The Leisure Buddies service is unique in the current disability sector because it involves matching a carefully screened community volunteer with a person with disability. Through shared interests and regular outings, buddies develop a genuine, informal, organic friendship outside existing relationships with family and paid staff. The Leisure Buddies service supports the person with disability to have a friend, participate in the community and to develop confidence and independence.
Leisure buddies are matched according to several factors such as where they both live and their shared interests and goals. Buddies meet regularly. This might be weekly or fortnightly, on weekdays or weekends, depending on their goals and what suits both buddies. Some are long term, where lifelong friendships develop, while others are more focused on goals that are realised in a short time frame.
Volunteering at Inclusion Melbourne is about embracing inclusion, building relationships with people from all walks of life and taking steps toward a future full of opportunities. Volunteers offer authentic friendship and a genuine relationship based on freely given time, beyond that of a carer or supporter.
Paid relationships do not usually evolve into freely given sustainable relationships. The volunteer relationship is valued for its casual and relaxed nature in which community participation is supported, communication and social skills enhanced and interests developed. Some participants have positive experiences with buddy volunteers that they wish to maintain or repeat into the future. Inclusion Melbourne offers NDIS participants the opportunity for personalised recruitment and matching with a leisure buddy, as well as ongoing support of the match.
Larry and his buddy Jim share a love of football and their team, the Saints. Jim contacted the coordinator with concerns about difficulties he was experiencing in communicating with Larry.
