Distinctive Options Noweyung

20/10/2026

🏅🔥 A Proud Moment for Tara and Heidi from Bendigo! 🔥🏅

There was plenty of excitement across our Distinctive Options Bendigo team this morning as participants Tara and Heidi proudly carried the Special Olympics Torch through the heart of Bendigo.

Tara had the honour of joining Mayor Thomas Prince for the start of the final leg of the torch run, representing our community with pride and enthusiasm. 🌟

We're also excited to cheer on Tara as she competes in swimming this year, while Heidi is already looking ahead to competing in bowling next year! 🎳🏊‍♀️

At Distinctive Options, we love seeing participants embrace opportunities that build confidence, community connections, and personal achievement. Congratulations Tara and Heidi on being part of such a special event. We are incredibly proud of you both! 💙👏

19/10/2026

🍪 MasterChef Goes Maltese! ❤️🤍

Luke, Stefan, Acacia, Emilia and Aaron put their cooking skills to the test in today’s MasterChef session, making traditional Maltese Ottijiet biscuits.

The group explored a range of new flavours, including clove, aniseed and orange, with some participants trying these ingredients for the very first time. The kitchen was filled with the wonderful aroma of spices and citrus as everyone mixed, shaped and baked their biscuits.

Participants enjoyed learning a new recipe and carefully shaping the dough into the traditional figure-eight design. Programs like MasterChef provide a great opportunity to build confidence, develop cooking and life skills, encourage creativity, and foster social connections in a fun and supportive environment. 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

✨ A delicious day of learning, teamwork and trying something new, with plenty of biscuits to take home and enjoy with a cup of tea!

👉 Interested in joining one of our programs? Visit www.distinctiveoptions.com.au to learn more about the opportunities available.

🍪✨

15/10/2026

🌿🚶‍♂️ Enjoying the Great Outdoors 🚂

A walk along the Avondale Heights walking track was the perfect way to stay active and enjoy the community. 🌞

Mark was delighted by the beautiful surroundings, saying, "Wow, what a nice walk!" His excitement grew even more when a freight train crossed the bridge overhead. 🚂✨

NDIS supports can help people build healthy lifestyles, increase community participation, and enjoy activities that promote fitness and wellbeing. This outing was a wonderful combination of exercise, fresh air, and exploring the local community while enjoying moments of genuine joy and discovery. 💚😊💚

14/10/2026

Jarrod is part of our Bairnsdale Mowing Crew and they enjoy helping to keep a property on beautiful Raymond Island looking its best. Today’s visit was extra special when one of the island’s furry locals decided to make an appearance! 🐨

After being woken from a nap, this curious koala climbed down from his tree and seemed keen to stop by and say g’day to Jarrod. Moments like these make working in such a beautiful part of East Gippsland even more rewarding.

At Distinctive Options, experiences like these are all part of building connections, including with our furry friends, enjoying meaningful work, and being out in the community. 💚

14/10/2026

🌾 A Great Day at the Elmore Field Days! 🚜🎨

David, Cherie and Paul from our Extended Hours program in Bendigo enjoyed a fantastic day out at the Elmore Field Days.

The Elmore Field Days is one of regional Victoria’s largest agricultural events, bringing together farming innovations, machinery displays, local businesses, community groups, entertainment and hands-on activities. It provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with the broader community, learn about rural industries and experience something new.

The group had a great time getting involved in activities including gold panning and face painting, while also exploring the many displays and exhibits on offer throughout the day. There was plenty to see, do and discover, making it an enjoyable and engaging experience for everyone.

Experiences like these support NDIS outcomes by encouraging social and community participation, building confidence, developing new interests and helping participants stay connected to their local community. 😊🌟

14/10/2026

Sharni is loving her role at Brew Crew Cafe, building hospitality skills and confidence while serving a delicious meal with a smile 😊
Well done Sharni 👏👏👏👏👏

🍟 Serving Up Smiles at Brew Crew Café ☕

Sharni was all smiles as she served up a delicious plate of fish and chips at the Brew Crew Café! 🐟🍟😊

Working in the café gives participants the opportunity to build valuable hospitality and customer service skills, grow their confidence, and be part of a busy team environment. We love seeing Sharni enjoying her role and taking pride in a job well done! 💙✨

Why not stop by and say hello?

📍 Brew Crew Café
155 Nicholson Street, Bairnsdale

13/10/2026

💖 Mel’s Volunteer Journey at the Salvos 💖

Mel has been a dedicated volunteer at the Salvos in Long Gully for over two years. 🌟 She is always eager to get stuck into the job and enjoys being a valued member of the team.

Last week, Mel was especially excited when a large corporate donation of makeup arrived. 💄✨ She spent the afternoon carefully pricing items and helping prepare them for sale.

