Group Programs
If you, your child, teen, or young adult finds socialising tricky — or they haven’t found their people yet — our group programs might be the perfect fit.
Three Tiers of Support
At Making Connections Toowoomba, we offer three tiers of group programs so you can choose what best fits your needs, comfort level, and goals:
- Social Clubs – relaxed, interest-based spaces where friendships grow naturally
- Social Coaching – small groups with guided interaction and professional coaching
- Skills Programs – structured, goal-focused sessions for building specific social or life skills
Why Families Love Our Approach
Our three-tier model gives families:
- Choice – pick the level of structure and support that suits you
- Flexibility – mix and match across the tiers as needs evolve
- Affordability – you do not need NDIS funding to join. Our programs are designed to stay accessible and inclusive for all families.
Scroll down to explore each program tier.
Social Clubs
When neurodivergent people spend time with others who share similar experiences, it helps build self-acceptance, confidence and a genuine sense of belonging. It also eases feelings of isolation and the pressure to mask.
Our Social Clubs are small, supportive spaces where young people connect through shared interests in a relaxed, structured and enjoyable way. To ensure our participants feel safe and supported, our clubs are not 'hang outs' - each club is thoughtfully planned and facilitated by qualified staff, creating meaningful opportunities for participation, growth and fun.
Groups are intentionally small (6–8 participants) and
neuro-affirming, helping each person feel safe, understood and to
make connections as authentic friendships develop.
Why have clubs?
Our Social Clubs offer safe, relaxed spaces for neurodivergent young people to connect, have fun and build friendships with like-minded peers.
Each group adds structure and predictability so socialising feels comfortable, not overwhelming. The focus is on shared experiences, not “getting it right” — helping participants feel included, valued and confident being themselves.
Focus:
• Connection, comfort and confidence
• Small, supportive groups with like-minded peers
• Shared interests and fun, purposeful activities
• Safe spaces for genuine friendship and belonging
• Fully facilitated by qualified staff but not therapy
What clubs do you have?
We offer a range of interest-based clubs so each person can find a group that feels like the right fit.
Grades 4–6
• LEGO Club
Tweens & Teens
• Saturdays Art & Craft
• Build Club
• Colour Creatives (teens with learning differences)
Young Adults
• The Meeting Place
• Art & Craft
• The Social Space (YAs with learning differences)
Adults
• Boardgames
Dates and details?
Email to request an information sheet. Please ensure you tell us which club/s you are intered in.
Are our clubs a fit for you?
Our group programs are designed to be safe, inclusive, and enjoyable spaces for neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults to connect with others in a supported social setting.
To help ensure the best experience for everyone, our clubs could be a good fit if:
• You or your young person enjoys connecting with others but finds it hard in typical settings
• They can participate independently (without a parent or support worker in the room)
• They prefer relaxed, interest-based activities
• They’re looking for connection and confidence — not therapy or a skills-based program
Commitment requirements
Our social clubs run all year, for four terms (according to school term dates).
We require a commitment to at least one full term (x5 sessions) with automatic enrolment each term unless we’re notified otherwise (2 weeks’ notice required).
Next steps
Want to submit an Exprssion of Interest?
Step 1 – Submit an Expression of Interest form
Step 2 - We’ll be in touch by email or phone. If there’s availability and the group seems like a good fit, we’ll arrange a brief phone chat and offer you the option to visit and see our space before starting.
Step 3– When you’re ready to join, we’ll send our Service Agreement to secure your spot.
Social Coaching
Programs of Support
Our Social Coaching Programs focus on friendship: understanding what makes a quality friend, managing tricky social situations, and practising helpful strategies in a supportive environment.
Sessions draw on CASEL’s five key areas of social–emotional learning (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making); along with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Social Learning Theory (SLT). These evidence-based approaches recognises that we learn best through observing, practising, and reflecting with others and helps young people understand their thoughts and emotions, and develop positive social strategies and patterns.
Groups of
4–8 participants are carefully matched and facilitated by qualified professionals. Sessions run
fortnightly during school terms, making them sustainable and affordable for families. This approach creates meaningful opportunities to learn, practise, and reflect — making connections, confidence, and belonging.
Why social coaching?
