Free disability workshops launch in Flemington with lunch and no NDIS needed

Registration is open for free two-hour peer support workshops in Flemington, designed for locals who are new to disability or living with a chronic health condition. The sessions run weekly at 25 Mt Alexander Road, include lunch, and do not require an NDIS plan to attend.

The workshops, run by Get Started Disability Support Australia Ltd and backed by Moonee Valley City Council, are aimed at people who have recently received a diagnosis, as well as their families and carers. Each session walks participants through the local supports and community resources available to them, without the paperwork or eligibility criteria that can make formal systems feel out of reach.

Sessions are capped at two hours and run in a small-group, peer-led format. Registration is essential and can be completed at getstarteddisability.org.au. There is no cost to attend, and lunch is provided.

Get Started Disability Support Australia is a new organisation that focuses on peer connections and local knowledge. By grounding the workshops in lived experience rather than bureaucratic pathways, it aims to reduce the isolation that often comes with navigating disability for the first time.

The program forms part of Moonee Valley City Council’s broader inclusion work through its Disability Action Plan 2024-2025 and the Accessible Moonee Valley initiative. The council also runs a Disability Advisory Committee and has been involved in consultations for state disability plans, making these workshops one of several touchpoints for residents outside the NDIS.

A common misconception is that all disability support hinges on NDIS eligibility. These sessions are open to anyone in the Moonee Valley community who is adjusting to a new diagnosis or chronic condition, regardless of their plan status. The organisers stress that the workshops are about finding real-world solutions close to home, not ticking boxes.

Tram routes along Mt Alexander Road and the nearby Flemington Bridge station on the Craigieburn line make public transport the easiest way to reach the venue. On-street parking is limited, so the council recommends allowing a few extra minutes if you are driving.

The next intake is open now, with sessions running weekly. For a family still learning the names of the services that might help them, it is a quiet place to start.