Swallowtail Community & Education Inc

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Swallowtail Community & Education Inc Registered non-profit organization No: IA4948490/ Charitable Fundraising Authority: CPL4954746

Building stronger communities through inclusion, empowerment, employment pathways, safe spaces, networking, and opportunities for people living with disability. Swallowtail
Empowering Through Nature, Growing With Purpose

Swallowtail is a unique portable horticulture service designed to support and empower people living with disabilities. We go beyond gardening we're cultivating inclusion, confidence, and skills for life. Through hands-on experiences, we offer Disability Inclusion Programs tailored for schools, educational settings, and community workshops. Our mission is simple:
To create safe, inclusive, and meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities to learn, grow, and thrive one plant at a time.

🌱 Workshops | School Programs | Inclusive Education | Skill Development

“Why am I part of Swallowtail?” 🌱I first met Nathan eight years ago, when we became partners and he was running his Swal...
02/10/2026

“Why am I part of Swallowtail?” 🌱

I first met Nathan eight years ago, when we became partners and he was running his Swallowtail Nursery programs on the Sunshine Coast. When I learnt what the nursery was really about, I was immediately drawn to it. It wasn’t simply about plants or horticulture, it was about giving people opportunities, building confidence and creating a place where everyone could feel included.

There’s one thing I’ve always strongly believed: everyone should be included. Over the years, I watched Nathan turn that same belief into something bigger, and when Swallowtail Community & Education Inc began taking shape, becoming involved felt like a natural next step. With my own background as a Support Worker and Teacher Aide, supporting people with different abilities has always been close to my heart.

Then came the committee. Nathan asked me to become Secretary and I told him I was perfectly happy just being a committee member. Well… Nathan had other ideas 😂 Anyone who knows Nathan knows he doesn’t give up easily, so after enough asking — or nagging, as I’d describe it — I became Secretary.

My role includes organising meetings, taking minutes and helping with everything behind the scenes, but it goes well beyond paperwork. I’m also alongside the team at community events, BBQs, meeting families and businesses and helping spread awareness about disability and inclusion.

Swallowtail’s purpose is personal to me too. I live with a hearing disability, and I know how important it is for people to feel included, valued and given genuine opportunities. To me, Swallowtail is about creating a community where disability doesn’t determine someone’s potential, it’s about education, support, friendships and opportunities. Because at the heart of it all is one simple belief: everyone should be included. 💛

— Rachell
Secretary, Swallowtail Community & Education Inc

So… what actually is Seeds of Ability?Seeds of Ability – Growing Futures on the Farm is a two-day community event bringi...
24/09/2026

So… what actually is Seeds of Ability?
Seeds of Ability – Growing Futures on the Farm is a two-day community event bringing together disability, community, education, local businesses, entertainment and plenty happening across the weekend.

But it’s about more than putting on an event. It’s an opportunity to bring Swallowtail Community & Education Inc into the wider community, share what we’re working towards and create a space centred around connection, inclusion and opportunity.

It’s also an important fundraiser for Swallowtail, with funds raised helping us continue working towards future programs, pathways and opportunities for people living with disability.

Whether you already know Swallowtail or you’ve only just discovered us, come along, meet the team and see what Seeds of Ability is all about.

📅 26 & 27 September 2026
⏰ 10am - 5pm
📍 Fernvale Showgrounds

4 DAYS TO GO! 🌱After months of planning, meetings, organising and bringing together an incredible community, Seeds of Ab...
23/09/2026

4 DAYS TO GO! 🌱

After months of planning, meetings, organising and bringing together an incredible community, Seeds of Ability is almost here.

Join us for two days filled with local stallholders, great food, live music, community connection and the chance to support a disability-led not-for-profit making a real difference.

Whether you’ve been following Swallowtail for years or you’ve only just discovered us, we’d love to see you there.

