As we move into another Melbourne winter and prepare to begin a new financial year, I've found myself reflecting on the past two years as CEO of Learning for Life.
When I joined Learning for Life, I knew I was coming into an organisation with a really strong reputation for supporting autistic children and their families. What I've come to appreciate even more is that our reputation has never really been just about the services we provide. It's about people. It's about a community of families, staff, volunteers, donors, partners and advocates who all share a belief that every child deserves to be understood, included and given the opportunity to reach their potential.
The disability sector continues to experience significant change. As I’ve mentioned before, like many organisations, we’re feeling the uncertainty surrounding NDIS reforms and the broader service system.
But if you walked through our office on any given day, you wouldn't hear conversation about funding. You'd hear conversations about children. Clinicians sharing the excitement of a child using words to communicate for the first time, joining in with peers, becoming more independent, or a family beginning to feel hopeful again after months of uncertainty. Often they're small stories, but they're the stories that matter. They're the stories that quietly remind us, every day, why Learning for Life exists.
I've also come to appreciate just how much L4Life has been built on relationships. Our founders have spent many years respectfully nurturing connections that continue to support Learning for Life today. Those relationships have opened doors, created opportunities and introduced people to our cause who may never otherwise have found us. I value them enormously, but they also remind me that our responsibility isn't simply to maintain those relationships, it is to continue growing them. To keep extending our village, welcoming new supporters, new partners and new conversations, so the future of Learning for Life is supported by an even broader community of people who believe in what we do.
One of my highlights this year has been our recent Kwiz for the Kidz. Looking around the room and seeing so many people choosing to spend their evening supporting children and families they may never meet was a wonderful reminder of what community looks like. It was also a pleasure to meet so many of you personally. My hope is that next year I'll know even more names, hear even more stories and have the opportunity to thank many more people individually for the part they play in our work.
While our clinical team continues changing lives one child and one family at a time, much of my own work happens around meeting tables rather than therapy tables. This year has been filled with conversations with government, departments, schools, kindergartens, philanthropic trusts and corporate organisations. Those conversations matter because our future depends on partnerships as much as programs. We're committed to continuing to diversify our funding and strengthen the relationships that will allow us to respond to whatever the future brings. We have been here before the NDIS, we are here today, and I have every confidence we will be here long after today's reforms have passed.
As another financial year begins, thank you for continuing to stand beside us. Whether you've donated, volunteered, attended an event, introduced us to someone new, or simply shared our story with others, you've strengthened our village.
Learning for Life has never been sustained by a funding model alone. It has always been sustained by people.
Thank you for being part of our Village.
Warm regards,
Nicci Godsman
CEO
February marked the launch of the Inclusion Works® Early Years program, and now at the halfway mark, we're proud to say it's well and truly underway.
Our Early Intervention team is embedded in three early learning centres within the region of Boroondara, working side-by-side with educators in their classrooms, within the everyday rhythms of early learning. The program is practical and hands-on by design: building educator confidence, developing inclusive strategies, and responding to children's needs in real time. As our Head of Early Intervention, Claire Birrell, put it: "It's not about doing more - it's about simply doing things slightly differently."
This program has been made possible through the generous philanthropic support of Inner East Community Support (IECS), whose commitment to early inclusion has allowed us to extend this work into the settings where children are already learning and growing. It builds on our established Primary Years Inclusion Works® program, which continues to grow its partnerships with primary schools in 2026.
To mark the end of Term 1 and celebrate the people making this possible, we gathered for a morning tea at the Hawthorn Arts Centre. We were honoured to be joined by representatives from Inner East Community Support, members of Boroondara City Council, staff from our participating early learning centres, and John Pesutto MP. It was a warm reminder of what's possible when a community gets behind a shared vision for inclusion.
The 14th Kwiz for the Kidz returned this year to be everything we hoped it would be! Tickets sold out within the first week, the outfits were spectacular, the competition was fierce, the laughs were plenty, and the generosity of the Village was, as always, truly humbling.
We are thrilled to announce that Our Village helped to raise over $50,000 for Learning for Life Autism Centre! Every single dollar will go towards supporting families with autistic and other neurodivergent children, and that is something worth celebrating. Thank you to every single person who bought a ticket, gathered a team, dressed up, showed up, and gave so generously.
This Village never fails to amaze us. We couldn't do what we do without you.
Special thanks goes to our hosts Tom Gleisner and Glenn Robbins, and musical entertainment Katie Weston, to event sponsor Lucas Dental, to every person and business that donated items for the raffle and auction; AFL, Alba Thermal Springs & Spa, Ascombe Maze, Bendigo Bank Inner East, Bunnings, Carlton Brewhouse, Docklands Studios, Ena, Glenferrie Gourmet, Green Acres, Jan Jacklin, Leaf Store, Luna Park, Moon Lit Sanctuary, Peninsula Hot Springs, Searoad Ferries, Tom Gleisner and Glenn Robbins and Working Dog. Thank you to the volunteers that helped keep the night running smoothly, thank you to Cones Ice Cream for providing delicious dessert, and to Philip Robertson Photography for capturing the magic!
Got some fitness goals to kick this winter?
Join the Learning for Life team at Run Melbourne to walk or run alongside us this July, and help raise funds to support L4Life families. Whether you're lacing up for the first time or chasing a personal best, we'd love to have you there with us.
And if you’re not participating, you can still show your support! You can donate directly to our fundraising page and cheer us on from the sidelines.
One of Learning for Life’s very own is taking on the half the marathon to mark 10 years with the organisation. Hannah is hoping to hit a personal best, and we’re backing her incredible efforts every step of the way! 🏃♀️➡️
To every supporter reading this, thank you.
The moments that matter most to families, those first days, those first appointments, those quiet breakthroughs, happen because of you. Your generosity helps ensure families can access support when they need it and reminds them, they don't have to navigate the journey alone. Thank you for being part of this Village. We wouldn't be here without you.
Warm regards,
The team at Learning for Life
