Helping you to have that once in a lifetime experience
the how
Set up your adventure
The NDIA has given this very awesome gift and oppurtunity for NDIS participants to have. They have been given choice and control to create an experiences for themselves.
One of the tools to achieve this is Short Term Accomodation and Respite. This could be as simple as a real quite couple of days away, in a lovely location of your choosing with minimal support. To a 2 week action packed adventure of a lifetime with someone by yourside and supporting you the whole way. The choice is yours. In the same way that no two adventures are the same, neither do they cost the same. We don't just charge the maximum rate! We are very open and transparent about the initial budget and then we bill the actual final costing of the trip (This is usually almost identical).
our process
Discover your next adventure
We really like to find what our staff’s passions are and match them up with you want to achieve.
There really isn't a limit to what your imagination, our great organising and a pinch of inspiration can cook up. We work within the guidelines set out by the NDIA and greatly appreciate the scope that is there for you to really have that experience of a lifetime.
We then take the time and effort to work with you to design this experience. We dont like telling you what your experience has to be, but rather help create the experience that your going to love. That's what brings us joy!
some examples
Adventure Snapshots
We are only limited by your imagination and creativity
Here we have a few examples of different types and themes of an adventure. Also how they relate to particular workers passions and expertise. At the end of the day we will be able to work with you to create almost any experience.
The Experience
Has your world been too small, for too long? Is the open road calling? Our Epic Adventure STA may be what you’re searching for. For more extended trips into the wilderness, through the outback, among the mangroves, along the coastline or out onto the ocean. Wherever your sense of adventure is leading - we create your epic itinerary and help clear the path, so your disability is just one part of your experience, while any challenges are managed together.
How we make it happen
Whether a specific destination, like Uluru, Lake Eyre, The Daintree or Ningaloo Reef, or perhaps a style of travel like ‘van life’, a cruise ship experience, a wildlife tour or even searching for dinosaur prints - whatever interests you - we find what your daily rhythm looks like, then make sure your trip speaks to your personality and your dreams.
Our Passion and Expertise
Our team have traversed every state of our country, high places and low. All combined, we have an encyclopaedic knowledge of this incredible land. If there’s somewhere we haven’t been, we find people who have, to ensure that local advice guides each stop along your epic adventure.
Your Potential Benefits
Visiting the deserts, mountains, goldmines, footy games, art galleries and wherever else you might have thought would always be out of reach.You have the opportunity to broaden your horizons further. You can experience things first hand you only watched on TV till now. No more FOMO. Just boots, or wheels, on the ground, finally going there yourself.
The Experience
Does ‘rest and respite’ sound like your idea of boring? Are you an adrenaline junkie instead? Roller coasters, jet boat rides, indoor skydiving, stunt planes, hot air balloons, animal encounters - whatever gets your heart racing - we can deliver it in your next adventure.
Most people think STAs are only about recovery, but they can also be about making memorable experiences. If ‘memorable’ means rafting through river rapids, or zip-lining through the trees, or maybe doing your first-ever bungee jump - then that’s the memory you should create.
And we’re here to help you do it all.
How we make it happen
If thrill-seeking is your thing, then we want to know what your wildest dreams are. Submarines, Spaceflight (okay maybe that one’s a little difficult) - but any crazy wild idea you have - we can work out where, and how you can do it so it works for your disability.
Being disabled should never mean you can’t go on that ride, or be shot out of a human cannon into a circus net. Whatever gets you pumped, we’ll go out of our way to do it securely while treating you as a human being, not someone who needs to be coddled or babied. Now that's what I call choice and control.
Our Passion and Expertise
Luckily, you have some fellow danger monkeys in the Meliora team. Throwing ourselves off cliffs (into water) and riding open-air bi-planes are also our idea of fun.
We also have experience doing it with participants. We know you need the right gear, the right location and the right safety procedures in place. We conduct risk assessments before and during these activities and communicate to see if you need to catch your breath for a minute, or even a whole day. I doubt you would be able to find something that none of our workers would get in and do it with you, if you wanted.
Your Potential Benefits
Bare knuckles, white hair, jelly legs and dicey stomachs! But seriously, the best benefit is that moment of absolute freedom, whether it’s weightlessness or feeling a 5G force pushing back into your seat. Often it’s breaking those barriers of fear and ‘I could never do that’. Never say never. Reach out to us first and we’ll do our best to say ‘absolutely yes’. (then scramble to work out the hows)
The Experience
Picture this absolute VIP experience: Front row seats and middle of the track, behind-the-scenes tours, in the pits with the crew, having lunch with the driver and team, travelling with the crew, team and driver, watching the Nitro engines get stripped down and re-assembled and even a few laps in the passenger seat of a 2 seater sprint car! If you can begin to picture this then you have a small glimpse of some of the experiences we can offer in our inclusive, very exclusive motorsport adventures.
