About

Making Connections Toowoomba provides fun, safe, and supportive Social Group environments where neurodivergent children, teens and young adults can make connections with likeminded peers.  This approach is supported by research that has found when neurodivergent people socialise and learn new skills together, they report greater feelings of comfort, belonging, and cross-neurotype understanding (Crompton et al., 2020).

We keep our groups intentionally small to ensure that every participant has the best possible chance to make meaningful connections. This allows us to offer high-quality resources and tailor activities to the unique dynamics of each group and the individuals within them. Rest assured, we invest countless hours in careful planning and programming to make every session purposeful and fun for our participants.

While our Social Clubs provide a natural platform to practice social communication skills and incidental social coaching does occur, it's important to note that they do not include explicit social skills teaching or caregiver training. For those seeking a more structured approach with progress monitoring parent sessions, we recommend exploring our Social Skills Groups.

A note about costs:

We believe in accessibility for all neurodivergent youth, regardless of diagnosis or NDIS eligibility. While our groups may be claimable for self or plan-managed NDIS participants, we want to emphasise that our doors are open to everyone.

Remaining true to our commitment, we have not increased our prices since our inception four years ago, despite significant cost increases. For a detailed information sheet on our services, please contact us via email at:
fiona@makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au

Teen Tech Club

Grades 8 to 10

The Tech Club is a space where neurodivergent teens come together in a safe and supportive environment to connect over their shared interest in technology. Instead of gaming, coding, tinkering, or designing in isolation, this group encourages face-to-face interaction in a social setting. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity for participants to pursue their passion, develop confidence, and feel valued.

Benefits of Social Tech Clubs

Research consistently shows that small group settings help young people on the autism spectrum practice key social skills, such as:

• Effective Communication
• Negotiation
• Sharing Specialist Knowledge & Listening to Others
• Coping with Stress & Frustration
• Building Social Connections

Note: Parents, carers, and support workers do not attend.

Details for 2025

Please submit an Expression of Interest form to be added to the waitlist!

More information

If you would like an information sheet, please email: fiona@makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au

Epic Board Game Club

Ages 14+

Join our Epic Board Games social club for neurodivergent teens and young adults, where we explore a wide variety of common and not-so-common board and card games! This group offers plenty of challenges, strategies, and fun along the way.

Whether you're a seasoned player or new to board games, you'll enjoy engaging in friendly competition, learning new strategies, and connecting with peers who share your enthusiasm for games.

This group provides a welcoming and supportive environment to make new friends, develop strategic thinking, and enhance social connections.

Benefits of Board Games for Enhancing Social Connections

Regular opportunities to think creatively in group contexts provide chances to practice:

• Communication & Collaboration Skills
• Social Problem-Solving
• Negotiation
• Good Sportsmanship
• Social Flexibility
• Listening to & Respecting the Views of Others
• Self-Advocacy

And to develop:

• Confidence, Connection & Self-Esteem
• Opportunities to Make Friends with Like-Minded People

...While delving into a wide variety of games and challenges with those who share your passion!

Note: Parents, carers, and support workers do not attend.

Details for 2025

Please submit an Expression of Interest form to be added to the waitlist!

More information

If you would like an information sheet, please email: fiona@makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au

Art Circle

Ages 15+

The Art Circle is a arts and craft social club designed specifically for older teens and young adults with autism, ADHD, social anxiety, or those with similar characteristics. This social club provides a safe and supportive environment for neurodivergent youth to make connections with like-minded peers who share an interest in art and craft.

Our Mission

This club aims to help neurodivergent young people “find their tribe” by creating meaningful social connections in a space where curiosity and creativity thrive. Our club values ‘beautiful mistakes,’ so there is no expectation to produce a particular outcome or meet a certain skill level. Instead, we focus on learning through discovery, connecting over a common interest and  supporting one another along the way.

What We Offer

• A safe, supportive environment for social connections
• Purposefully planned and facilitated sessions, but suitably qualified professionals
• Opportunities to explore art and craft in a non-judgmental space
• A chance to make friends with others who share similar interests and experiences

Benefits of Joining

• Conversation Skills: Improve social communication in a relaxed setting.
• Social Problem-Solving: Learn to navigate different social situations together.
• Negotiation: Build the skills to cooperate and share ideas.
• Sharing Knowledge: Listen, share, and learn from one another’s experiences.

By joining, you’ll also have the opportunity to develop:

• Confidence
• Connection
• Self-esteem

Note: Parents, carers, and support workers do not attend.

Details for 2025

Please submit an Expression of Interest form to be added to the waitlist!

More information

If you would like an information sheet, please email: fiona@makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au

The Friday Meeting Place

Older Teens & Young Adults

The aim of The Meeting Place social club is to provide a supportive environment where young people on the autism spectrum come together to make connections with similar-aged teens and young adults. This group is best suited to motivated teens and young adults who may have trouble meeting like-minded people or who are experiencing social anxiety. 

We work hard to find best-fit dynamics so we can provide high quality and purposeful sessions and ensure our participants have the best possible opportunities to make connections and feel safe to be themselves.

Each week, the group engage in social activities and opportunities to develop their social confidence and connectedness. These opportunities range from: group-based games, paired and joint projects, community-based outings, cooking sessions and volunteer opportunities within the community.

Benefits of a Facilitated Social Group

Benefits of Social Groups for young people on the autism spectrum include opportunities to practise:

• Conversation skills
• Social problem solving
• Negotiation
• Good sportsmanship
• Sharing of specialist knowledge while listening to others

And to develop:

• Confidence, connection & self-esteem
• Opportunities to make friends with likeminded people

Details for 2025

Please submit an Expression of Interest form to be added to the waitlist!

More information

If you would like an information sheet, please email: fiona@makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au

The difference between quality Social Skills Program and Social Activities