Weeroona championing an Autism-friendly Gympie

Weeroona Association is proud to announce it has received a $448,000 Peer Support and Capacity Building Grant from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to foster a more inclusive and autism-friendly Gympie community.

From February 2025 to December 2026, this transformative initiative will focus on increasing accessibility and inclusion for individuals with autism. Key components include peer support networks, capacity-building workshops, and the development of an Autism-Friendly Workplace Guide to help local businesses create supportive environments. Participating businesses will also receive free training on how to make their workplaces more welcoming for people with autism.

The project is about more than accessibility—it’s about creating opportunities. Individuals with autism will be employed to help deliver workshops, training sessions, and outreach activities, ensuring the program is led by people with lived experience.

Emily Larkin, CEO of Weeroona Association, shared her excitement for the initiative:

“This grant is a game-changer for our community. It’s about building a Gympie where people with autism feel they belong—whether at work, in social settings, or anywhere in between. We’re thrilled to collaborate with businesses and individuals to bring this vision to life while creating meaningful employment opportunities for people with autism.”

Workshops will be hosted at the Weeroona office, with community outreach activities extending across the Gympie region.

For over 35 years, Weeroona Association has been a trusted provider of flexible support services for people with disabilities and their families. With this new initiative, Weeroona continues to champion a more inclusive future for everyone.

For more information about the program or to get involved, contact Weeroona Association at 07 5482 2451.