Past Events
Belonging Matters holds a number of seminars and workshops throughout the year to inspire, inform and build the capacity of people with a disability, families, allies, workers and professionals to enable people with disabilities to enjoy personally fulfilling and valued lives in the community.
"The more you attend Belonging Matters seminars, the more you learn and get inspired" (Comment from participant)

Introduction to Circles of Support Webinar, Bass & Gippsland
20th & 27th October 2020
Self-managing NDIS funding and directing one’s own supports is a very empowering way to have control and work towards the good things in life. However, people may be discouraged thinking that self-management is a difficult process.
It is not a service or program but rather a group of people who are intentionally invited to come together in friendship and support of a person with disability, for the purpose of achieving their goals and protecting their interests into the future. Circles of Support can enable: more people in the life of each individual who are not paid to be there, an increase in the number of new and positive roles that people hold, reconnection with family members, expanded social and economic opportunities, an important safeguard for the future and a better life.
Understanding Intellectual Disability Webinar Series
26th May, 2nd and 9th June, 2020
Self-managing NDIS funding and directing one’s own supports is a very empowering way to have control and work towards the good things in life. However, people may be discouraged thinking that self-management is a difficult process.
Self Management: Introduction to Engaging and Directing Support Workers Webinar
12th May, 2020
Self-managing NDIS funding and directing one’s own supports is a very empowering way to have control and work towards the good things in life. However, people may be discouraged thinking that self-management is a difficult process.
Peer to Peer Exchange - Circles of Support
23rd, April, 2020
Circles of Support
The idea of an active support network is really an old idea in our society. For people with disabilities, Circles of Support are an idea and practice that has been around for over 25 years. It is not a service or program but rather a group of committed people who are intentionally invited to come together in friendship and support of a person with disability, for the purpose of achieving their goals and protecting their interests into the future.
Peer to Peer Exchange - Self Direction
13th February, 2020
Self Direction
Self-managing NDIS funding and directing one’s own supports is a very empowering way to have control and work towards the good things in life. However, people may be discouraged thinking that self-management is a difficult process.
Peer to Peer Exchange - Self Direction
28th November, 2019
Self Direction
Self-managing NDIS funding and directing one’s own supports is a very empowering way to have control and work towards the good things in life. However, people may be discouraged thinking that self-management is a difficult process.
Circles of Support - Caulfield North
13th, April 2019
The idea of an active support network is really an old idea in our society. For people with disabilities, Circles of Support is an idea and practice that has been around for over 25 years. It is not a service or program but rather a group of people who are intentionally invited to come together in friendship and support of a person with disability, for the purpose of achieving their goals and protecting their interests into the future. This is a practical workshop and will use interactive exercises, reflection and discussion!
Peer to Peer Exchange - Circles of Support
28th November, 2019
Circles of Support
The idea of an active support network is really an old idea in our society. For people with disabilities, Circles of Support are an idea and practice that has been around for over 25 years. It is not a service or program but rather a group of committed people who are intentionally invited to come together in friendship and support of a person with disability, for the purpose of achieving their goals and protecting their interests into the future.
Welcome Home Workshop
7th November, 2019
Self Direction
What is this workshop about?
Self-managing NDIS funding and directing one’s own supports is a very empowering way to have control and work towards the good things in life. However, people may be discouraged thinking that self-management is a difficult process.
Peer to Peer Exchange - Self Direction
8th, October 2019
Self Direction
Self-managing NDIS funding and directing one’s own supports is a very empowering way to have control and work towards the good things in life. However, people may be discouraged thinking that self-management is a difficult process.
Friendship
6th September 2019
Friendships are one of the most important things in our lives. Research has shown that relationships make a big difference to our well-being, safety, learning and health. Although meaningful social connection is a problem for many people in society today, people who have a disability and/or other needs are at greater risk of isolation, loneliness and disconnection. Although we recognise the need for mutual friendship, we often struggle with how to assist people with disabilities or other needs to develop and maintain relationships, particularly with a range of community members.
Life After School
23rd August, 2019
Life After School
Planning for life after school can seem daunting, especially when you have a disability. The options may seem slim and limited, however with vision, preparation and planning it’s possible for young people with a disability to thrive after school. This workshop aims to assist you to plan and prepare for life after school.
Circles of Support - Caulfield North
13th, April 2019
The idea of an active support network is really an old idea in our society. For people with disabilities, Circles of Support is an idea and practice that has been around for over 25 years. It is not a service or program but rather a group of people who are intentionally invited to come together in friendship and support of a person with disability, for the purpose of achieving their goals and protecting their interests into the future. This is a practical workshop and will use interactive exercises, reflection and discussion!
Peer to Peer Exchange - Self Direction
8th August, 2019
Self Direction
Self-managing NDIS funding and directing one’s own supports is a very empowering way to have control and work towards the good things in life. However, people may be discouraged thinking that self-management is a difficult process.
