Program Overview

Thrive Through Adventure is a community-based, capacity building program

designed to support young people to build capacity in real-world settings,

support transitions, skill development, and improved wellbeing.

 

Delivered by qualified staff, the program fosters growth across key domains

including social interaction, emotional regulation, functional independence,

and community participation & behaviour support strategies.

 

Young people attend one day per week during the school terms.

 

Participants are supported to

• Strengthen social and emotional regulation skills to enhance

         interpersonal relationships and emotional wellbeing

• Increase community engagement and social participation through

         supported access to inclusive activities and environments

• Build confidence and functional independence in daily living tasks,

         decision-making, and self-advocacy

• Improve capacity for life transitions, including changes in living

         arrangements, education, or employment pathways

• Develop positive behaviour support strategies that promote safety,

         autonomy, and goal-directed outcomes

 

Program Caters for Young People

• ASD (Level 1—3), ADHD, ODD, CD, PDA, SPD

• MDD, GAD, Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harming Behaviours

• Intellectual Disability

• Trauma backgrounds and/or high-risk behaviours

• Low social confidence or emotional regulation challenges

• Disengagement from school or community

• Behavior Support Plan implementation

 

Specifics

• Group-based mentoring with 4 to 8 participants per group

• Customised activities based on participant interests and goals

• Qualified staff in youth mental health, forensic behavioural science,

         community services, counselling, primary and secondary education and

        disability services

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Structure

• Organisation: most programs start and finish practical activities at the

         GOTYA Centre, Moe

• Adventure recreation: kayaking, fishing, mountain biking, swimming,

         campfires, 4WDing, exploring bush/forest areas, building bush huts

• Centre-based engagement: cooking, gaming, model building, table

         tennis, air hockey, PlayStation, Lego, board games, gaming PCs

• Informal sport: skateboarding, basketball, soccer, wide-area games,

         playgrounds, tree climbing

• Approach: psychoeducational, mentoring and emotional support

         embedded within activities

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Program Timing

​9:00am - 3:00pm

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Program Locations

• Baw Baw LGA

• Cardina LGA

• Bass Coast LGA

• Latrobe LGA

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Group Formation
Groups are intentionally formed to foster safety, connection, and therapeutic

benefit. Each group is:

• Age-aligned: young people are grouped within similar age ranges to

         support peer connection and developmental appropriateness

• Needs-responsive: beyond age, groupings consider individual support

         needs, emotional regulation capacity, and social confidence to ensure

         compatibility and safety

• Consistent: groups remain stable across the term, with the same

         participants and mentors to build trust and continuity

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Multidisciplinary Support
Staff collaborate to implement NDIS goals and care plans. All programs are

formally Case Noted to track progress and provide accurate feedback to

carers, parents and other professionals.

 

NDIS Funding Alignment

Thrive Through Adventure is fundable through the NDIS. Please refer to the

NDIS page for further details.

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Child Safety

GOTYA has zero tolerance for any form of violence, abuse, neglect,

exploitation or discrimination. We recognise that people with a disability,

children and young people are at higher risk than others in the community.

• All staff are committed to maintaining processes to:

• Prevent and protect against instances of violence, abuse, neglect,

         exploitation and discrimination;

• Foster a ‘safety culture’ that supports individuals to be aware and report

         any actual or suspected risks of harm;

• Provide environments which help young people to feel safe and

         supported; and

• Encourage and support clients with choice, control, self-determination

         and capacity-building, where possible.

 

Full Child Safeguarding Policy​​

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Referrals

GOTYA  accept referrals from:​​

• Parents/carers

• DFFH staff

• DOJCS Youth Justice Worker

• Victoria Police Youth Resource Officers

• Community Youth Workers

• Psychiatrists

• GPs

• Pediatricians

• Psychologists & Counsellors

• Social Workers

• Allied Health Workers

• Parents

• Authorised School staff

 

All referrals are completed via the GOTYA Portal. To request a referral,

please access the intake page.

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