What’s on for Summer

Summer is a time for the great outdoors and time with family and friends. Take a look at what’s on in your city.

What’s on in Brisbane

EquusTerra is a horse centre in Rocklea that offers riding, personal development, learning and hippotherapy. Therapeutic horseback riding is a form of physical therapy for people with disability. You can also interact with horses, learning how to groom and work with them on the ground. Engaging in these activities encourages a strong bond between people and animals. Creating an environment of trust and support facilitates healing and growth. Interaction and connection with horses is especially suited to those with sensory and anxiety disorders.

When: Bookings only.

Where: 40 Medway Street, Rocklea Qld

Tickets: Lessons range from $80 – $120. EquusTerra is NDIS registered.

Find out more: Check out the EquusTerra website: equusterra.com.au or call 0402 961 428 for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

What’s on in Sydney

The Chinese Garden of Friendship is a peaceful garden located in between Darling Square and Darling Quarter. Here, nature and culture blend together beautifully. Walk along pathways decorated with intricate pavilions, peaceful ponds (with koi fish!), and lush plants and flowers. Just take care on the paths, as some of them are uneven, and can be a bit slippery! Sit under the shade of willow trees, enjoy the sight and sound of gently flowing water transport you, and admire the many Chinese sculptures in the garden. If you’re there at the right time you can even help to feed the fish – meet the Interpretation Officers at 11.30am by the Lenient Jade Pavilion. You can also eat in the heritage-listed teahouse, which serves dumplings and Chinese tea.

When: Open daily from 10am – 5pm, except for Christmas Day and Good Friday. Koi fish feeding happens daily (when the garden is open) at 11am

Where: Pier Street, on the corner of Harbour St, Darling Harbour. Koi fish feeding is at the Lenient Jade Pavilion

Tickets: Adults $12, concession card holders and children $8

Find out more: Check out the Chinese Garden page on the Darling Harbour website: darlingharbour.com/precincts/chinese-garden or call (02) 9240 8888 for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

What’s on in Adelaide

The Hahndorf Academy is part art gallery, part retail shop, part museum and part art class. It is the second most visited gallery in South Australia. Located in a beautiful heritage building on the Main Street of Hahndorf, it’s only 30 minutes southeast of Adelaide, in the Adelaide Hills. The exhibitions in the art gallery change regularly. Over the summer months, you can check out The Dog Exhibition, a group exhibition about dogs (on from 17 December 2023 to 28 January 2024). In the museum, you can explore artefacts and stories about the First Nations Peramangk people, German settlers and Hahndorf village life in the early nineteenth century. The Academy also runs regular creative workshops and events. Check the website for information about workshops and classes – you might be able to try jewellery making, painting, weaving, knitting and more. They even have a yoga class.

When: Open 10am-5pm every day except Christmas Day

Where: 68 Main Street, Hahndorf

Tickets: Free entry

Find out more: Check out The Hahndorf Academy’s website: hahndorfacademy.org.au or call (08) 8388 7250 for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

What’s on in Melbourne

Explore Melbourne’s famous river, the Yarra, with a waterbike adventure right in the heart of the city! Waterbikes Australia run inclusive tours adventures for people of all ages and abilities. The waterbikes are low-impact and easy to operate. Customised experiences for people with disability can be designed. For some participants, a tandem bike is the way to go. A support person sits at the front and steers. You’ll both need to pedal though.

Waterbikes Australia also run tours in the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula.

When: Monday-Saturday 11am-7pm; Sunday 10am-7pm.

Where: Boathouse Drive, Melbourne. The tour starts near the rowing sheds next to Princes Bridge. You can get there via a ramped path or stairs from St Kilda Road.

Tickets: $90 – $180 minutes. Waterbikes Australia is a registered NDIS provider.

Find out more: Check out whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/waterbikes-australia or call 1300 343 462 for more information.

What’s on at Afford

Afford’s 12-week program of supports for summer kicks off on 2 January 2024 and runs through to 22 March 2024. There are some great activities on offer for a variety of interests. This is a snapshot of some of the things we have on offer for our clients.

In NSW

For summer, our Community Services clients can enjoy activities like swimming, going to the beach and park, travel skills, sewing and cooking, fitness in the park and a bouncing great time at Canley Vale at Flip Out!

In Queensland

For summer, our Ipswich Community Hub has a great assortment of activities including disco parties, animal encounters, sailing and nature walks.

Try out respite or Short-term Accommodation (STA) this summer

Short-term Accommodation (STA) is one of the home and living supports the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) might fund for participants. Sometimes STA is also called ‘respite’. STA or respite is accommodation away from your usual home. It gives people with disability the opportunity to try living independently before deciding to move into Supported Independent Living (SIL) on a full-time basis. You might also need supports and somewhere to stay while your family or primary support person is away on holiday, or you may like to stay in STA to take a break from living at home with family.

You can find out more about Afford’s Community Services here.

You can find out more about Short-term Accommodation at Afford here.