Inclusion Seekers Series: Building Community (Introduction Session)

Inclusion Seekers series: Building community

PART 1: INTRODUCTORY SESSION

Date: Thursday, 1 October, 2026

Time: 9.30 am to 10.30 am AEST

(You can attend the Introductory Session prior to booking to attend the 4-session course, which will run over 4 weeks).

Building strong communities matters now more than ever. In a world that can often feel disconnected, a true sense of belonging, support, and shared purpose is vital, especially for people with disability.

While many of us share the vision for a more connected community, knowing where to start—and how to keep the momentum going—can feel daunting, especially for those most at risk of isolation.

Following a hugely successful debut, Belonging Matters is thrilled to team up with Imagine More to bring back the Inclusion Seekers series!

Connect with others who value community and belonging, gain practical tools to drive real inclusion, and turn your vision into lasting neighbourhood connection.

This online workshop is an introduction to a series of 4 online sessions that will cover a variety of topics:

• Develop a deeper understanding of the barriers that people with disabilities and their families often face when seeking to find meaningful roles in their communities.

• Learn how to identify and strengthen the roles of families, supporters and neighbours in assisting people with disabilities to become part of the community, not just present in it.

• Acquire practical tools to help uncover the unique gifts of both individuals and their communities.

• Build fresh strategies to intentionally plan experiences that bring inclusion to every community member, making diversity something we truly celebrate, not just welcome.

Cost

• People with disability and their family members - $15.00. Fully subsidised tickets are available for people with disabilities/families (contact Anne at anne@imaginemore.org.au for a discount code).

• Professionals - $35.00.

Ticket prices directly contribute to building community projects.

Registrations close on 29 September 2026.

Book your ticket for the Introductory Session Now!

What's next?

You can attend just this introductory session; however, if it has sparked your interest and you want to learn more, you can join a 4-session online course on Thursday, 5, 12, 19, and 26 November 2026.

Registrations for this course will open on 1 October at https://events.humanitix.com/inclusion-seekers-course

Following the 4-session course, 20 people with disability and their families/supporters will be invited to join our hands-on Design Sessions. These sessions offer coaching to help design and launch a neighbourhood gathering or project. Micro-grants will be available for up to 20 projects. Priority will be given to those living in the ACT and VIC. There is no cost in joining the Design Sessions. More information will be provided during the course!

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Additional information about the Inclusion Seekers series 

Who is this series for?

This series is aimed towards people with intellectual disabilities and autism and their families. It will also be useful for direct support workers to join in the sessions alongside the individuals and families they support. Others who want to build authentic inclusion are more than welcome to join the Introduction Session and Course. 

About the speakers

Storytellers - Hear directly from inspiring Australian storytellers as they share real experiences, key learnings, and creative ideas from their own neighbourhood gatherings and projects.

Tim Vogt became Executive Director of Starfire in 2006, initially leading award-winning programs for people with disabilities. Realising these segregated programs perpetuated social isolation, Tim spent the next seven years completely transforming Starfire's values, culture, and programs toward genuine community inclusion. In 2017, he shifted focus to family-led, non-segregated models, launching Starfire's Family Network and Learning Network to help families and organisations build authentic local support systems.

Bridget Vogt has been a Community Builder with Starfire since 2000, earning statewide recognition in Ohio in 2017 for her work to reduce social isolation for people with developmental disabilities. Prioritising grassroots action over executive roles, she trains staff in person-centred planning, trauma-informed care, and Social Role Valorisation, while directly partnering with individuals to launch citizen-driven community projects.

Overview of how Inclusion Seekers works

Feedback about the last series

What participants loved

Real-life examples: Hearing practical examples of projects and family experiences.

Neighbourly connections: Learning the vital role neighbours play in creating lasting belonging.

Actionable steps: Simple encouragement to start small—one step at a time.

Creative thinking: Gaining novel ideas to launch fresh inclusion efforts.

How participants described the experience

“Inspiring, empowering, and eye-opening.”

“Thought-provoking, refreshing, and full of possibilities.”

“Energising and life-giving!”

“A wonderful space for people from all walks of life to find meaningful ways forward.”

Other information

We highly recommend that you consider inviting a friend, partner, colleague, neighbour, supporter or person to join you in the sessions  – they can be a great ally in your community learning and building. 

Accessibility

We aim to ensure that people have equal access to our events. If you need alternative formats or other reasonable adjustments at this event, please provide details when you register your booking online. 

For further information, please contact

Imagine More:  Phone 0491 645 816 or email: anne@imaginemore.org.au 

Belonging Matters: Phone 03 9739 8333 or email info@belongingmatters.org