Kickstart Collective

03/12/2025

The 3rd of December every year is the International Day of People with Disability. This is a day to raise community awareness, understanding and acceptance of the 5.5 million Australians living with a disability.

At Kickstart, we follow the social model of disability. This model shifts the focus from 'fixing' people to fixing spaces, systems and attitudes. We strive to remove barriers to participation because access is not a privilege, it is a basic human right.

Happy International Day of People with Disability! 🧡⭐️

26/11/2025

The 25th November - 10th December 2025 mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This human rights campaign creates global solidarity to end violence against women and girls everywhere.

Join Rotary Maitland and other local services on the 28th November for the march through Maitland to say NO to domestic violence and YES to respectful relationships. 💜

Show your support to put an end to Domestic Violence - be part of the march through Maitland Levee this Friday - gathering at Maitland Library at 11.45am to march through the Levee to the Town Hall. Join us as we raise our voices to say NO to Domestic Violence.

22/10/2025

Our 6th and final week of Kickstart to Kindergarten!! ⭐

This week our wonderful friends completed dinosaur themed activities - dinosaur free play, digging for dinosaur bones and playing T-rex says!

OT Ruby and SP Eilish have loved running the Kickstart to Kindergarten group. It has been an absolute pleasure to watch these wonderful children learn and grow 🌈📚💫

19/10/2025

Meet speech pathologist Chloe! 🌈

Chloe is passionate about all things paediatrics and loves supporting children and their families through all modes of communication. When Chloe isn't at work you might find her at the beach, camping or listening to music.

We are so happy to have you on our team Chloe! 🌟

17/10/2025

At Kickstart, we believe there’s no “right” way to communicate — whether it’s with words, pictures, devices, or gestures, every voice counts! 💬🧡

October is AAC Awareness Month, an opportunity to celebrate the incredible communicators, families and therapists who use AAC everyday. AAC facilitates not only communication but learning, engagement, creativity, emotional expression and connection.

Let’s keep finding fun, meaningful ways to help everyone be heard — because communication is for all. 🙌

13/10/2025

Kickstart to Kindergarten Week 5!! We had a Teddy Bear Picnic 🐻🧺🍉

This week's activities targeted fine motor skills (cutting and pasting), auditory processing, following directions, turn-taking and social skills - all through Teddy Bear Picnic themed activities!! 🌟

09/10/2025

Messy Play Day!!!! 🌈⭐🐋

Messy play creates opportunities to explore textures, experiment with cause and effect, and express creativity. Sensory experiences support brain development, problem-solving skills and fine motor skills — all while having fun! 🫧

09/10/2025

📚 Maitland Libraries Book Sale is back!

It’s time to stock up on great reads at bargain prices. From much-loved novels to non-fiction gems, children’s books, cookbooks, magazines, and more — there’s something for every book lover.

Want first pick of the bargains? Buy a presale book bag and get early access before doors open to the public. You’ll skip the queue and be among the first to browse the full range.

📍 Maitland Town Hall
🗓️ Saturday 8 Nov, 9am–1pm
🎟️ Presale bags available now.

Grab your presale bag ⬇️ Link in the comments!

02/10/2025

Kickstart to Kindergarten Week 4 - Space Week!! 🚀👨‍🚀

Space themed activities with our fantastic little learners. This week we made astronaut masks, played 'Rob the Nest' - planet style, listened to a Space Book and engaged in sensory space play! 💫💫

23/09/2025

Kickstart to Kindergarten Week 3 - Transport Week!!! 🚂🚂

This week our fantastic friends engaged in activities all about transport. We completed an obstacle course, watching the traffic lights and waiting for the green signal to go. We listened to a book about a Teddy Bear who caught the train. We worked very hard on their name writing to create a Kickstart to Kindy name train. And we used our listening skills to play transport Bingo!! 🤩🤩

Eilish and Ruby can't wait to see you all again next week ⭐🌈

15/09/2025

Week 2 of Kickstart to Kindergarten - our school readiness group run by Occupational Therapist Ruby and Speech Pathologist Eilish. This week was animal themed! 🐻

We listened to a book about a very cranky bear, used fine motor skills to make animal masks, followed directions to sort animals into their sensory homes and completed an obstacle course jumping like kangaroos! ⭐🌈

Please contact hello@kickstartcollective.com.au to register interest for our term 4 Kickstart to Kindergarten group.

08/09/2025

Thursday 11 September is R U OK? Day - a reminder to check in with the people around us, because a conversation could change a life.

Here are the 4 steps of an R U OK conversation:

1. Ask
🌻 Choose a time and place where they’ll be comfortable opening up.
🌻 Ask in a way that works for you. You don’t have to use the exact
words, ‘are you OK?’.
🌻 You could even gently point out what you’ve noticed or mention something that’s going on for them.

2. Listen
🌻 Take what they say seriously and don’t interrupt or rush them.
🌻 Don’t judge their experiences or reactions but acknowledge their feelings.
🌻 Encourage them to explain by asking open ended questions like: “How are you feeling about that?” or “How long have you felt that way?”

3. Encourage action
🌻 Ask them what have they’ve done in the past to manage similar situations.
🌻 Encourage them to think of something that could help them lighten the load.
🌻 If they’ve been feeling really down for an extended period of time or they seem to be really struggling, encourage them to seek professional support. Offer to help them research appropriate services.

4. Check in
🌻 Set yourself a reminder to check in with them again soon.
🌻 You could say: “I’ve been thinking of you and wanted to know how you’ve been going since we last chatted.”.
🌻 You might need to repeat the above steps. Your ongoing, genuine care will help them feel supported.

For more resources and tips on how to ask 'Are you okay?' visit
https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask.