Building friendships and connections in everyday community life
Tue, 30 June
|Box Hill Town Hall
This session focuses on how we can move beyond 'community presence' to foster authentic, reciprocal, lasting friendships.
Time & Location
30 June 2026, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
About the Event
What is this workshop about?
For people with developmental disabilities, the greatest safeguard isn’t a policy or a program—it’s a person who loves them. While social connection is vital for happiness, it serves an even deeper purpose—an informal safeguard. When people have deep roots in their community, they have a network of people who notice when they are missing, celebrate their presence, and instinctively advocate for their wellbeing.
This session focuses on how we can move beyond mere "community presence" to foster authentic, reciprocal friendships. We will explore how a person’s unique gifts and valuable contributions can be the bridge to relationships that shift from simple connection to a natural safeguard for the future—including for those with significant support needs.
Join us to learn how to build a community that doesn't just "include" your loved one, but actively looks out for them. Drawing on stories and proven strategies from agency…