Innovative Community Participation, when the usual options do not fit.

It is a creative, individually designed form of community participation for people whose goals are not well served by standard group activities. Instead of a fixed program, we build something around your interests, strengths and goals — to grow skills, confidence and connection, and often as a bridge toward work, study or greater independence.

Standard Community Participation is often about accessing activities, groups and outings. Innovative Community Participation is more individualised and creative — a tailored program designed around your specific goals, frequently focused on building capacity toward a bigger step like employment or study.

Often, yes. Many people use it to build the skills, routines, confidence and real experience that become a genuine bridge into employment, education or greater independence. The whole design is goal-directed.

Yes — it is funded from your Core Supports budget as an innovative form of community participation. We help you design a program that genuinely moves you toward your goals.

It starts with a Meet & Greet to understand who you are, what you love and where you want to go. From there we co-design a program with you — choosing activities and steps that build toward your goal — and we review and adjust it as you grow, so it always fits.

Yes. Innovative Community Participation is individualised by nature, so it is often delivered one-to-one or in very small, purposeful settings — exactly the point, when a busy standard group is not the right fit for you.

Gencare is based in the west of Melbourne and supports participants across Victoria, with our footprint expanding into Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and regional areas. Reach out and we will confirm what is available in your area.

It is funded from Capacity Building, so it needs to connect to a goal in your plan — building skills, growing confidence, working toward study or employment. That is a lower bar than it sounds: if standard group programs have not worked for you and there is something you are trying to move toward, there is usually a case to be made. We can help you make it.

Because it is capacity-building, it is measured against your goal, not attendance. We agree at the start what progress would look like for you — a skill gained, confidence to do something alone, a step toward work or study — and review it honestly as we go. If a pathway is not moving you forward, we change it rather than continue it.

Yes. An individual pathway can run alongside a group activity, daily living support or anything else in your plan. For a lot of people the individualised program is what makes a group setting workable — building the confidence or the skills that let them take part in the group at all.