Winter has a way of reminding us just how important community is, and this edition of Village News is full of examples of that in action. I want to start by sharing the story of one of the children we recently supported, who we'll call Sammy.
Sammy was four years old and approaching kindergarten age, for many families, this is an exciting milestone, but for Sammy and his family, it was a goal that once felt out of reach.
Sammy was struggling to tolerate wearing clothing and would often become overwhelmed, sometimes resulting in behaviours that were unsafe for him and those around him. He also had a sleep pattern that meant he was often awake throughout the night and sleeping during the day. Although he was old enough for kinder, attending safely and successfully was not yet possible.
Over many months, Sammy's family worked alongside our staff to build the skills and supports he needed. Step by step, Sammy began adjusting to daytime routines, developed skills that supported his participation in daily activities, and his educators gained confidence in supporting him.
Then came a moment worth celebrating when Sammy was ready for his first day at kinder.
For his family, it was much more than a ‘first day’, as it represented months of persistence, teamwork and hope. It created new opportunities for participation, learning and connection with his community.
The additional support provided through Learning for Life helped bridge a critical funding gap, enabling Sammy and his family to continue accessing support during an important period. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, more children like Sammy can access services regardless of their family's circumstances, supporting opportunities for participation, learning and connection.
Sammy's story is one of many, and this edition of the Village News is full of the community, programs, and partnerships that make moments like his possible. Read on to see what we've been up to, and how you can help us keep going.
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.
Everyone remembers the feeling of a first day and the stomach-dropping hope that it will be okay. For families of autistic and other neurodivergent children, that feeling carries differently. It's wondering whether the world will make room for your child. Whether the support you're hoping exists will be there.
At Learning for Life, we exist to be there in those moments, to say to a family, often at a point of real stress: we can help. We can help now.
Early, timely support builds confidence, eases pressure and helps children feel settled and included. It means families don't navigate the hard parts alone. It means teachers feel equipped to create classrooms where every child belongs. It means those firsts can feel a little more magical, and a little less daunting.
None of that happens without the generosity of this Village.
This financial year end, your gift will help Learning for Life respond when a family first reaches out, supporting children not just in one place, but across every place they live, learn, and play.
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, Network 10, Peninsula Hot Springs, Searoad Ferries, Tom Gleisner and Glenn Robbins and Working Dog. Thank you to Cones Ice Cream for providing dessert, and to Philip Robertson for capturing the magic!
Got some fitness goals to kick this winter?
Join the Learning for Life team at Run Melbourne 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 running alongside us.
And if you’re not a runner, you can still be part of it! You can donate directly to our fundraising page and cheer us on from the sidelines.
For some of our most dedicated supporters, leaving a gift to Learning for Life in their will is a deeply personal way to ensure that children and families continue to be supported long into the future.
A bequest of any size becomes part of a legacy that outlasts us all. It helps ensure that no family ever faces this journey alone, and that the work of this Village continues for the children who will need it years from now.
If you would like to have a chat with our team about leaving a legacy gift, please reach out to our Philanthropy team.
