and low vision community members and provide support, friendship and information to each other.
Location: Clocks, Flinders Street Station, Melbourne
When: 11am, Third Thursday of the month
Contact: Kathy
Email: kathyjowitt@hotmail.com
Connection through regular coffee catch ups, morning teas, craft activities and adaptive technology classes. Those interested in activities should contact Susanne prior to attending to confirm arrangements.
Location: Bendigo
When: Bi-monthly coffee at local cafes. Weekly craft/morning tea.
Contact: Susanne
Phone: 0408 179 382
Peer support group for blind and vision impaired visual artists.
Participants offer hints from their own experience on how to get around the challenges of low vision in the visual art world.
Can offer phone sessions with an art challenge to brainstorm solutions.
There are occasional get-togethers to discuss work.
The group works informally with no formal meetings, red tape or joining costs.
Location: East Coast of Australia
When: Occasional
Cost: Free
Contact: Claire
Phone: 0428 256 140
Email: Clairehogan000@gmail.com
The South Melbourne FC Blind Football Team trains on a regular basis to prepare players for National Team Training Camps and for the future introduction of a competitive league. The squad trains under a qualified Blind Football coach on a fortnightly basis between April and October. While they actively support their players to reach the standard to join the national squad, they also place great emphasis on welcoming new players to the sport while providing an environment for social football and those who want to learn the game.
The South Melbourne FC Blind Football Team have a number of participants, including children, who are trying the sport for the first time or join for casual activities. To achieve this, they run free ‘come-and-try’ sessions at least monthly in Albert Park.
Location: Paul Wade Field, 7/8 Aughtie Drive, Albert Park
When: Sundays from April to October
Contact: Skip Fulton
Email: skip@smfc.com.au
Goalball is an all-inclusive sport for the whole family that encourages physical fitness, strategy and offers a fair playing field. It is played primarily by people who are blind or who have low vision, however, anyone can play or volunteer.
The objective is to throw the ball – which is filled with bells – into the opponent’s goal area while the opposing team’s players slide along the floor to block the ball with their bodies. As all players must wear a blindfold, players use their hearing,
teamwork skills and the tactile floor markings to navigate the court and achieve
a strategic victory.
Goalball is not an adapted version of a mainstream sport, as it was uniquely crafted for people who are blind or who have low vision. It’s also unique in that all participants must wear a blindfold. You can bring along your family and friends, no matter whether they are fully-sighted, have low vision or are totally blind.
Location: Scotch College Junior School Gym, 1 Morrison Street, Hawthorn.
When: Saturday afternoons March to September
Contact: For program dates and time
Cost: U15s (Junior) Program $80. Women’s / Beginners Program $80.
Seniors $180. Volunteers Free.
Email: info@goalball.org.au
Website: goalball.org.au
Facebook: Vic.goalball
Assists vision impaired people, their families and carers to socialise in a safe and
secure environment. Open to vision impaired people, their families, support
workers as well as anyone who would like the chance to meet and socialise on
a regular basis. Volunteer Drivers are available for transport in certain areas.
Location: Uniting Church House, 49 Railway Parade, Seaford (Diagonally opposite Seaford train station)
When: Mondays from 1 pm to 3 pm
Contact: Leanne
Phone: 0458 831 313
Email: vipafoundation@gmail.com
Website: seafordcc.org/VIPA
Vision impaired table tennis. $2 weekly contribution. All welcome. No experience necessary.
Location: High Street Uniting Church, 16-18 High Street, Frankston
When: 1 pm to 4 pm every Wednesday
Contact: Jenni
Phone: 0418 341 003
Email: jenni.forbes@vvitta.org
Vision impaired table tennis. No experience necessary.
Location: 454 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong, Tilly Aston Conference Centre
When: 1 pm to 4 pm every Saturday
Contact: Robyn
Phone: 0417 159106
Email: robin.bousie99@vvitta.org.au
Vision impaired table tennis. No experience necessary.
Location: Mooroolbark Table Tennis Club, Unit 1, 40 Felix Grove,
Mooroolbark 3138
When: 7 pm to 10 pm every Tuesday
Contact: Liz
Phone: 0428 061135
Email: liz.sullivan@vvitta.org.au
Vision impaired table tennis. No experience necessary. Additionally, we will also soon commence play in Coburg, every second Monday. Contact Adua for details.
Location: Scout Hall, 14A Jolley Street, Brunswick West
When: 11 am to 2 pm, the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month
Contact: Adua
Phone: 0408 336 304
Peer Group Stories
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