Holding Space for Community and Connection after Centacare ceases its NDIS services 

The recent announcement that Centacare SEQ will close its disability hubs, including its well-known Social and Life Skills hubs, marks a significant change for many across the community. These hubs have, for years, been places where people could connect, grow, and feel supported – and their closure by mid-November 2025 has understandably created a sense of uncertainty for participants, families, and staff alike. 

Keeping Connected in the Community 

Five young adults stand at a kitchen bench where they are making burgers. There are chicken patties in a frypan, and buns and fresh salad ingredients on the bench. The people are laughing and happy.

If you, or someone you care for, has been part of a Centacare hub, it’s natural to feel concerned about what comes next – especially when it comes to friendships, routines, and ongoing support. The good news is, change doesn’t have to mean starting over. There are local options where you can continue to thrive, surrounded by the right people and opportunities. 

At Blue Tongue Adventure (BTA), we understand just how important daily structure, connection, and a sense of belonging really are. 

Our unique day program is built around exactly that. Blue Tongue Adventure, based in Brisbane and Toowoomba, specialises in creating fun, engaging, and skill-building programs that bring young adults together in a vibrant, welcoming space full of possibility. 

Our “crew” of 17 to 30-year-olds is spoiled for choice with a mix of creative, life skills, and social activities. No two days are ever the same. 

Here’s just a taste of what’s on offer: 

  • Cooking and café skills 
  • Art & Soul creative sessions including ceramics, painting, digital art, and theatre 
  • Health and wellness activities to build confidence and independence 
  • Pit Crew – basic car maintenance 
  • Garden maintenance and outdoor skills 
  • Woodwork workshops 
  • Industries – hands-on production of products such as body and room scents 
  • Community outings and adventures that build friendships and lasting memories 
  • School leavers employment support (SLES) 

Each program is thoughtfully designed to build capacity, boost confidence, and foster real community. Developed by young adults, for young adults, our activities are rooted in joy, capability, and genuine connection.  

 

 

A Bright Future Beyond Centacare

BTA

We know that finding the right environment – especially during times of change – can feel overwhelming. That’s why we make the transition to Blue Tongue Adventure as smooth and supportive as possible. 

If you’re considering a new option for yourself, your child, or someone you support, we’re here to answer your questions, listen to what matters most to you, and help you take the next step with confidence. 

  • Come for a tour and get a feel for our spaces, meet our team, and see our programs in action. 
  • Chat with us about how your current supports might translate into the BTA environment. 
  • Try BTA FREE For a Day, where you can try the activities, meet the crew, and see what makes BTA so special. 

Contact us to learn more via hello@bluetongueadventure.com.au or 1800 949 249 

 

For the Disability Support Workers Who Make It All Happen 

We know this change also affects the incredible staff at Centacare. For many, supporting others isn’t just a job – it’s a calling. If you’ve been part of that legacy and are now considering your next step, we’d love to talk to you. 

At Blue Tongue Adventure, we’re always on the lookout for kind, creative, and community-minded support workers who bring heart to their work. We offer a supportive and dynamic environment where your skills and energy truly matter. 

Contact our HR team on changeyourfuture@forcare.net.au or 1800 367 227 

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Our Ties to Blue Tongue Pantry in Thorneside

Have you ever heard of Blue Tongue Pantry cafe, overlooking the water in Thorneside on Brisbane’s bayside, and thought, “hmm, that name sounds familiar…”? Yep, you’d be right – we started that, and we’re still closely linked to the Pantry to this day!

Our thanks to Blue Tongue Pantry for sharing their origin story online – which we’re reposting right here:

Blue Tongue Pantry’s Origins in Disability Support

If you’ve dined with us before, you know Blue Tongue Pantry as a great cafè by the bay in Thorneside, for hearty breakfasts, leisurely lunches, and of course excellent coffee! But you may not know how we started, where we got our name, and what continues to fuel our values and goals each day.

Our roots, in fact, lay in the disability support sector!

A Cafe with a Cause

Blue Tongue Pantry began as a social venture to support Blue Tongue Adventure’s disability support day programs for young adults. Back in 2018, the growing ‘Blue Tongue Crew’ needed a space where they could gather as a group, develop friendships, and enjoy programs that would support them to learn new skills: whether for day-to-day confidence and growth, or to explore potential employment opportunities.  Opening the Blue Tongue Pantry cafè was the perfect solution.

