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Our Impact
In just one year, Co-Hive has become a thriving community of participants, families, and staff committed to rewriting what’s possible.
We invite you to explore our 2024 Impact Report and see firsthand how Co-Hive is transforming lives—and why we’re just getting started.
Hear From Our Families
“The one thing that makes Co-Hive stand out as a disability service provider is that they care about each kid's interests. They don't think our kids should be pushed into TAFE just because they finished school in Year 10.
They believe our kids - like all kids - deserve to find out what they actually want to do and what would be a good fit for them.
As a parent this is so reassuring because you feel that you aren't alone in this challenging transition from high school to whatever comes after."
Natalee, Michaela's Mom
Full Speech: Michaela’s Story
Michaela is 19. She was diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD when she was in pre-school. She has academic delays and repeated Year 3. She also has hyper-mobile joints which makes some physical activities involving fine motor skills difficult.
She went to a fantastic primary and high school that had an on-site Specialist Learning Centre and the teachers there supported her in every subject so she could remain in the same classroom as her peers.
In Year 8 Michaela was fortunate that a large group of kids included her in their social activities and while this never really resulted in any close one-on-one friendships, it was great that she had a group of boys and girls to sit with at recess and lunch.
In the middle of Year 10, the Specialist Learning Centre Director called me to say that the school believes Michaela is not a candidate to complete the HSC, not even the non-ATAR version. They said the school simply didn't have the authority to differentiate the HSC curriculum like they did from Years 7–10. My husband and I had no idea what Michaela would do in 2023.She'd done Year 10 work experience at a daycare centre and absolutely hated it. In the first half of 2023 Michaela successfully completed Certificate II in Workplace Skills via TAFE virtual classroom. This was great, but we weren't any closer to knowing what she was going to do.
She had SLES funding at this point so I enrolled her in a SLES program in the office of a disability job agency in Maroubra. It was very clinical and boring. The sessions were held in the office boardroom. Michaela absolutely hated it. The facilitators were nice, but mainly taught the participants how to write resumes, do job searches and be prepared for interviews. This sounds practical, but Michaela didn't even know what she wanted to do. And when you don’t know what you want to do, you aren’t motivated to actually apply for any jobs.
At the beginning of 2024 someone told me about Co-Hive. I was initially reluctant to find out more because I thought it was just going to be another SLES program, but with funkier branding. But finally, just after Semester 2 of last year, Michaela and I came for an intake interview with Kim and we realised right from the start that Co-Hive was different.
Michaela has done a few courses with Co-Hive in the past year. She started with Get Work Ready, Finance Matters and Drama Dynamics. Get Work Ready included work experience at Centennial Park, which she enjoyed. But she really loved Drama Dynamics and made some great friends including her best friend Camilla who she formed a bond with on the first day they met.
In first semester this year, Michaela continued on with Drama Dynamics, but also completed the Script to Screen course. Now she's doing Employment Pathways. She has work experience at the Ted Noffs Foundation on Tuesdays and she didn't want to miss it so she isn't here for Open Day. And she's still doing Drama Dynamics every Friday!
Michaela is quite independent and adventurous. When she was 16 she went on a trip to London and Paris with a supported Autism traveller provider. She also did social activities with this provider but she never made any real friendships because the participants were random from all over Sydney (and sometimes even interstate) and had nothing else binding them together.
The brilliant thing about Co-Hive is that they also have many independence getaways and social outings, but the kids who attend these have to be enrolled in at least one course with Co-Hive. This means there's a consistency of participants and it gives the kids a real opportunity to get to know each other and make genuine friendships.
Michaela has enjoyed the chaperoned pub nights, karaoke and musicals. She really loves Honey Co, a girls-only get-together about once every second month that's usually held here at the hub. It's an opportunity for girls to interact on topics of interest for teens and young adults whilst doing fun activities like make-up, baking and art.
Michaela has really enjoyed the independence getaways. She's been to the Gold Coast, Berrima and most recently the Blue Mountains getaways.