Social coaching helps young people build the confidence and tools to connect with others in ways that feel authentic and sustainable.
Evidence shows that learning and reflecting alongside likeminded peers who are having similar experiences builds social understanding, self-awareness, social communication, and self-regulation. It also builds a sense of belonging and positive self-identity with the powerful realisation that you’re not the only one navigating these challenges.
In a structured, but fun and low-pressure setting, participants can practise real interactions and develop social strategies with the support of professional instruction and coaching.
What happens?
Sessions run fortnightly and combine structure with flexibility — giving young people the chance to practise social strategies in real time while having fun. Each session includes a mix of:
- Interactive games and projects that encourage cooperation and problem-solving
- Facilitated discussions about friendship, emotions, and communication
- In-the-moment social coaching to guide real interactions as they unfold
- Direct teaching and practice of key social and emotional concepts
- Visual supports, role play, and peer modelling to build confidence and understanding
Some programs also feature Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs) such as Dungeons & Dragons — immersive, story-based sessions where participants practise teamwork, collaboration, negotiation, problem-solving, flexible thinking, and communication in a creative, supportive environment.
We also offer sensory-based programs, which combine sensory and social–emotional awareness with hands-on craft activities designed to promote regulation, focus, and connection.
What coaching groups do you have?
Grades 4–6
• Sense & Create (craft-based sensory program)
Grades 6-9
• Making Social Connections Friendship Group
• Dungeons & Dragons
Teens Gr 7-12
• Making Social Connections Friendship Group
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Sense & Create (craft-based sensory program)
• Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Young Adults
• Monday Meeting Place — daytime sessions including shared lunch experiences to build social participation, conversation, and everyday confidence.
Dates & details?
Email to request an information sheet. Please ensure you tell us which club/s you are intered in.
Is this a good fit for you?
Our social coaching programs of support suit:
• Graduates of our structured social skills programs who would benefit from ongoing coaching.
• Families and participants wanting guided social practice in a fun, social, naturalistic setting.
• Young people who benefit from doing—hands on, interest based activities (not suited to extensive explicit teaching).
Commitment requirements
Our social coaching programs run all year, for four terms (according to school term dates).
We require a commitment to at least one full term (x5 sessions) with automatic enrolment each term unless we’re notified otherwise (2 weeks’ notice required).
Next steps
Want to submit an Exprssion of Interest?
Step 1 – Submit an Expression of Interest form
Step 2 - We’ll be in touch by email or phone. If there’s availability and the group seems like a good fit, we’ll arrange a brief phone chat and offer you the option to visit and see our space before starting.
Step 3– When you’re ready to join, we’ll send our Service Agreement to secure your spot.
Skills
Programs of Support
Our Skills Programs provide structured, evidence-based support for neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults. Designed and delivered by our multi-disciplinary team, these programs focus on practical skill development in areas such as social communication, emotional wellbeing, daily living, work readiness, and sensory regulation.
Why skills programs?
Unlike unstructured playgroups, hangouts or social clubs, our skills programs:
• Teach essential, real world social strategies in a sequential, step-by-step format
• Practise skills through role plays, video modelling, visual supports and fun, activity-based activities and games
• Involve caregivers through regular updates and caregiver sessions so they can help reinforce learning at home, and when the intervention has finished
• A facilitated by experienced professionals in the fields of Special Education, Psychology and Occupational Therapy
What happens?
Depending on the focus, each Skills Program has its own content and structure. However, they all share a few key elements:
• Intentionally small, with carefully selected group dynamics to allow in-the-moment coaching and support
• Explicitly structured, teaching sequential, real-world skills through evidence-based programs and approaches
• Practical and engaging, using role plays, video modelling, visual supports, and interactive activities
• Evidence-informed, designed specifically for neurodivergent youth
• Supported by caregiver involvement through regular updates, webinars, or dedicated sessions to extend learning at home
• Facilitated by qualified professionals in Special Education, Psychology, and Occupational Therapy
• These are not short-term programs — evidence consistently shows that meaningful skill development takes time, with repeated opportunities to practise, apply, and consolidate learning
What SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL programs do you have?
Ages 4-6
PEERS® for Preschool
For children aged 4–6 and their families
A 16-week, evidence-based, play-based program that teaches young children the foundations of making and keeping friends, while coaching caregivers in how to support social skills at home.
