Lifely

13/11/2025

🐶 Paws-itively Purrfect Day Out! 🐱

Our Day Trip group had an amazing time at the Dog & Cat Lovers Expo! We met so many adorable cats and dogs, and honestly, we didn’t want to leave! Everyone had a blast giving pats, cuddles, and soaking up all the furry fun! 🥰🐾

Want to join in on our next adventure? 🌟 Reach out to Danielle at 📧 danielle.frisch@lifely.org.au — we’d love to have you come along!

10/11/2025

💚 You don’t need to have a disability to come along — just a good sense of humour!

Stand Up for Inclusion is a comedy show for the whole community, celebrating the talent, creativity and lived experience of people with disability through laughter and storytelling.

You’ll laugh, learn and see the world from a new perspective — all while supporting inclusion in a fun, positive way.

🎤 Featuring Oliver Hunter- Comedian, James G Warren and Ben Reid
📅 Wednesday 3 December 2025
🕖 7pm
📍 Academy of Creative Arts Theatre, Bendigo South East Secondary College
💰 Gold coin donation

🎟 Reserve your seat: lifely.org.au/events/stand-up-for-inclusion

Proudly presented by Lifely and Amicus Community Services.

08/11/2025

💬 Carers and families — we want to hear from you! 💜

Over the next two years, Lifely will be running carer information events across central and northern Victoria. 🌾

We want these events to be welcoming, practical, and truly useful — and that starts with your input.

Help us shape events that support you by sharing:
👉 What questions you want answered
📚 What topics you'd love more info on
🙋 What makes you want to attend an event
🎤 Whether you prefer workshops, guest speakers, or Q&As
📍 What venues work best for your family
🚗 What support you need to be able to attend
🙅‍♀️ And what you'd rather not see at these events

Your ideas will help us plan events that genuinely support local carers and families. 🌻

📩 Drop a comment below or send us a message — we’d love to hear from you!

05/11/2025

📣 Important announcement: Lifely and Amicus explore shared future 📣

We’re excited to share that Lifely and Amicus Community Services are in discussions about joining forces through a potential merger.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is changing, and disability services need to change as well. By joining forces, both organisations can better support regional and rural communities, give the best help to people with disabilities and their families, and keep services strong for the future.

Together, we’re exploring how this partnership could strengthen our services, create new opportunities, and ensure people across regional Victoria continue to receive the best possible support.

Both organisations will continue operating independently while we explore what’s possible, with no changes to current services or staffing during this process.

Read more in our media release and FAQs on our website. 🔗 Links in the comments.🔗

04/11/2025

💥 Final Call: Tomorrow’s the day! 💥

Inclusive Futures by Design: Social Innovation Hackathon kicks off tomorrow — and there’s still time to grab your spot!

Hosted by Lifely as part of Be.Bendigo’s Bendigo Business Unboxed 2025 festival, this hands-on, one-day event brings together business leaders, disability advocates, professionals, and community members to co-design practical ideas that make Central Victoria more inclusive for everyone.

This isn’t your average networking event — it’s about collaboration, creativity, and real change. The ideas we build tomorrow could become real projects that shape our region’s future. 🌈

✨ Don’t miss out on:
💡 Inspiring teamwork and fresh perspectives
🤝 New connections across industries
🌍 The chance to be part of lasting change in your community
🍽️ Great food, great company, great ideas

📅 Tomorrow – Thursday 6 November
🕒 10am–4pm
📍 Bendigo Regional Tennis Centre
💸 Free to attend | 🍴 Food provided | ♿ Accessible venue

👉 Final call to register now: https://loom.ly/76zj1qA

Be part of the movement that’s designing a more inclusive future — right here in Bendigo. 💚

03/11/2025

⚖️ Meet Our Judge: Josh Pell 🌟

We’re excited to introduce Josh Pell, Foundation Manager – Corporate Partnerships at Bendigo Bank, who’s joining the judging panel for this Thursday’s Inclusive Futures by Design Hackathon!

With over 12 years of experience in philanthropy, community engagement, and grantmaking, Josh brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic partnerships, innovation, and social impact. 💡

As a long-serving Lifely board member since 2018, Josh’s leadership and passion for building stronger, more connected communities continue to inspire positive change across regional Victoria.

🎟️ Last-minute seats are still available — register now!
👉 Link in comments 👇

03/11/2025

⚖️ Meet Our Judge: Natasha Williams 🌟

We’re thrilled to announce that Natasha Williams, CEO of Golden City Support Services, is joining our judging panel for this Thursday’s Inclusive Futures by Design Hackathon!