Through her volunteering, Mel has built meaningful connections with staff and fellow volunteers and enjoys joining in the fun and laughter that happens in the sorting room. 😊 Volunteering has helped Mel grow her confidence and independence, while providing opportunities to contribute to her community and develop valuable workplace skills. She looks forward to her volunteer shift every week and takes great pride in the role she plays. 💚

12/10/2026

Coffee, conversation and community at The Do Food Truck! ☕

Distinctive Options CEO Andre Carvalho recently welcomed Josh Bull MP for Sunbury to The DO Food Truck for a coffee and catch-up.

It was wonderful to have Josh reconnect with participants and staff. Having visited and supported our community many times over the years, he’s always a welcome visitor.

At DO, we’re driven by a simple but powerful belief:

💙 Everyone thrives, belongs and participates meaningfully in their community.

Catching up with Josh was a great opportunity to share what’s happening at DO and continue building strong community connections, networks and partnerships that create opportunities for the people we support.

Thanks for stopping by again, Josh! We always appreciate the opportunity to connect, share ideas and talk about what’s happening in our community. ☕😊

📍 The DO Food Truck
24 Macedon Street, Sunbury
🕢 Monday–Friday | 7.30am–2.30pm

11/10/2026

💪🏼Women and Tools: Building Skills and Confidence 👷‍♀️✨

Block 4 has just begun, and we're excited to introduce Women and Tools, a new woodworking program designed to help women develop practical woodworking skills in a supportive and welcoming environment. 🌟

Mary Lou and Hollie have already been hard at work creating key hooks for their homes. 🏠🔑 Using a variety of tools and techniques, they are building their skills and confidence while doing a fantastic job on their projects. 👏

Programs like Women and Tools provide opportunities to learn new skills, increase independence, and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something useful and meaningful. 💚

If you're interested in joining Women and Tools or one of our other great skill-building programs, visit our website to see what's on offer: https://www.distinctiveoptions.com.au/our-locations/bairnsdale-location/bairnsdale

08/10/2026

🌿🐉 Exploring Bendigo’s Hidden Gems! 🐟🌞

With support tailored to his goals and interests, David enjoyed a fantastic day out exploring the beautiful Chinese Precinct and Gardens in Bendigo. Walking through the gardens, he discovered a dragon, fed the fish , and took in the sights and sounds of this unique community space.🌿🐟🐉

Individual supports provide opportunities to build confidence, explore personal interests, increase community participation, and create meaningful experiences. It was wonderful to see David enjoying the outdoors and connecting with his local community. 😊💚

08/10/2026

☀️💦 Ladies Lounge & Adventure Club Soak Up the Sunshine! 💦☀️

The Ladies Lounge and Adventure Club joined forces on their final day of Block 3 for a relaxing day out in the beautiful sunshine. 🌞

The group started the day unwinding in the pools and spas at the Metung Hot Springs, with some even enjoying a fun ride on the golf buggy! 🚗😊

After a morning of relaxation, everyone headed to the waterfront in Metung for a social BBQ lunch, expertly cooked by our very own "King of the Barbie," Warren. 👑🔥🌭

It was a wonderful day, providing the perfect way to celebrate the end of another fantastic block of activities together. 💙

07/10/2026

✨ MasterChef Goes Italian! 🍰

James, Sienna, Emily and Charlotte from Distinctive Options Sunbury's MasterChef program took a delicious trip to Italy today!

The group worked together to create a classic Italian tiramisu, brewing rich coffee and layering it with creamy mascarpone, delicate biscuits and a dusting of cocoa. ☕🍫 They also made a decadent chocolate mousse completely from scratch.

With plenty of chocolate, coffee and Italian-inspired flavours, everyone enjoyed getting creative in the kitchen. The best part? Tasting their delicious creations at the end! 🍰✨👏

07/10/2026

📍The DO Food Truck Arrives at Its New Home📍

Senior Management and the DO Food Truck team were excited to see the food truck settle into its new home at 24 Macedon Street, Sunbury. 🚚🎉

The move marks an exciting new chapter, with the team looking forward to welcoming customers, showcasing their skills, and continuing to serve delicious food to the local community.

07/10/2026

You will be required to prepare and delivery of high-quality meals and catering in line with food safety, along with mentoring supported employees.

06/10/2026

🎉 A HUGE THANK YOU, SUNBURY! 🎉
What an incredible first day for The Do Food Truck at 24 Macedon St! ❤️

The team served well over 100 coffees and kept everyone well fed with hot toasties, burgers and plenty of tasty treats. And their classic cheese & tomato toastie was definitely a favourite!