A woman working in the kitchen space of a cafè. She has made a pie that is in a tin ready to bake.

The cafè became a favourite dining spot with the local community, and a space to embrace inclusion and accessibility. With our chefs and waitstaff on hand to guide the Blue Tongue Crew, they enjoyed immersive cooking workshops and learning cafè skills. For some of our participants, these opportunities opened their eyes to employment pathways. They went on to do work experience with the cafè, then study hospitality or barista courses, and now have jobs of their own in the hospitality sector. We couldn’t be prouder!

A quiet area at the back of the cafè also became a cosy, familiar space for the Blue Tongue Crew and their support team to gather each day and engage in their growing range of capacity-building programs, all designed with their goals and interests in mind.

Growing and Thriving

As a few years passed, Blue Tongue Adventure expanded its range of programs, and the Blue Tongue Crew grew in numbers. It became clear they were outgrowing the cafè space. Plus, with plans and goals for many more exciting hands-on programs, they needed facilities to make their dreams a reality! A solution was found with another social venture: the Blue Tongue Collectables showroom and centre, just a few minutes away on Tingal Road in Wynnum.

Three young men sit on the floor of a woodwork workshop, building a garden bed from wooden pallets. Two are smiling and giving the thumbs-up sign.

The new premises feature a wide range of spacious facilities including an art studio, a woodwork workshop, and room to store all the resources and supplies that help to make the hands-on disability support programs so successful. It also features a gallery space, where artworks and giftware items created by the Blue Tongue Crew in their programs are on display and available for sale.

Continued Connections

However, the move to a new centre hasn’t spelled the end of our connection with the Blue Tongue Crew! They’ve continued to join us at the Pantry for weekly cooking workshops, and this has been a main driver for the opening of our Blue Tongue Kitchen cooking school, right next door to us at Mooroondu Road Thorneside. With our expert pastry chef Allan at the helm, Blue Tongue Kitchen hosts the Blue Tongue Crew’s weekly workshops, as well as 10-week terms of capacity-building classes open to all NDIS participants. A select range of mainstream classes are also open to the general public on weekends.

So, both our cafè and the Blue Tongue Adventure crew have grown, but our core goals remain the same as they were back in 2018: to open opportunities for people with disabilities, to embrace our local community, and always to deliver uncompromised experiences.

Browse the range of Blue Tongue Industries giftware on the shelves at Blue Tongue Pantry on your next visit!

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Unique Gifts For The Festive Season

If you’re looking for unique and socially conscious gift ideas this festive season, the crew at Blue Tongue Adventure Wynnum has been working on a range of artisan creations, perfect for placing under your tree for someone special. 

A young man wearing an apron stands at a kitchen bench, tying labels onto jars of pickled preserves.

Nathan puts the finishing touches on delicious preserves at Blue Tongue Kitchen.

The Blue Tongue Crew has whipped up a range of delicious pickles, chutneys and relishes, as part of their capacity-building cooking workshops at the award-winning Blue Tongue Kitchen cooking school, under the expert guidance of Chef Allan. These preserves are ideal for festive season charcuterie platters, thoughtful gifts – or even to add some extra flavour to those post-Christmas leftovers! 

If you’re shopping for someone who deserves a luxurious treat, browse the Blue Tongue Industries range of home, bath and body products. The range includes candles, soaps, scrubs, body washes and lotions, all crafted and packaged by the Blue Tongue Crew. 

The Cooking and Industries workshops are just some of the activities on offer at Blue Tongue Adventure’s disability support day programs for young adults.  These workshops help to hone skills such as reading recipes and following procedures. Proceeds from the sale of the products are re-invested back into the programs.  

Check out the range on the shelves at Blue Tongue Pantry cafe, 100 Mooroondu Road Thorneside, opposite Beth Boyd Park. 

Explore Supported Travel Opportunities

With Blue Tongue Adventure, the fun doesn’t stop when the programs finish at 3pm on weekdays!  Our Blue Tongue Crew also loves getting involved with Saturday social events, and travel for people with disabilities, through Tea-cup Events! 