Natasha is known for her inclusive leadership, strategic insight, and passion for empowering people with disability to live connected, meaningful lives. 💡

Her commitment to innovation and person-centred practice makes her the perfect fit for this event.

There’s still time to register for your free ticket — don’t miss out!

👉 Link in the comments 👇

03/11/2025

🎤🌟 Shoutout to Jess! 🌟🎤

At our Adult Social Group karaoke night at the Camp Hotel in Eaglehawk, Jess stepped up, grabbed the mic, and sang her heart out in front of everyone! 💪

She was super brave and absolutely beautiful — her voice, her confidence, her whole vibe! 🌈

We were all so proud and totally blown away. Jess is already counting down to the next karaoke night — she’s got another song in the bag and she’s ready to shine again! 🎵🔥

01/11/2025

🏃‍♀️ Let’s get moving with Lifely! 🤸‍♂️

At our Outside School Hours Care programs, physical play is part of the fun every week. From dancing 💃 and obstacle courses 🏃‍♂️ to running games 🏃‍♀️ and building challenges 🧱, active play helps kids:

✅ Build strength and coordination
✅ Improve balance and confidence
✅ Boost brain power and focus 🧠

Because happy, active kids are ready to learn, grow, and shine—while having a blast doing it! ✨

😊 What activity gets your child moving and smiling every time? Share with us below! 👇

30/10/2025

⏰ One week to go! 📅

Just one week to go until Inclusive Futures by Design, hosted by Lifely as part of Be.Bendigo’s Bendigo Business Unboxed 2025 festival!

Join businesspeople, professionals, advocates, and community members for a one-day event where ideas become action.

Your creativity could spark lasting change — and one or more ideas from the Hackathon will be brought to life after the event — you or your business can help make it happen.

📅 Thursday 6 November
🕒 10 am–4 pm
📍 Bendigo Regional Tennis Centre
💸 Free to attend
🍽️ Food and drinks provided
♿ Accessible venue

👉 Be part of something bigger: https://loom.ly/76zj1qA

28/10/2025

🎤 Get ready to laugh for a good cause! 💙

Join us for Stand Up for Inclusion: Comedy Show — a night of bold stories, big humour and hearts open wide! 🎉

📅 Date: Wednesday 3rd of December 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
📍 Venue: Academy of Creative Arts Theatre, Bendigo South East Secondary College

💡 Hosted by local performer Ben Reid, with a lineup including:

James G Warren — Winner of Class Clowns at the 2013 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Oliver Hunter (Headliner) — Storyteller extraordinaire with a decade of sharing life with disability and neurodiversity

Why this night matters:

👉 We're celebrating the International Day of People with Disabilities with a comedy showcase where lived-experience takes the stage. Every act brings honesty, humour and heart.

👉 The venue is wheelchair accessible, with accessible parking and an Auslan interpreter provided. Other access needs? Just let us know when booking!

👉 Entry is FREE (gold-coin donation appreciated). 🎟️ A max of five tickets per order — for group bookings email stephanie.flynn@lifely.org.au or chris.lakey@lifely.org.au 📞 Questions? Contact 1300 799 421

✨ Whether you’re after big belly laughs, inspiration, or you just want a memorable evening, this is your ticket! Bring your mates, your sense of humour and maybe a tissue for those laugh-so-hard tears. 😂

Tickets are limited! Reserve your spot! 👉 https://lifely.org.au/events/stand-up-for-inclusion/

See you there for a night of inclusion, community and comedy! 🎭🙌

Proudly presented by Lifely and Amicus Community Services

Comedy show celebrating International Day of People with Disability 2025 in Bendigo, where lived experience meets laugh-out-loud comedy.

27/10/2025

🌟 Meet our Hackathon Judge — Michael McKern! 🌟

Michael is the Managing Director of McKern Steel, one of Victoria’s leading suppliers of residential structural steel. Guided by strong philanthropic values, he also leads the McKern Steel Foundation, which supports community initiatives like the Fresh Fruit Friday program — delivering fresh fruit to more than 10,000 students every week! 🍎

Behind the scenes, Michael’s generosity and leadership have powered some of Bendigo’s most iconic community projects. He knows what it takes to turn a good idea into lasting change — which makes him the perfect judge for Inclusion by Design: Social Innovation Hackathon. 💡