It's a great new location -easily accessible from the footpath and next to the Village Green — the perfect spot to grab a takeaway coffee, smoothie, lunch or snack and enjoy a little sunshine. 🌿☀️

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, supported the Food Truck and made them feel so welcome. We’re all so excited to be part of the Macedon St community! ❤️

📍 The Do Food Truck
24 Macedon St, Sunbury
🕢 Monday–Friday | 7:30am–2:30pm
Come and say hi — we’d love to see you! ☕️🥪🚚❤️

05/10/2026

🎨✨ Creativity has been shining brightly in our Colour Gang group!

As they wrapped up their individual projects, Glenn and Vicki reflected on how much they have enjoyed learning the art of mosaics. Vicki has especially discovered a passion for mosaicing and has now completed several beautiful pieces, including this stunning handcrafted tray. Glenn loved exploring his creativity through colour, bringing his vibrant mosaic rainbow to life. 🌈

Emma put the finishing touches on her inspirational magnet canvas, while Vanessa worked on her beautiful canvas artwork, Birds in Paradise. 🐦🌺

It's been wonderful to see everyone's creativity, confidence and unique artistic styles develop throughout their projects. Well done to all our talented colour Gang artists! 👏🎨💙

02/10/2026

Therapy Dog Thursdays are the highlight of Deb's week! 🐾❤️

As part of her Individual Supports, Deb looks forward to her weekly visits with Playful Paws Therapy Dogs.

The love, joy, and happiness that Deb experiences during these special visits is truly heartwarming. Deb absolutely adores the beautiful Lola, and the special bond they have formed brings a huge smile to her face each week.

Spending time with Lola provides companionship, comfort, and plenty of cuddles, making Therapy Dog Thursdays a very special part of Deb's routine. Seeing Deb's face light up when Lola arrives is a wonderful reminder of the positive impact that these connections can have.

We love seeing Deb enjoy these meaningful experiences and watching her friendship with Lola continue to grow. 🐕💕

To learn more about our Individual Supports and how we help people achieve their goals and enjoy activities they love, visit:
🌐 www.distinctiveoptions.com.au

01/10/2026

NDIS funding changes - information for participants, families and carers:

Following changes to NDIS legislation passed by Parliament in August, changes to some NDIS funding begin today, 1 October 2026. We know members of our community may have questions and concerns about what this may mean.

Current funding does not automatically change today. Participants can continue using their current plan and supports until their plan is reassessed or renewed. The changes apply to new and reassessed plans from today, and plan renewals from 1 February 2027.

Affected funding for social, economic and community participation will reduce by 50%, and improved daily living skills by 10%. These percentages apply to the affected funding, not a participant’s whole plan. The impact on services will vary depending on individual circumstances, protected supports and how much funding is currently being used.

Protected supports include employment supports, disability-related health supports and high intensity supports. Other parts of plans, including personal care at home, are unaffected by these reductions.

Eligible participants needing 24-hour disability support can apply through a new plan variation pathway if the reductions leave a gap in essential support.

Participants can also continue to request a plan variation or unscheduled reassessment where there have been significant and ongoing changes to their functional capacity, disability-related support needs or circumstances. A funding reduction alone does not qualify under this usual pathway.

For help understanding what a plan change means for services with Distinctive Options, participants, families and carers can contact Mel Mays or Mel East, our Participant Access and Funding Team, on (03) 9740 7100. We are here to provide support.

Read the full Government’s information here: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/ndis-legislation-changes/amendments/funding-changes-for-ndis-supports?

30/09/2026

Gardening and Cooking Group enjoy a day away from the garden ☀🌻🍀

The Gardening and Cooking Group took a break from their usual activities to celebrate the final day of Block 3 with a day out exploring Eagle Point and Paynesville. The group enjoyed taking in the local sights before finishing the day with a picnic lunch at Eagle Point.🚣‍♀️

Everyone was excited to use their new custom-made drink bottles, featuring a positive message and a photo of themselves working in the garden. The personalised bottles were a wonderful way to celebrate the group's achievements and create a lasting memory of their time together in the garden. 🌱🍴☀️

29/09/2026

🎨✨Drop in and See Priscilla in Bruthen at the "Smile, Sparkle, Shine" Gallery ✨🎨

If you're driving through Bruthen, be sure to stop by Priscilla's Smile, Sparkle, Shine working gallery, which she opened about three years ago.

Priscilla Pike has been a member of the Noweyung Colour Gang for more than 20 years and is an established artist with a distinctive style.

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Smile, Sparkle, Shine Gallery is open from 10am to 5pm, and Priscilla is hard at work.

🌟Priscilla's success is a wonderful example of the positive pathways that Distinctive Options Noweyung supports participants to pursue, as they work towards their goals and follow their dreams.🌟

Open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm
📍 68 Main Street, Bruthen

Priscilla would love you to drop in, say hello and explore her beautiful artwork.🎨