It’s another service offered by our parent provider, Tea-cup Cottage, offering young adults the chance to explore your interests, hang out with others your own age, and take steps toward independence. With a wide range of exciting adventures on the calendar, you’ll be counting down the days until your next event or getaway! 

Supported Travel with NDIS funding 

Tea-cup Events specialises in short getaways – usually overnight trips on weekends, plus they coordinate a few 3 or 4 night trips each year as well.  It’s a budget-friendly way to utilise your NDIS STA (Short Term Accommodation) funding, which can cover supports, accommodation, meals, some activities and some transport (eg – road transport can be covered, but plane tickets are an out-of-pocket expense).  You share supports based on your care ratio, so your funding goes further. Plus, it’s a great chance to make new friends, try new experiences, and take those first steps toward independence by spending time away from the family home. 

Some of the most popular events include: 

  • Farmstays – animal experiences, campfires, cosy cabins and fresh mountain air 
  • City staycations – a night in the bright lights of the big city! 
  • Whitsundays Cruise – four nights sailing the Queensland coast, with one full shore day in Airlie Beach 
  • Sea World Resort – explore the theme park, and enjoy resort facilities including the fabulous heated pool 

Saturday Social events 

Enjoy everything the local community has to offer! Tea-cup Events also coordinates a variety of Saturday Social events. There’s no overnight accommodation at these events, but there are still new things to see, places to explore, and people to meet. Concerts, festivals, sporting matches, theatre shows and more! You can even suggest events you’d like to attend, and the Tea-cup Events team can make it happen for you! 

Aligned with Your Goals 

If you have NDIS goals to increase your independence, develop your social skills and explore your community, Tea-cup Events can support you on the way, helping you grow your confidence.  You don’t even have to be in the Blue Tongue Crew to join in! Visit the website here to see what’s coming up, or email events@tea-cupcottage.com.au to find out more! 

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SLES with Blue Tongue Pathways: Grow your independence and job skills

Finishing school is such an exciting time, full of opportunity! But if you’re not quite ready for the world of work, NDIS-funded SLES (School Leaver Employment Supports) is there to help you make a smooth transition, and develop the skills you need to get job-ready and chase your goals. And in the Blue Tongue Pathways SLES service, we’re all about the big picture, helping you grow in all the areas you need, to get on the pathway to success.   

“Independence skill-building is at the crux of it,” explains facilitator Mitch Brennan. “After all, that’s a foundation for life.” 

“Then we branch out from there, to work on getting job-ready!” 

Putting You On Your Chosen Pathway 

The two-year Pathways program starts out with a focus on building your confidence,  interpersonal skills, and communication skills – taking a holistic approach to developing your independent living skills. And it’s a chance to really narrow down your goals and how to go about pursuing them.  

In the second half of the program, it’s about implementing what you’ve learned, putting your skills into practice. This could include volunteering, work experience, or paid employment. 

SLES supports are customised to your own unique job goals and needs, but you’ll also benefit from working in a small group setting. 

“The start of the day in Blue Tongue’s SLES service is workshop-style, with group-led discussions. It’s great for relationship-building and team-building, and gets our participants really engaged,” Mitch says.   

“The topics of discussion might centre around expectations of a workplace, hygiene and presentation, time management, internet use and cyber safety, through to workplace health and safety. We even cover independence skills like opening bank accounts, paying cash vs credit, how to vote, or applying for a rental.”  

After a morning spent in theory-based workshops, it’s time to dive into hands-on, practical work. This is done with 1:1 or 1:2 support, depending on your needs and preferences. 

“That might be work experience. It might be mock job interviews,” says Mitch. “Sometimes it’s learning how to use public transport to get to work on time. It could mean attending a workshop and then coming back to practice the skills you learned.” 

Your Goals, Your Choices 

When you have a goal to work in a particular industry, Blue Tongue Pathways is deeply dedicated to supporting you to pursue it. Across our Brisbane and Toowoomba centres, our current SLES participants have a diverse range of job goals on the go. 

“We have a few guys who’ve just got white cards and forklift tickets. Hands-on, warehouse work is really popular. We have many who want to work with animals, one who wants to be a personal trainer … and one who’d like to be a train driver, so we’re working with Queensland Rail on that,” Mitch says.  

“They’re all really achievable goals – and we’re there to help get the ball rolling for them.” 

Support Every Step Of The Way 

Mitch’s skills and background as a social worker are a big part of his strengths as our SLES facilitator.  

