10 October 2026
By Fiona Bridger, Senior Researcher and Writer
What if your Lifestyle Program wasn’t just somewhere you went during the week, but where you wanted to be? A place where you could learn new things, try your hand at cooking, delve into something creative, head out into the community, discover a new interest and spend time with people who share the same interests as you? That’s exactly what I discovered when I visited Achieve's Haberfield Lifestyle Program.
With 26 people attending the program and about 15 to 17 people coming each day, there is always something happening. You will never have a day where you do nothing. The program consists of mix of community outings, skill development and friendship building. The day starts at 8.30 am, but there’s no sitting around waiting for something to happen. Mornings usually start with a simple activity to get everyone moving, talking and connecting to get going. It could be throwing a ball and sharing something about yourself, stretching, movement or a group activity.
The weekly themes can get creative. During the recent South America themed week, people took part in Brazilian inspired dance, music, and language and learnt interesting facts about the culture. So, while someone else might have just been doing the traditional morning routine, people here were learning to say something in Portuguese. Now that’s a pretty good reason to turn up. The morning is flexible, too, so you can get yourself settled in, get to an activity and do it in a way that works for you.
Everyone gets their hands dirty after morning tea. The program offers an array of activities like art and craft, science, sensory experiences and cooking. Sometimes all at once! Cooking is a popular one. In fact, one person got so interested in cooking that the group made a cooking class for him. He helps make the food, washes up and serves it to everyone else. The funny part is he doesn’t eat the food himself.
But that doesn’t matter. He has found something he loves, and the program has provided him with that space to share that passion, develop skills and take on a leadership role. An activity doesn’t happen simply because it’s written on a timeline. People’s interests can really change what happens next. So, if cooking is your thing, who knows, you may be the next person to inspire a class.
And the program is not limited to the hub. Community access is a big part of the week and roughly half of the group go out every day. People’s interests, goals and ideas decide where they go. That could be a local park, museum, art gallery, workshop or even something totally new. Recently, the group went to Reverse Garbage to learn about sustainability and how broken furniture and other materials can be used in a second life. Outings like this support building confidence, hands-on skills and experiencing the wider community. Most importantly, people get to decide where they go.
Participation doesn’t have to be the same for everyone, either. In bingo, for example, one person might call out the numbers; someone else rolls the balls. Mixing ingredients in the kitchen, keeping an eye on the clock or contributing to another part of the recipe. There’s no one way to take part. People can take a break, chat, relax and go back to doing what they’re doing when they’re ready. A one-hour activity doesn’t mean you have to sit there for one hour and listen to every minute of it.
People are encouraged to express what they want to do, and their ideas can help shape future activities. At the end of the day, the team can reflect on what happened, talk about what people took part in and listen to their feedback. For people who communicate differently, the team uses visuals, choices and observation to understand their preferences and interests. People do not need to say, “I absolutely loved that activity.” Their facial expressions, actions or the fact that they keep coming back can say a lot.
What makes the Haberfield Lifestyle Program so special is that the day isn’t just about filling the hours. It’s about learning what you like, learning something new, building confidence, making friends, becoming independent and having a say in how you spend your time. Maybe you’ll learn Portuguese. You might find out that you’re secretly good at cooking, find yourself in a new place, or find a friend you can turn to in bingo.
Either way, there’s always lots happening in Haberfield. And you will never know what you’re missing until you come along.