Hunter Circles

20/09/2026

We had a great time on Saturday bringing people together for our latest Hunter Circles House Party.

Our house parties are for people who are curious about who we are, what we do, and the many ways community members can get involved in building friendship, connection and belonging.

They are small, relaxed gatherings where people can connect, ask questions and explore ways to be part of what we’re doing.

If you’d like to come along to our next House Party, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch!

Photo ID: Eight people sitting together, smiling at the camera

05/08/2026

Loneliness and profound social isolation affect far too many people with intellectual disability here in the Hunter.

At Hunter Circles, we create opportunities for people to build belonging through shared interests, community groups and everyday relationships. Everyone has something to offer, everyone benefits and everyone's life is enriched.

Research shows:
💬 One meaningful friendship can reduce the risk of loneliness by up to 89%.
💬 A strong sense of community can reduce that risk by around 70%.
💬 Regular participation in community activities also has a powerful protective effect.

This , we'd love you to meet Dan and Donald.

Three years ago, Dan and Donald connected over their shared love of walking. Today, they've built a genuine friendship. They've celebrated birthdays with family, shared new experiences and are now part of walking group that meets every Friday that has enriched both of their lives.

As Dan says:

"Community needs to do this sort of thing. We can't rely on governments to run our lives for us. We need to, as people, come together and look after each other."

Their story reminds us that belonging doesn't happen by accident. It grows when people show up, share what they love, and make space for genuine relationships.

❤️ Could you be someone's connection to community?
If you've ever thought about getting to know someone in your community but weren't sure where to start, this could be your opportunity.

Share your interests, build genuine relationships, and become part of something that enriches everyone's life.

You don't need to be an expert.

Just a human.

📩 Send us a message to find out more.

We're introducing an exciting new way to volunteer - the Social Con...

03/07/2026

"It takes creativity and prioritising what's most important in life. Relationships are the most important thing." – Dr Angela Amado

We were so grateful to be part of this webinar longside Angela, Sally Robinson and Anna Burke

If this conversation has you thinking, "I'd like to be part of building a community where everyone belongs, but I'm not sure where to start," we'd love to meet you for a coffee and have a chat.

Because everyone deserves the opportunity for friendship, connection and belonging.

Leigh Creighton

30/06/2026

We're proud to have worked alongside Council for Intellectual Disability University of Technology Sydney and Action for People with Disability Inc. to advocate for the development of a Site of Conscience framework at Tomaree Lodge.

A Site of Conscience invites us to understand what happened, to listen to the experiences of people who lived there, and to consider how that history continues to shape the lives of people with intellectual disability today.

Not only to remember that history, but to respond to it.

For Hunter Circles, that means supporting community-led relational repair—bringing people together to build the friendships and community that institutionalisation denied.

We hope Tomaree becomes a place that helps us remember the past while encouraging action so that people with intellectual disability can live lives rich in friendship, belonging and full citizenship—today and into the future.

The NSW Government has released its Master Plan for the future of the former disability institution Tomaree Lodge.

We welcome the commitment to create a Site of Conscience Framework to honour the experiences of people with intellectual disability who lived there.

Disability Inclusion Minister Kate Washington said the plan will help ensure "the past is acknowledged, remembered and respected."

See the Master Plan here: https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/about-us/tomaree-lodge/masterplan-for-the-renewal-of-tomaree-lodge.html

CID worked with Hunter Circles, Action for People with Disability and UTS: University of Technology Sydney to advocate for this commitment. We look forward to working with the NSW Government to help make Tomaree Lodge a place where people can remember, reflect and learn from the experiences of people with disability who lived in institutions.

27/06/2026

Sunday Sesh is tomorrow. Free entry. Questionable tunes. Better company.

Everyone's welcome!

We reckon the best communities are built one friendship at a time. Join us as we create more opportunities for people with intellectual disability to take their rightful place at the heart of community.

Come along, meet some great people, make some music or just join us for afternoon tea!

Image description:

A flyer with an illustration of a guitar and musical notes.

Text reads:

A community social music group
Open to anyone interested in joining for an unplugged jam session and making new friends.
Bring your own guitar or another instrument.
Stay for afternoon tea.
SUNDAY SESHS

Last Sunday of the Month, 1:00pm
St Luke's Uniting Church
6 Narla Road, Belmont

RSVP and Questions: contact Alex
0431047074

10/06/2026

We hope you can join us at this webinar.