📅 Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September
📍 Fernvale Showgrounds

See you this weekend! 💛

“Why am I part of Swallowtail?” I first met Nathan just over a year ago, and funnily enough, Swallowtail had nothing to ...
18/09/2026

“Why am I part of Swallowtail?”
I first met Nathan just over a year ago, and funnily enough, Swallowtail had nothing to do with it. Nathan used to visit the coffee van we were running, then after hearing we also ran dog obedience classes, he signed his two dogs up and started coming along.

Somewhere along the way, Nathan told me about Swallowtail, what he wanted it to become and his plans for the future. He knew I had experience with a not-for-profit and that disability advocacy and support were things I was passionate about, so he asked if I’d help turn that vision into a NFP. As a disabled person myself, it meant a lot to me personally too.

Initially I was asked to join the committee as a general member, although that didn’t last long, because I was pretty quickly asked to step into the Vice President role.

These days, much of my role is connecting Swallowtail with the wider community through events, outreach and building relationships. I also manage our social media, support our volunteers and help with admin, planning and keeping Nathan’s approximately 400 ideas somewhat organised.

But being part of Swallowtail means much more to me than having a role on a committee. There’s something incredibly important about being part of an organisation run by disabled people, for disabled people. We have our own lived experiences of navigating disability, and there’s a level of understanding, safety and inclusion that comes from being around people who genuinely get it.

I get to be part of something that advocates, educates and works towards creating real opportunities for disabled people, while building friendships and being surrounded by people who care just as much about making a difference.

Right now, a huge part of that is Seeds of Ability – Growing Futures on the Farm. I’ve watched it go from one of Nathan’s ideas to planning, organising and now seeing all the pieces come together. I’m excited for people to discover what Swallowtail is all about and hopefully help us raise the funds we need to keep building what comes next.

- Lex
Vice President, Swallowtail Community & Education Inc

🎶 LIVE MUSIC AT SEEDS OF ABILITY 🎶We’re excited to announce that Brisbane singer/songwriter Matt Hawkins will be joining...
18/09/2026

🎶 LIVE MUSIC AT SEEDS OF ABILITY 🎶

We’re excited to announce that Brisbane singer/songwriter Matt Hawkins will be joining us at Seeds of Ability – Growing Futures on the Farm on Sunday, 27 September!

Matt has been making music for more than 25 years, first playing in bands before stepping out as a solo artist in 2020.

Inspired by Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe, Matt wrote his debut solo single, “Bridge of Stories”, which was followed by his first album, Love, Loss and Washing Lines, in 2022.

Now, Matt is getting ready to release his second album, cardigan, on 17 October 2026, featuring singles including “Crave”, “Different Kinda Little, Different Kinda Late” and “If I Could Dance”.

We’re so excited to have Matt bringing live music to Seeds of Ability on the Sunday, and we can’t wait for you to hear him! 🎸🌱

📅 Sunday, 27 September 2026
🎶 Live music from Matt Hawkins
🌱 Seeds of Ability – Growing Futures on the Farm

Come along, enjoy the music and spend the day with us as we celebrate community, inclusion and everything Seeds of Ability is about.

More event details coming soon! 💛

15/09/2026

From a seed planted in 2019, to where Swallowtail stands today 🌱

Swallowtail began with Nathan, horticulture, and a very personal understanding of what it feels like to have people focus on what you can’t do instead of taking the time to see what you can.

Nathan had experienced those doubts himself, but horticulture gave him an opportunity to learn, build skills, find purpose and prove what was possible when the right support was around him.

That experience planted the seed for what would become Swallowtail.

In 2019, Swallowtail Nursery began with a vision to create opportunities for people living with disability through horticulture, hands-on learning and education designed around the person, rather than expecting the person to fit into a system that wasn’t built for them.

But over the years, that vision continued to grow.

What began with horticulture workshops has grown into Swallowtail Community & Education Inc, expanding beyond the nursery into disability and education programs, community partnerships, employment and accommodation pathways, accessible learning, connection and opportunities for people to discover what they are capable of.

It hasn’t always been an easy road, there have been setbacks, closed doors and plenty of moments where giving up would have been easier, but the reason behind Swallowtail has remained the same.