“My advocacy skills from social work have come into play, to liaise with stakeholders, and create opportunities for our participants,” he says. 

“Also, I can pick up on nuanced barriers that might be in play. There could be mental health issues that affect confidence, or their ability to articulate what they need.  

“Some of our participants come in with goals that they feel they can’t achieve because of their disability.”  

“We can build their confidence and say ‘your disability is not your problem. Disability only exists because society won’t cater for you properly. It’s not on you to make room for others. Society needs to become more accessible for you.’ And you can really see their motivation lift when they understand that,” he says. 

Contact the team on hello@bluetonguepathways.com.au to find out more, and discuss a SLES service to put you on the pathway to achieving your goals! 

  • SLES stands for School Leaver Employment Supports. 
  • It is an NDIS funded support for senior school students and young adults with disabilities. Participants are generally 18-20 years old, but the cutoff age is usually 22. 
  • It assists participants in making a smooth transition from school to working life. 
  • SLES is generally funded for two years, under the NDIS support category Finding And Keeping A Job. 
  • To be eligible for the funding, you need to have goals in your NDIS plan such as “looking for work” or “building work readiness skills” 
  • SLES is a flexible support service, tailored to your individual needs and goals (it is not a formalised ‘course’). Progress is measured with regular check-ins with you, support workers and stakeholders to see how you’re progressing against your goals, and identify any areas that need further focus. 
  • Our SLES service runs from 9 am to 3 pm, and participants attend one or two days a week. 
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Art With Heart At the Blue Tongue Adventure Showcase 2024

Wynnum is set to play host to an inspiring and thought-provoking art show this month, with Blue Tongue Adventure’s Art Showcase, displaying a vast array of pieces by artists involved in the disability support program. 

The event will feature a diverse range of art works, using media including woodwork, ceramics, paint on canvas, digital art, and textiles. The Blue Tongue Crew is also stocking the shelves with a variety of Blue Tongue Industries giftware items, including bath and body products, candles, and jewellery. 

Blue Tongue Adventure’s Tingal Road centre will be transformed into an elaborate gallery for the event, with guests enjoying drinks and canapés by Thorneside café Blue Tongue Pantry as they mingle and admire the works. There will also be live music by Blue Tongue Crew member Sam Mammino.  

“We’re so excited to showcase the beautiful pieces our Crew have created over the last few months,” coordinator Sam Franklin-Wangman said. 

“This event will uplift and inspire the Crew to continue these amazing creations, and provide the opportunity to showcase their work to their friends and family, as well as inspiring others in the community.” 

The Art Showcase will be held on Friday 23 February, 6:00pm-8:30pm at Blue Tongue Adventure, 260 Tingal Road Wynnum.

RSVP here!

 

As published in The Community Leader February 2024  

Gold Coast Discovery Day: Thursday 17 November

We’re throwing open the doors at Blue Tongue Adventure Gold Coast to show where all the fun happens!  Visit us and learn all about our vibrant day programs for young adults with disabilities, at our Discovery Day on Thursday November 17.

This open day is a chance for the whole community to:

  • Tour our immersive adventure space
  • Learn about the huge variety of day programs, and get hands-on with art workshops, games and activities
  • Check out the range of dedicated facilities, such as the sensory room, clinical rooms and indoor basketball court
  • Have all your questions answered by our program coordinators
  • Learn about School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) opportunities

The Details:

Thursday 17 November

9:30am-2:30pm – Stay for a little while, or stay all day

1/54 Siganto Drive Helensvale Gold Coast

Enjoy complimentary morning tea in our on-site bakery cafe until 10:30 am

All welcome!

Interested participants and their families/guardians
Support Coordinators
Teachers and Guidance Officers
Friends of current Blue Tongue ‘Crew’

To Register:

Call 1800 949 249
Email bluetonguegoldcoast@tea-cupcottage.com.au

Need help with the NDIS?
We’ll have coordinators on hand to give you the answers you need!

See you there!

Kick off your weekend with Saturday Social!

At Blue Tongue Adventure, there’s just too much fun and action to pack into a five-day week – so now you can also join us on Saturdays, for the disability support social programs you know and love!

Saturday Social is open to adults aged 17 and over. It’s a chance to hang out with like-minded people, try new things, make friends, and generally have a blast, as we always do!