How we make it happen
We do this by passing the reins to one of our workers, who lives and breathes motor sports day in, and day out, to develop a package that ticks all of the boxes for what you’d love to achieve and experience in the motor sport field. Depending on exactly what you desire, a lot of the time we will have you doing things that mere mortals only dream of.
Our Passion and Expertise
This is an area where several of our key staff members have a near lifetime's worth of experience. Dirt-based racing and drag cars are their special focus, but they do get involved in pretty much every type of motorsport you’ll find in Australia. These guys are at the tracks most weekends, in race teams doing what is the norm for them, but most rev heads’ wildest dreams. You’ll get to experience things like a local, going being behind the scenes, meeting the professionals and doing things never offered to the public. A unique and exclusive experience for anyone who loves the smell of fumes, burnt rubber and fast speeds
Your Potential Benefits
Meeting new people with the same passion, feeling the rush from the speed and excitement, complete fume overwhelm, adrenaline pumping, being outdoors, travelling to new destinations and having experiences that money just can't buy. These will be the memories that will stay with you till those last fleeting moments when your life flashes before your eyes for the very last time.
The Experience
The underwater world is a weird, wonderful and completely alien experience to us land-bound humans. A place of beauty, weightlessness and magic. One that not everyone has been able to enjoy, but thankfully a lot of people with a disability can. We have helped some participants have some life-changing experiences. Assisting them to come up close and personal with some of the most beautiful and majestic creatures, animals, corals and plants on this planet. This could be diving along the FNQ great barrier reef on the Mike Ball, diving with the Manta Rays at Lady Elliot Island or even diving with over 100 Grey Nurse Sharks (The labrador of the ocean) at Wolf Rock near Rainbow Beach. Really, anywhere with good diving, great operators and a safe experience is a possibility for your STA.
How we make it happen
We currently work with Scuba World on the Sunshine Coast, to go through the whole assessment process, training and first experiences of scuba diving. They have over 40 years in the diving industry and are regarded as leaders in the field of safety, expertise, thoroughness and enjoyment.
Our Underwater Adventure process includes the following steps:
- Obtain medical clearance
- Potential allied health letter on safety and benefits
- have a ‘Pool Dive’ experience to measure your suitability
- Complete a learn to dive course (Open Water Certificate)
- obtain equipment if needed (disability-specific dive equipment)
- go diving!
One of our workers can be by your side through the whole process as your ‘Dive Buddy’ and have one-on-one training, or you can just be supported to go through the process on your own. However you want to be supported in your Underwater Adventure STA, we can work with you to make it happen.
Our Passion and Expertise
We have a team of experienced scuba diving professionals and enthusiasts who absolutely love this world. We are passionate about helping others, especially people with a disability, get to experience it too. One of our workers also works directly for Scuba World as a professional Dive Guide, mainly guiding on the Ex-HMAS Brisbane dive site, which is regarded as Australia’s #1 artificial wreck dive.
Your Potential Benefits
Scuba Diving is an enjoyable form of hydrotherapy that helps reduce physiological aches and pains, which has the flow-on effect of better emotional and cognitive functioning. Diving also increases fitness, strength and flexibility. The experience of diving takes the weight and pressure off the human body in a weightless environment and lets the body exercise without that stress. Also, the social components, breathtaking experiences and sense of achievement that come from going through the process are absolutely fantastic. Practising breathing and mindfulness also has some great benefits on the nervous system. These are just some of the direct benefits of an underwater adventure.
The Experience
Are you so burnt out that no words can describe your life anymore? Are things just getting worse and worse with no end in sight? Maybe you’re the carer. Maybe you’re a participant. But you definitely need a genuine break. Maybe from each other. Maybe together or maybe you don’t even have a carer.
Finding your idea of relief, your ideal sanctuary for a chance to recover, rest and recharge - that’s our job.
Maybe it’s a private plunge pool in the forest. Maybe it’s a camper van slowly winding through the red sands out west. Maybe it’s a houseboat moored in the middle of Noosa river. We will find it, book it and bring you there with a minimum amount of stress.
How we make it happen
We take care to pick accommodation that fits the bill. If that means you don’t want to see anybody for three days, that’s what you get. If you want somebody with you 24/7, we can do that too.
We can organise massages, spa pamper packs, meditation and any other chill activity that can help you catch your breath again.
Whether it’s a relaxing dinner at the surf club overlooking the waves, or maybe just a safe space for a big cry - we’ll be there to facilitate, and when needed, disappear and give you your privacy.
Our Passion and Expertise
We choose the perfect support workers who are experts in helping you talk as much, or as little as you want about what’s been going on in your life.
Many of our staff have been through a constant series of exhausting experiences. We’ve learnt to become sensitive to people’s feelings and requirements, to listen carefully, and to respect where you’re at.
With several decades of experience between us, supporting people in crisis, we genuinely care about your long-term health and well-being - and will do our best to uphold our principles in supporting you for your quiet getaway.