Don’t miss Professor Sally Robinson from Flinders University at our webinar 'In what ways has the NDIS undermined social relationships for people with disability — and how do we fix it?'

Register now to secure your place.
https://www.summerfoundation.org.au/event-webinar-social-relationships-ndis/

08/06/2026

We hope you can join us for this important conversation with Dr Angela Amado.

At Hunter Circles, so much of our work has been shaped by Angela's work which reminds us that belonging does not just happen from being present in community spaces - it's about having people to belong to.

Too often, disability support focuses on "activities" rather than relationships. Angela encourages us to shift the question from “What are we going to do?” to “Who might this person get to know there?”

We're looking forward to the conversation and learning alongside everyone.

And we are so pleased that Angela is coming to Australia to share her wisdom. If you’re in Newcastle, you can also join us for a practical one-day workshop with Angela on 16 June: https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-with-community

There are workshops happening across the country too - contact

Side By Side Advocacy, CRU - Community Resource Unit Ltd., Imagine More, Community Living Project Inc. and Belonging Matters Inc. for more details.

Don’t miss Executive Officer of Hunter Circles, Jen Cush, at our webinar 'In what ways has the NDIS undermined social relationships for people with disability — and how do we fix it?'

Register now to secure your place.
https://www.summerfoundation.org.au/event-webinar-social-relationships-ndis/

02/06/2026

We are thrilled that Dr Angela Amado's national workshop tour will kick off right here in Newcastle.

In her recent interview with Team DSC, Angela spoke powerfully about what helps relationships grow:

“Seeing the same people in the same places over time, having meaningful interactions. Not just people with disabilities being present, but some way to really powerfully interact.”

This gets to the heart of belonging - not just being present, but being known, respected and part of community.

Join us for a practical one-day with Angela exploring friendship, inclusion and what it takes to build real connection in ordinary community life.

Tuesday 16 June
Newcastle Museum
9.00am - 4.00pm

Register here:https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-with-community

15/05/2026

"Building Friendships and Connections in Everyday Community Life"
A national workshop tour with Dr Angela Amado

Many people with intellectual disability continue to experience loneliness, exclusion and disconnection from community life. This national workshop tour offers practical ideas about what it takes for genuine relationships to grow.

Dr Angela Amado is an internationally recognised leader who has spent more than 40 years supporting real relationships between people with intellectual disability and community members.

Not relationships based on support or service — but mutual relationships where people know each other, share life and belong.

Drawing on decades of learning and practice, Angela will share practical ideas, stories and strategies to help people move beyond “community presence” toward genuine belonging, reciprocity and connection.

National workshop dates
• Newcastle — Tuesday 16 June — Hunter Circles: https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-with-community

• Parramatta — Thursday 18 June — Side By Side Advocacy: https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-with-community-with-angela-amado

• Brisbane — Tuesday 23 June — CRU - Community Resource Unit Ltd.: https://events.humanitix.com/building-friendships-and-connections-06-26

• Canberra — Thursday 25 June — Imagine More: https://imaginemore.org.au/events/building-friendships/

• Adelaide — Saturday 27 June — Community Living Project Inc.: https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-with-community-a-workshop-with-dr-angela-amado

• Melbourne — Tuesday 30 June — Belonging Matters Inc.: https://events.humanitix.com/building-friendships-and-connections-in-everyday-community-life

Please contact the host organisation in your city for more information.

We’d love your help to spread the word — please share with people and networks who care about friendship, belonging and stronger, more inclusive communities.

Image description: Flyer with tect that reads, “Building friendships and connections in everyday community life. A national workshop tour with Dr Angela Amado.
Newcastle — 16 June
Parramatta — 18 June
Brisbane — 23 June
Canberra — 25 June
Adelaide — 27 June
Melbourne — 30 June
The flyer includes a photo of Dr Angela Amado and an image of two people at a park run, one person is wearing a volunteer vest. Logo's for Hunter Circles, Side By Side Advocacy, Community Resource Unit, Imagine More, Community Living Project and Belonging Matters.