What are leisure and lifestyle services?
Explore your community and connect with new people.
Everyone connects in different ways. One thing’s for sure, though: we can all enjoy the experience of meeting new people who have similar stories or experiences to our own.
Through finding and getting involved with different leisure and lifestyle activities in our communities, we can explore the world while discovering new information and ideas.
At Guide Dogs, we can support you to access social and lifestyle activities based on your interests, what you’re comfortable with, and where you live. We do that by:
- Working with you to develop strategies so you can independently access activities in the community.
- Identifying Assistive Technology to increase your independence in getting the most out of these activities.
- Introducing you to Guide Dogs’ social and activity groups, including CatchUp.
What programs and activities are currently available?
Check out the schedule with your local Guide Dogs.
The full community and peer groups directory can be downloaded here.
Alternatively, you can check in with your local Guide Dogs organisation for other programs and activities that are available in your area.
National Directory
National Community and Peer Groups
AFA is a national, non-profit organisation run by volunteers who have albinism or
been personally touched by albinism in some way. The AFA’s key purpose is to
provide support, education and fellowship to those with albinism, parents of children with albinism as well as their families and friends.
Location: National
When: Various – visit website or Facebook page for further information
Phone: 1300 221 619
Email: membership@albinismaustralia.org
Website: albinismaustralia.org
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/albinismaustralia
We are a group of families exploring ways to bring visual art to life with our young
children who are blind or have low vision. We always love to hear from other families on this quest!
Location: Online
When: Various – visit website for further information
Contact: Via contact form on website
Website: art-play.com.au
Australian Blind Football is an initiative of Blind Sports Australia and is working with Football Federation Australia (FFA) to be the recognised national pathway by for people who are blind or vision impaired to play football for Australia.
There are two versions of the game of blind football. Blind football (B1 or 5 a side
football) is played by athletes who are totally blind. Vision impaired futsal (partially
sighted futsal) is played by athletes who are vision impaired.
Location: Check under state entries for State based teams.
Email: football@blindsportsaustralia.com.au
Website: ausblindfootball.com.au
Blind Golf Australia was formed to promote the game of golf amongst blind and
vision impaired people and to co-ordinate blind golf between the states of Australia.
Contact: David
Phone: 0414 514 575
Email: secbga@gmail.com
Website: blindgolf.com.au
We represent and advocate for Deafblind people around the country. We are
committed to diversity, inclusiveness, self-determination and advocacy. We work to improve supports and services and to empower Deafblind people to be self-determining and self-advocating.
Phone: 0427 006 890
Email: info@deafblind.org.au
Website: deafblind.org.au
Facebook: Deafblind Australia
DGHA is an independent non-profit association of dog guide handlers
and is not affiliated with any dog guide organisation. Our mission is to foster, represent, promote, enhance and protect the interests of Australians who are dog guide handlers. Our key objectives are to draw on the experiences and varied knowledge of our members, to provide peer support, systemic advocacy and information for Dog Guide Handlers throughout Australia. We hold a biennial conference and regular members teleconferences through the year and welcome members to join the DGHA community on Facebook and follow the DGHA Facebook page.
Location: Online
Contact: Greg
Phone: 0408 396 333
Email: dgha@dgha.org.au
Website: dgha.org.au
Facebook: DogGuideHandlersAustralia
Guide Dogs invites you to CatchUp
An accessible online community platform for people with low vision or blindness.
Check out your new home base for social connection, information, and more. It’s called CatchUp and it’s totally free to join.
On CatchUp, you can join online groups to share tips and tricks; discuss areas of interest like hobbies, technology and binge-worthy TV; and “catch up” on the latest news and articles written by our team of specialists, other industry experts, and people with lived experience.
It’s also just a great place to meet other people with low vision and blindness.
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