Your Potential Benefits
The opportunity to have some time and space away from the house, the conflicts, the strained relationships - and whatever else might have you stuck or even spiraling downwards.
With a Quiet Getaway STA, you will be able to be in the perfect environment for you, to allow yourself to go through whatever you need to: emotionally, physically and mentally - with as much, or as little support by your side as you genuinely want.
Our goal is that you come back feeling more like yourself, and more able to face and deal with whatever comes along.
The Experience
The city lights do sparkle bright, but for people with disability who live in the outer suburbs or rural towns, it’s hard to access all that cities have to offer.
Whether it’s going to a concert with your favourite musician, watching a live stage show, bashing some anger out in a smash room, playing dozens of arcade games and ten-pin bowling, trying new foods from far-off places, seeing specialist doctors to support your health, or even shopping for those special items you can’t usually buy, whatever it is about the cities you want to experience, we can help you design the City Life STA you want.
How we make it happen
We start by taking the time to find out more about your interests and curiosities, then go research to find out exactly what you CAN do in the city. Whether it’s IMAX movies at Darling Harbour or visiting the quirky MONA museum in Hobart - we will ensure there’s a great variety of activities, experiences and places that you can enjoy.
We also have a list of fantastic disability-friendly hotels and Airbnbs for accommodation while you’re in the city. If they don’t meet your needs, we’ll find somewhere better.
With all the rush and excitement the city offers, we also build in plenty of rest time and flexibility into your STA as well. So if you need an afternoon to starfish on the couch, we totally get it and will probably join in as well.
Our Passion and Expertise
Our team includes people who live and breathe the city life. We know the traffic, the cafes, the little sightseeing spots, the best shopping centres, and quiet little parks to catch your breath.
With some support workers living locally in cities, this can also reduce the overall cost of your STA, especially if you want less direct support hours.
Your Potential Benefits
You can engage in diverse culture, exciting cuisines, entertainment and special events, plus more during your City Life experience. Some people need a quiet break, but some of us can’t wait to be among the skyscrapers and nightlife. If that’s what makes you feel like you’re supported, then we’re happy. It’s your NDIS plan, after all.
The Experience
Do you spend your spare time watching David Attenborough passionately talk about the natural environment? Or maybe you dream of spending your time at petting zoos and cuddling all the animals. Whatever it is about nature that you want to be involved in, we can work to make it happen. Spend a few days on a horse stud working with breeders and trainers. Or go camping in Mount Kaputa National Park in the spring and experience the bloom of wildflowers, cold crisp nights, spectacular vistas and natural environment that is sadly becoming rarer and rarer to find in our world. Enjoy it now while we can and soak up all that nature has to offer.
How we make it happen
There's not usually a lot of complexity to organising events like this: brainstorming and designing the adventure with you, plus our due diligence and research to ensure a memory you will cherish for years to come. Nature is so vast and beautiful in this massive country we call Australia. Good luck trying to find a piece of it that doesn't have anything at all interesting to see or do.
Our Passion and Expertise
We’ve never met anybody without some interest, desire, connection, or enjoyment of nature at all. Most of our team have the passion to get involved in trips like this. Some of our workers have also been directly involved in nature-based activities and ventures. We can guarantee that we can create a trip that all involved will absolutely love.
Your Potential Benefits
Most of us are aware of the benefits of a connection with nature. Having a disability sometimes puts up barriers to achieving this, but it doesn't make it impossible. With the right planning and can-do attitude of our team, we will help you to receive some, if not all of the benefits the natural world can provide.
The Experience
If you love the ocean and being secluded from normal life then Island Adventures are an absolute must! There are always plenty of things to see and do, add in a highly reputable provider like the guys on Lady Elliot Island and you'll surely love every moment. Think nature, water activities, comfort and relaxation. This can include daily nature tours, turtle laying and hatching, whale watching, snorkelling, boat tours, scuba diving and swimming. Combine this with some great accommodation and food and you will be having one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
How we make it happen
These are usually quite easy to organise and get in place. We like to take people to an island that at least one of our team has been to before, but are also completely fine with going somewhere that is totally new. We always do our research, check the reviews and ask around to help guarantee that we can accommodate any of your specific needs and wants.
Our Passion and Expertise
Who wouldn't be passionate about spending time on a beautiful island? We have a worker who was a tour guide on a K’Gari, another worker who led a scuba dive trip on Lady Elliot Island. Otherwise it's just the consistent theme of love and passion for nature, watersports, adventure and getaways that almost all of our workers have, which means we will be doing our best to make sure you have an absolute cracker of a time.
Your Potential Benefits
Want to experience the benefit of no phone calls, no Facebook, and no immediate link to the outside world, then visiting an island can be a really great way to achieve this. Of course, we also have a portable Starlink connection that can be set up anywhere in the world to stay connected. Other benefits include meeting new people, having new experiences, seeing new places, and experiencing the sunrise and sunset over water on the same day. A place of paradise!