Just like our Monday to Friday disability support social programs, Saturday Social is guided by what the Blue Tongue Crew wants to do. We could hang out at our home base to enjoy things like art workshops, or music and dance… but since it’s the weekend, we’ll all be pretty keen to get out and about!  The Crew always loves exploring the community and all it has to offer. Whether that’s seeing the sights of our local area, or checking out games arcades or indoor trampolining – we’re up for anything!

Saturday Social runs from 9am to 3pm at our Wynnum and Helensvale bases. Pick-ups and drop-offs are available. As usual, remember to bring:

  • Bag
  • Hat
  • Water bottle
  • Morning tea and lunch or money to purchase
  • Resource fee

Grab your friends and get involved! Contact us today to join in the action!

 

Transition Programs: for a smooth move to post-school life

Preparing to finish school can be an exciting time, with so much to look forward to.  New opportunities, more independence, and the beginning of your adult life. 

 It’s a big step! But leaving the familiar environment of school doesn’t need to be scary.  

 Blue Tongue Adventure’s disability support day programs for young adults provide a great opportunity to:

  • continue learning  
  • build new friendships 
  • explore your interests 
  • develop job skills 
  • increase your confidence 
  • learn life skills 
  • become more independent 

All while enjoying a regular routine.   

Our transition programs offer you the chance to join us while you’re still at school, to become familiar with our friendly faces, engaging spaces, and exciting programs! 

Three transition program pathways

Weekly Visits 

Join us each week for a few hours, or half a day.  Create a reassuring and reliable routine, and get to know our welcoming team and popular programs. 

School Holidays

Join us during your school holidays!  An immersive way to get to know Blue Tongue and experience a range of our fun activities. 

School-based Transition Programs 

Bring a small group from your school to join in with Blue Tongue Adventure on a weekly basis. Supported by your teachers, you can meet other Blue Tongue Crew members, start making friends, and discover the variety of programs we offer! 

Things to Know 

-Our days run from 9 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday.  You can join us every day, or you may like to pick and choose your days, based on the programs that are running each day.   

-There is a small daily fee to cover resources. Normally $8, this is reduced to $5 for transition program students.  

-If you’re joining us with your school, your teachers will be there with you to provide support while you’re taking part in our programs. Transport is also organised by your school.  

-If you’re joining us independently, you’ll be supported by the Blue Tongue Adventure team, and you can access our transport service. 

Blue Tongue Adventure is the perfect way to tackle adulthood with bucketloads of confidence! 

Want to know more?  Keen to see our amazing spaces in bayside Brisbane or Toowoomba?  

Call us on 1800 832 287  or email hello@bluetongueadventure.com.au – we can’t wait to meet you!

 

 

Join the Pit Crew – our new mechanical program!

Start your engines for our newest disability support day program – Pit Crew!

Whether you’re a mechanic in the making, or you don’t know a spark plug from a spare tyre – Pit Crew is the place to learn and refine your skills.

Based at our Wynnum workshop, this program takes participants through a range of car maintenance skills, supported by a qualified mechanic.

Members of the Pit Crew will learn how to:

  • Do inspections and light checks
  • Check engine oil and fluids
  • Check tyre pressure and rotate when needed
  • Keep the vehicle sparkling clean inside and out
  • Follow a log book and see when servicing is due

.. and many more tips for maintaining a well-oiled machine!

The Pit Crew will also be involved in taking vehicles to the mechanic for more detailed servicing. They’ll link in with the maintenance schedule for the fleet used by Blue Tongue Adventure’s parent company, Tea-Cup Cottage. This helps participants to understand the regular and routine maintenance that cars require, and what to expect on visits to the mechanic.

If your goal is to get a car of your own one day, Pit Crew will help you to learn how to maintain it.  Or maybe you’re interested in becoming a mechanic yourself  – the Pit Crew program can show you what your future job will be like! Hey, maybe you just love working with anything mechanical – then you’ll definitely love this program!

Pit Crew is the latest in our range of disability support day programs on offer to young adults. From art and woodwork workshops, to learning cooking skills in our own hospitality venues and even working with horses for equine-assisted learning – Blue Tongue Adventure’s programs are designed with young adults in mind.

Contact us for more information, or to sign up!