The other great thing about Co-Hive is that they put on events right here at the hub. They did one for Halloween last year and this year for Winter Solstice. There's music, food and dancing and it's wonderful to see the kids get dressed up and have fun with each other in a social way.
The one thing that makes Co-Hive stand out as a disability service provider is that they care about each kid's interests. They don't think our kids should be pushed into TAFE just because they finished school in Year 10. They believe our kids — like all kids — deserve to find out what they actually want to do and what would be a good fit for them.
As a parent this is so reassuring because you feel that you aren't alone in this challenging transition from high school to whatever comes after.
"Within weeks at Co-Hive her confidence was growing—she was navigating Central Station, light rail and ferries, and even initiating conversations with friends, something she had never done before. On family holidays I’d find her chatting easily with strangers, proudly sharing about her program.
Co-Hive has empowered her to set her own goals, like becoming a ski instructor, and she’s already gaining experience through trips to the Blue Mountains and the snow. Each day she gets herself up and out early, excited to see her friends, staff, and plan her week. She comes home full of stories, filled with joy and purpose."
Claire, Lilliana's Mom
Full Speech: Clare & Lili
Our transition journey started earlier than we expected. Thought we’d have another year to plan, despite planning starting in Year 9.School did not prepare Lili for life after school. The aim was to get a job, not sit around at home.
After a well-earned rest, we visited many service providers. Lili is great at knowing what she doesn’t want. Many places she had decided weren’t for her before we stepped in the door. She persevered and sat through their spiels. I was wondering: how do I navigate this new system?
Then a colleague suggested Co-Hive. From my first conversation with Kim it was different. She asked deep and at times confronting questions. But it showed that she cared. She wanted to really know what made Lili, Lili.
On our first visit, every moment I was waiting for Lili to say no. But from the entrance to meeting the reception staff—including a participant in training—it felt comfortable.
Kim continued with her direct questions. I found it emotional, but then every step since birth has been emotional. But the emotion came from having my daughter be seen. Kim saw her potential that I knew was there. She spoke of helping Lili be confident, making her own informed decisions that would grow her into adulthood and give her opportunities for the good life.
On our first visit, every staff member and participant made us feel welcomed. They had her hooked with talk of a ski trip. Lili grew up in the Snowy Mountains and loved being outdoors. The promise of a trip there this winter was all she needed to be hooked.
Lili’s first week started with travel training. She got two trains here. I thought we’d need to stay close to home, but in under a week she was navigating Central Station, trains, light rail, and ferries for her other program.
Lili started with employment skills and an animal care course. As she loves being outside, the employment work experience at Centennial Park kept her motivated. She painted fences, planted trees, did woodwork.
Within a few weeks I started to see her confidence growing. She was initiating a conversation with a friend visiting us. This had never happened before.
Since then she has continued to thrive. On a recent family holiday we were on a boat with 8 strangers. I’d often find her chatting away with one of them, telling them about her program and likes.
Co-Hive has empowered her. She has set herself a goal to get a job as a ski instructor. She’s had a ball on her trips away to the Blue Mountains and more recently to the snow, where she spent time with a ski instructor to help her understand the job.
Her enthusiasm for being at Co-Hive with the staff and participants is evident daily as she gets herself up and out early every morning. Remember, if she doesn’t like something she doesn’t go. And the way she comes home and yells about her day—about the people and about what she has to plan for the coming days..
All her planning and communication is done between her and Co-Hive. It took me a few weeks to stop my anxiety at not knowing all the moments of her day. But now I have no worries. I know she is safe and capable to manage her days and travel.
She has even arranged to meet with friends at Central a few times after Co-Hive.
Lili has enjoyed the mix of social connections she has made this year. She had a great girls’ night out on the town with karaoke. She is mixing with both males and females.
My advice to anyone transitioning is really no different to when we were looking for daycare centres when they were younger. Try them out. You’ll know it’s right when you visit and the feeling is comfort.
Don’t be afraid to share information about your young adult. It helps them get the support they need.
“The one thing that makes Co-Hive stand out as a disability service provider is that they care about each kid's interests. They don't think our kids should be pushed into TAFE just because they finished school in Year 10.
