Building confidence and impact around the Yarra Ranges
Opendoor participants have come together at Glen Park Community Centre in Bayswater North to celebrate their positive contribution to six community gardens across the Yarra Ranges.
Our participants recently took part in a special six-month collaborative project between Opendoor, Yarra Ranges Council community gardens, and Glen Park Community Centre where they gained hands-on experience and the opportunity to make a tangible impact for the broader community.
The initiative aimed to enhance the participants’ creativity and practical skills, but the project’s impact was far greater than that. It helped participants to build confidence, and to give them a sense of purpose and a pathway to future employment. It also provided a platform for participants to develop friendships and achieve personal growth – all while contributing to their community.
Throughout the project, facilitators guided participants to design and build inclusive outdoor furniture and accessible garden beds in several public spaces. Contributions to the gardens included both raised and low-to-ground garden beds, wheelchair-accessible table settings, high-back benches, garden signage, and garden ornaments made from scrap wood.
Glen Park Community Centre’s Chief Executive Officer, Heidi Butler-Moore, said the project’s impact reached far beyond the gardens themselves. It showed a strength in partnerships, and how projects like these can positively benefit participants from every walk of life.
“It saves lives. It changes lives. And if you’re giving somebody the appetite to consider going into paid employment, that in itself is powerful. The end result is that six community gardens – that’s six communities – now have access to accessible furniture. It’s an amazing outcome,” said Heidi Butler-Moore.
Steven Kline, a project tutor, said the pilot program was inspired by a Pinterest project which had been adjusted to make it accessible for disability.
“Some of our participants have complex disabilities, and it was wonderful to see them interact, develop friendships, and show patience and care for one another. That part really blossomed, and I was really proud to just watch it happen. It was something I didn’t expect, and it’s probably my proudest moment from the whole initiative,” he said.
We are incredibly grateful to our partners and participants for their dedication and hard work. Together, we are creating positive and lasting change across our communities, and we are thrilled to have exceeded expectations for participants on the Work for the Dole project.
Going forward, the Opendoor initiative is set to continue with other projects to reach and engage new audiences, with the sustained focus of upskilling individuals while simultaneously supporting the community and the vital work of community organisations.
Find out more about the project
Read the full article in the Lilydale Star Mail (16 December 2025).
Get involved
Find out more about our Work for the Dole projects and get involved by clicking here.