Note: We running the parent-only version in Semest 1 of 2026.
Grades 1-3
A structured, play-based program incorporating the PEERS® for Preschoolers and other evidence-based social-emotional methodologies, designed to help children learn and practise key friendship skills, while giving caregivers practical tools to support social growth at home.
Grades 4-6
Making Social Connections®
Making Social Connections® is our trademarked, year-long social skills program, designed and delivered exclusively by Making Connections Toowoomba. It teaches essential social skills in a sequential, structured way—building confidence, connection, and competence across the year.
Ages 14-18
PEERS® for Teens
Semester 2, 2026: 14-week program
Teens between 14-18 years of age attend weekly face-to-face sessions while parents or caregivers participate in parallel coaching groups on-site. These caregiver sessions equip parents with tools to support social learning outside the program and help teens generalise their skills in real life.
Ages 18-30
PEERS® for Young Adults
Semester 1, 2026: 16-week program
Adults aged 18-30 years attend weekly face-to-face sessions independently. A nominated social coach (usually a parent or support person) joins a weekly online coaching session, offering greater flexibility—ideal for families balancing study, work, or living arrangements. This format helps build independence while still offering strong support behind the scenes.
Click here for a link to research on the PEERS programs.
What OTHER SKILLS programs do you have?
Work Ready Program
- 8 weekly sessions; 4 terms
- Senior Students-School Leavers
Helps autistic and neurodivergent teens and young adults build confidence, independence, and practical skills for real-world employment. Participants explore their strengths and work options that could work for them, while learning about everyday work habits, communication in the workplace, gradual exposure to work context and planning the next steps.
Best suited for teens and young adults who can attend weekly, participate independently in a small group, and are not looking for immediate employment but want to build foundational skills, confidence, independence, and self-advocacy.
Organise & Thrive: Executive Functioning Program
- 8-session program
- Young Adults
Supports young people to develop the executive functioning skills needed for everyday success. Through practical tools and guided practice, participants learn strategies for planning, time management, task initiation, organisation, and emotional regulation — helping them feel more capable, confident, and in control of their day-to-day life.
Best suited for teens and young adults who already have weekly commitments such as work, study, or work experience and want practical strategies to stay organised, manage time, and maintain balance.
Cooking Program with OT
- 5 fortnightly sessions; 4 terms
- Older Teens-Young Adults
Combines cooking, sensory exploration, and social connection to build essential life skills in a social, supported environment. Participants learn practical kitchen safety, food planning, and meal preparation while developing independence, teamwork, and confidence and are provided with take-home recipes and strategies to consolidate learning at home.
Best suited for teens and young adults who have some basic understanding of kitchen hygiene and can work safely with kitchen appliances without one-on-one support for safety or behaviour.
Dates & details?
Email to request an information sheet. Please ensure you tell us which club/s you are intered in.
Em fiona@makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au
Is this a good fit for you?
Our information sheets outline whether each program may be suitable for you or your young person. However, all Skills Programs share similar suitability criteria. Participants should:
• Be able to self-manage their behaviour and emotions
• Not require complex communication, behavioural, or independence supports
• Be able to attend independently, as parents and support workers do not attend (except for designated caregiver or coaching sessions)
Commitment requirements
These are not short-term “fixes.” Meaningful growth takes time, consistency, and repeated opportunities to practise and apply new skills, along with support from someone who can reinforce learning outside the program. Programs are also designed with sequential content that builds each term, helping participants develop confidence and understanding through ongoing participation.
Most of our Skills Programs run for 6–8 sessions per term (with breaks during school holidays) across the full year. Some, are run in blocks such as Organise & Thrive (8 sessions) and the PEERS® Programs (typically 14–16 sessions).
A commitment to the full program duration is required.
Next steps
Want to submit an Exprssion of Interest?
Step 1 – Submit an Expression of Interest form
Step 2 - We’ll be in touch by email or phone. If there’s availability and the group seems like a good fit, we’ll arrange a brief phone chat and offer you the option to visit and see our space before starting.
Step 3– When you’re ready to join, we’ll send our Service Agreement to secure your spot.