They believe our kids - like all kids - deserve to find out what they actually want to do and what would be a good fit for them.
As a parent this is so reassuring because you feel that you aren't alone in this challenging transition from high school to whatever comes after."
Natalee, Michaela's Mom
Full Speech: Michaela’s Story
Michaela is 19. She was diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD when she was in pre-school. She has academic delays and repeated Year 3. She also has hyper-mobile joints which makes some physical activities involving fine motor skills difficult.
She went to a fantastic primary and high school that had an on-site Specialist Learning Centre and the teachers there supported her in every subject so she could remain in the same classroom as her peers.
In Year 8 Michaela was fortunate that a large group of kids included her in their social activities and while this never really resulted in any close one-on-one friendships, it was great that she had a group of boys and girls to sit with at recess and lunch.
In the middle of Year 10, the Specialist Learning Centre Director called me to say that the school believes Michaela is not a candidate to complete the HSC, not even the non-ATAR version. They said the school simply didn't have the authority to differentiate the HSC curriculum like they did from Years 7–10. My husband and I had no idea what Michaela would do in 2023.She'd done Year 10 work experience at a daycare centre and absolutely hated it. In the first half of 2023 Michaela successfully completed Certificate II in Workplace Skills via TAFE virtual classroom. This was great, but we weren't any closer to knowing what she was going to do.
She had SLES funding at this point so I enrolled her in a SLES program in the office of a disability job agency in Maroubra. It was very clinical and boring. The sessions were held in the office boardroom. Michaela absolutely hated it. The facilitators were nice, but mainly taught the participants how to write resumes, do job searches and be prepared for interviews. This sounds practical, but Michaela didn't even know what she wanted to do. And when you don’t know what you want to do, you aren’t motivated to actually apply for any jobs.
At the beginning of 2024 someone told me about Co-Hive. I was initially reluctant to find out more because I thought it was just going to be another SLES program, but with funkier branding. But finally, just after Semester 2 of last year, Michaela and I came for an intake interview with Kim and we realised right from the start that Co-Hive was different.
Michaela has done a few courses with Co-Hive in the past year. She started with Get Work Ready, Finance Matters and Drama Dynamics. Get Work Ready included work experience at Centennial Park, which she enjoyed. But she really loved Drama Dynamics and made some great friends including her best friend Camilla who she formed a bond with on the first day they met.
In first semester this year, Michaela continued on with Drama Dynamics, but also completed the Script to Screen course. Now she's doing Employment Pathways. She has work experience at the Ted Noffs Foundation on Tuesdays and she didn't want to miss it so she isn't here for Open Day. And she's still doing Drama Dynamics every Friday!
Michaela is quite independent and adventurous. When she was 16 she went on a trip to London and Paris with a supported Autism traveller provider. She also did social activities with this provider but she never made any real friendships because the participants were random from all over Sydney (and sometimes even interstate) and had nothing else binding them together.
The brilliant thing about Co-Hive is that they also have many independence getaways and social outings, but the kids who attend these have to be enrolled in at least one course with Co-Hive. This means there's a consistency of participants and it gives the kids a real opportunity to get to know each other and make genuine friendships.
Michaela has enjoyed the chaperoned pub nights, karaoke and musicals. She really loves Honey Co, a girls-only get-together about once every second month that's usually held here at the hub. It's an opportunity for girls to interact on topics of interest for teens and young adults whilst doing fun activities like make-up, baking and art.
Michaela has really enjoyed the independence getaways. She's been to the Gold Coast, Berrima and most recently the Blue Mountains getaways.
The other great thing about Co-Hive is that they put on events right here at the hub. They did one for Halloween last year and this year for Winter Solstice. There's music, food and dancing and it's wonderful to see the kids get dressed up and have fun with each other in a social way.
The one thing that makes Co-Hive stand out as a disability service provider is that they care about each kid's interests. They don't think our kids should be pushed into TAFE just because they finished school in Year 10. They believe our kids — like all kids — deserve to find out what they actually want to do and what would be a good fit for them.
As a parent this is so reassuring because you feel that you aren't alone in this challenging transition from high school to whatever comes after.