Connecting To Community
15th August, 2019
Do you feel isolated and disconnected from you community? Do you know or support people who feel the same? Through the richness of story telling, Mariam Issa, Lauren G and Deb Rouget explore the importance of belonging and how we can take practical steps to create contribution and connections for ourselves and with others who might be marginalised or disconnected from their communities.
Facilitating Conversations That Matter
30th April, 2019
Often our conversations and planning with people who have a disability and others who have needs often focuses on what people can’t do or finding “services” to fill people’s lives. This workshop will enhance your ability to facilitate deeper conversations which assist individuals to develop real and sustainable connection in their neighbourhoods and communities
Towards a Better Life
13th & 14th March, 2019
An exploration of the Social Role Valorisation framework with regard to people who are marginalised in society.
This two day event reflected on the value of obtaining the good things in life and how we may support people who may have been marginalised or disadvantaged to have better lives and greater involvement in their communities.
Facilitating Conversations That Matter - Wodonga
23rd November, 2018
Often our conversations and planning with people who have a disability and others who have needs often focuses on what people can’t do or finding “services” to fill people’s lives. This workshop will enhance your ability to facilitate deeper conversations which assist individuals to develop real and sustainable connection in their neighbourhoods and communities.
Circles of Support - Wodonga
22nd November, 2018
The idea of an active support network is really an old idea in our society. For people with disabilities, Circles of Support is an idea and practice that has been around for over 25 years. It is not a service or program but rather a group of people who are intentionally invited to come together in friendship and support of a person with disability, for the purpose of achieving their goals and protecting their interests into the future. Circles of Support can enable: more people in the life of each individual who are not paid to be there, an increase in the number of new and positive roles that people hold, reconnection with family members, expanded social and economic opportunities, an important safeguard for the future and a better life. This is a practical workshop and will use interactive exercises, reflection and discussion!
Circles of Support - Bendigo
20th November, 2018
The idea of an active support network is really an old idea in our society. For people with disabilities, Circles of Support is an idea and practice that has been around for over 25 years. It is not a service or program but rather a group of people who are intentionally invited to come together in friendship and support of a person with disability, for the purpose of achieving their goals and protecting their interests into the future. Circles of Support can enable: more people in the life of each individual who are not paid to be there, an increase in the number of new and positive roles that people hold, reconnection with family members, expanded social and economic opportunities, an important safeguard for the future and a better life. This is a practical workshop and will use interactive exercises, reflection and discussion!
Creating Change - Bendigo
15th October, 2018
Belonging Matters was established fifteen years ago by people with a disability, families and their allies to challenge the systemic exclusion of people with a disability. This celebration event is held in honour of the leadership provided by people with a disability, their families and allies to drive change and foster communities in which all people are welcome!
Facilitating Conversations That Matter
31st May, 2018
Deb Rouget & Teresa Micaleff
Often our conversations and planning with people who have a disability and others who have needs focuses on what people can’t do or finding “services” for people rather than how a person could contribute to their community. This workshop assisted facilitators and planners to enhance their skills and engage in deeper conversations about assisting people to pursue valued roles in the community.
Circles Of Support
7th March, 2018
Deb Rouget & Teresa Micaleff
The idea of an active support network is really an old idea in our society. For people with disabilities, Circles of Support is an idea and practice that has been around for over 25 years. It is not a service or program but rather a group of people who are intentionally invited to come together in friendship and support of a person with disability, for the purpose of achieving their goals and protecting their interests into the future. Circles of Support can enable: more people in the life of each individual who are not paid to be there, an increase in the number of new and positive roles that people hold, reconnection with family members, expanded social and economic opportunities, an important safeguard for the future and a better life.
Customised Employment
21st August 2017
Michael Callahan
The employment rates of people with a disability are staggeringly low and with the emergence of the new Disability Employment Framework, this event became all the more elevant Michael Callahan, a world renowned leader on Customised Employment provided a strategy that provides persons with disabilities, and indeed other people with significant barriers to employment, with an alternative to traditional, com- petitive job approaches. Customised Employment relies on a negotiated rather than competitive approach to employers. This approach to employment offers the promise of welcoming all persons with disabilities who wish to work into the open employment system and into a job that fits their needs and preferences. It also defines the critical roles required to support both the individual with a disability and the workplace to make employment a viable option for persons once thought to be unemployable.
Self Direction & The NDIS
27th April, 2017
Jan Kruger
Self managing NDIS funding and employing one’s own supports is a very empowering way to have control. However, people may be discouraged thinking that self-management is a difficult process. This seminar offered the opportunity to hear from a parent about their NDIS journey and to find out how and why they self- manage NDIS supports.
Activating Community Pathways
19th & 20th October, 2016
This two day course was an extended learning for people who are committed to the full inclusion of people with a disability in society but may be uncertain of how to enact such a vision. The course included presentation material, individual and group work, practical exercises and guided discussion. This workshop assisted partici- pants to design and pursue socially inclusive pathways.