To create a place where people living with disability aren’t defined by a diagnosis or by what someone else believes they can’t do, but are given the opportunity, support and space to learn, build confidence, make friendships, develop independence, find meaningful pathways and belong.

Today, Swallowtail looks very different from the idea Nathan had back in 2019, but that original seed is still at the heart of everything we do.

And now, as we prepare for Seeds of Ability – Growing Futures on the Farm, we get to look back at just how much has grown from it.

From one person’s struggle to find opportunity, to a community working to create those opportunities for others.

This is the story of Swallowtail so far…

and we’re only getting started. 🌱💛

Another weekend, another Swallowtail BBQ 🌭Yesterday we packed up the BBQ and headed along to Lead the Way’s Open Day, ra...
14/09/2026

Another weekend, another Swallowtail BBQ 🌭

Yesterday we packed up the BBQ and headed along to Lead the Way’s Open Day, raising funds for Swallowtail Community & Education Inc while the local dog community came through to check out their new training space.

Pictured are Nathan, our President, and Lex, our Vice President — although Lex was wearing two hats for this one, as the founder of Lead the Way and the reason we had a carpark to cook sausages in 😂

Fundraising isn’t always big events, grant applications or elaborate campaigns, sometimes it really is a couple of people behind a BBQ, selling snags and having conversations with the community.

And that’s a pretty normal part of life behind the scenes at Swallowtail, we plan things, organise things, show up, pitch in wherever we’re needed and occasionally spend a Sunday surrounded by dogs while cooking sausages.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the BBQ, had a chat or grabbed something to eat, the funds raised go straight back into helping Swallowtail continue doing what we do. 🌱

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

A big thank you to Goodness Enterprises Community Food Co-Op! 💛We want to give a huge shout out to the wonderful team at...
12/09/2026

A big thank you to Goodness Enterprises Community Food Co-Op! 💛

We want to give a huge shout out to the wonderful team at Goodness Enterprises Community Food Co-Op, who are generously donating the bread for our BBQ at Lead The Way QLD open day happen this Sunday! 🌭

Community events like this are made possible by people and organisations who are willing to get behind what we’re doing, whether that’s donating supplies, giving their time or simply helping us spread the word, and we’re incredibly grateful to have Goodness Enterprises supporting us.

Their donation means we can keep more of the funds raised through the BBQ going directly back into the work of Swallowtail Community & Education Inc and the opportunities we’re working to create within our community. 🌱

Thank you, Goodness Enterprises Community Food Co-Op, for helping us make Lead The Way QLD open day happen!

📅 Saturday, 13 September
📍 Lead The Way QLD

We can’t wait to see everyone there! 💛

VOLUNTEERS WANTED 💛Swallowtail Community & Education Inc is growing, and we’re looking for a few dedicated people who wo...
09/09/2026

VOLUNTEERS WANTED 💛

Swallowtail Community & Education Inc is growing, and we’re looking for a few dedicated people who would like to become part of the team behind what we do.

We’re not just looking for an extra pair of hands on event days, we’re hoping to find people who are genuinely interested in getting involved, contributing their skills and ideas, and committing some of their time to helping Swallowtail continue to grow. 🌱

We’d particularly love to hear from people interested in helping with:

💻 IT & tech support
📋 Administration
⚙️ Backend systems & organisation
🌱 Event planning & coordination
📅 General organising & behind-the-scenes support

You don’t necessarily need professional experience in these areas, if you’re organised, reliable, willing to learn and have skills you think could be useful, we’d still love to hear from you.

As a volunteer-run not-for-profit, there is a huge amount that happens behind the scenes to keep Swallowtail moving, from organising events and keeping on top of admin to developing systems, coordinating people and turning ideas into something real.

We’re looking for people who want to be part of that, and who can offer a genuine, ongoing commitment rather than just putting their hand up once.

If that sounds like you, send Swallowtail Community & Education Inc a message, tell us a little about yourself, what you’d be interested in helping with and what kind of availability you have. 💛

We’d love to hear from you!

Address

8A Smith Street

4305

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