Hello ,

Welcome to our first community newsletter for 2026.

We’re excited to kick off the year by sharing some great updates with you. In this edition, you’ll find news about upgrades to our children’s services building, the introduction of our new behaviour support practitioner, and details about planned group trips to the football.

We hope your year has started on a positive note, and we look forward to keeping you updated with more developments and opportunities as 2026 unfolds.

Kind regards,

The ConneXtions Team

Upgrade to boost life skills

A major upgrade to our children’s services building in Wodonga has given young people with a disability the opportunity to learn essential life skills and strengthen their social connections.

A new kitchen valued at $12,000 was installed at the Moorefield Park Drive facility with the help of volunteers, Chris Bourke and Eric Nigsch (pictured above) over the Christmas break.

ConneXtions CEO, Toni Reeves, said the work replaced induction cooktops and makeshift benches that the service has relied on since opening five years ago.

“As the program has developed and our young people are moving to more independent living and food preparation, we needed to do better,” she said.

“We needed a real kitchen with stoves, an oven and storage space. This would significantly enhance the program’s ability to teach cooking, menu planning, budgeting and food preparation.”

As well as supporting young people involved in our children’s program, Ms Reeves said the new kitchen would enable ConneXtions to extend the program to other people who interested in developing basic cooking skills and preparing nutritious meals.

“ConneXtions is an Albury Wodonga Foodshare ambassador, and this will assist with us purchasing the $25 food vouchers and turning them into meals for the week,” she said.

“This sometimes needs some creativity and support for people to see how this is possible with basic three to four ingredients recipes that can be learnt.”

ConneXtions, which is a not-for-profit organisation, is now seeking community support to upgrade flooring at a cost of $8700 to meet food safety regulations, as well as $3000 for new blinds.

New practitioner takes the lead

What Samantha Barlow once kept hidden at work is now considered one of her greatest strengths.

Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner, Samantha commenced with ConneXtions in January to oversee the organisation’s children’s services.

Despite holding a psychological science degree majoring in clinical neuroscience and more than 10 years of experience in the disability sector, Samantha has not always felt safe to share her own experiences with autism and ADHD, as well as her a comorbid connective tissue disorder, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

“When I first started working in the sector, I did not tell anybody that I had a disability at all, largely because of internal and external discrimination,” she said.

“I kept it secret for a really long time and then utilised the opportunity of moving to Melbourne to come out of my shell.”

More recently, Samantha worked for a mobile behaviour support company that celebrated having a staff member with lived experience of disability.

It was this same ethos that led her to apply for a role at ConneXtions, where people with disabilities are embraced and valued for what they contribute to the workplace and wider community.

Having autism and ADHD has also strengthened her connection with participants, some of whom have been curious about the cane she uses for walking.

“I definitely have felt that there have been certain participants that have felt a sense of safety coming up to me because we share some similarities,” Samantha said.

“When kids ask about why I have a cane, what’s wrong with my leg, and they’ll tell me I need two legs to use a swing.

“I think that’s great because they’re genuinely interested in learning other disabilities and other people, and it’s not a taboo thing.”

Samantha has been invited as a keynote speaker of the Behaviour Support Practitioners Australia conference on May 15, where she will address about 5000 practitioners about her experience in the industry as both a professional and a participant.

At ConneXtions, Samantha hopes to build on the great work already being done within children’s service, with a focus on a connection-based approach to behaviour support for people experiencing high levels of distress, emphasising the vital role of families and informal supports.

“I aim to ensure a trauma-informed approach is universally applied and applied as we move beyond COVID and its impact on the development, nervous systems and social experiences of younger generations,” she said.

Footy season is officially under way, and we're offering local sports fans a new way to catch the action live.

ConneXtions will host a series of organised trips to AFL and rugby matches for people with a disability to enjoy a fun day of sport, socialising and excitement.

Connie the ConneXtions minibus will depart from Wodonga and can cater for groups of up to three people, including wheelchairs.

Participants can nominate the match they wish to attend, giving fans the chance to back their favourite AFL team or cheer on their preferred rugby side.

Get in touch by sending your name, preferred code — AFL or rugby — and the game you would like to attend.

📞 (02) 6024 2460
📧 info@connextions.org.au

Respite for Shepparton families

Shepparton families seeking short-term support now have access to a new respite house operated by ConneXtions.

Situated in a quiet court, the home features four spacious bedrooms, two modern living areas and a large backyard, making it ideal for adults or children.

Short-term, medium-term and emergency accommodation are available, with all stays billed at standard NDIS rates.

Families or support coordinators looking to learn more, check availability, or make a booking are encouraged to reach out directly for further information.

Contact our Shepparton office

📞 1300 147 981
📧 info@connextions.org.au

Email: info@connextions.org.au

Website: www.connextions.org.au