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Monday 8:30am - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Araluen

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Araluen provides NDIS funded support to individuals with a disability that are imaginative, caring a

The Araluen Centre was established at the Lower Plenty site in Old Eltham Road in 1973 to provide services for adults with an intellectual disability. Our heritage dates back to 1950 when a small group of parents commenced a supported playgroup in a Kew garage.

22/10/2026

🎄🍪🏠Don't get your tinsel in a tangle - order your tasty Christmas goodies today! 🎄🍪🏠

The ovens are warming, the recipes are ready, and our talented Chancez participants are getting set to whip up a delicious range of homemade Christmas treats! 🎁✨

All your festive favourites are back, so get in quick for a serve of home-baked Christmas cakes, ready-made gingerbread houses and trees, plus DIY gingerbread kits for some holiday fun at home.

Every item is made with love, care, pride, a generous dollop of Christmas cheer and just a sprinkle of festive magic. 🍪🎅

Whether you're spreading joy with family and friends, looking for the perfect office treat, or simply treating yourELF 🧝‍♀️ this Christmas, every purchase supports Chancez Cafés and provides participants with opportunities to build new skills and confidence.

🎄 Don't be a Grinch - place your order today!

📅 Orders close Wednesday, 25th November 2026, so don't miss out!

📥 Download your order form here and follow the instructions on the form:https://www.araluen.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Chancez-2026-Christmas-Baking-form-public.pdf
☕Order in person at Chancez Cafes, Possum Hollow, and Mill Park Library Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Australia
📞 Or call (03) 8457 3133 to place your order.

🎅🍪✨

21/10/2026

Celebrating 25 years of community impact with Community Bank East Ivanhoe! 🎉

We were proud to attend this milestone event and celebrate a truly community-focused banking model that has returned more than $5.7 million to local groups, schools, clubs and NFPs, including Araluen, over the past 25 years.

This year alone, a record nearly $700,000 will be invested back into the community, creating incredible and inspiring opportunities for people to thrive that simply would not exist otherwise.

We are grateful for Community Bank East Ivanhoe's support of Chancez to Work, our Banyule-based employment pathway initiative. A grant of $15,000 will help us build stronger connections with local businesses and provide the support people need to transition from learning settings into secure, paid employment.

Congratulations on an incredible legacy of impact. Thank you ! 👏💙

19/10/2026

New mates wanted in Eltham!

Looking for a welcoming place to call home and enjoy a more independent lifestyle? We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join a fantastic private rental share house in Eltham.

We'd love to hear from you if you're looking for:
✅ A welcoming home environment
✅ A fantastic Eltham location
✅ Easy access to public transport
✅ Spacious and comfortable living spaces
✅ An independent lifestyle with the support of a friendly household

We're looking for more than just a housemate. A great fit would be someone who enjoys being part of a relaxed, active and friendly home, while maintaining their own interests and independence.

We've included the details below but we'd love the opportunity to talk to anyone who is interested, as a chat is often the best way to learn more about the home and the opportunity.

📄 The full details are available via the link below. Or send us a DM and we'll connect you with our friendly Housing Team. There's no obligation, just an opportunity to learn more about the home and see whether it might be the right fit for you.

💙 We know finding the right home is about more than reading a flyer. Sometimes a conversation is the best place to start.
🔗https://www.araluen.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Eltham-Private-rental-2026-18SEP2026-vF.pdf

06/10/2026

💙 National Carers Week 2026 | 11-17 October 💙

At Araluen, we'd like to give a heartfelt shout-out to all carers in our community.

🙏 Did you know? Around 3 million Australians provide unpaid care and support to a family member, friend or loved one, including many caring for people with disability. National Carers Week is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution of unpaid carers who support family members, friends and loved ones every day. Your compassion, dedication and resilience make an enormous difference, and we thank you for everything you do.

📆 Our neighbours are hosting some wonderful free events for carers, including creative workshops, morning teas and wellbeing activities. These offer a chance to connect with others, learn about available supports, access practical information and, most importantly, take some time for yourself. Check out what's happening in Banyule, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and beyond here.

Banyule https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/News-items/Celebrate-National-Carers%E2%80%AFWeek

https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Carer-support-program

Nillumbik Carers Week - https://www.livinglearningnillumbik.vic.gov.au/Activities/View-all-activities-by-topic/Community-and-social-activities/DC-Carers-Week-The-joy-of-colour-and-community-morning-tea

Whittlesea Carers Week Lunch - https://www.whittleseacommunityconnections.org.au/event/carers-week-lunch/

Carers Victoria event calendar https://www.carersvictoria.org.au/events/category/carers/page/2/?tribe-bar-date=2026-10-08&tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=112

Nillumbik Shire Council Banyule City Council City of Whittlesea Carers Victoria Carers Australia

28/09/2026

📚 Araluen Preloved Book Sale Update
Due to unforeseen resourcing challenges, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Araluen Preloved Book Sale scheduled for October 2026.

While we're disappointed not to bring the event to our community this year, we aim to return in 2027 with an even bigger and better sale. We apologise if this change causes any disappointment or inconvenience.

The good news is that we are still accepting quality donations, including:
✅ Books (adult and children's)
✅ Jigsaw puzzles
✅ CDs & DVDs
✅ Eligible containers with the 10 cent mark that we're collecting for Victoria's container Deposit Scheme

Every donation helps support Araluen's work, empowering people to live the lives they choose.
Thank you to everyone who has donated, volunteered, and supported this much-loved fundraiser over the years. Your generosity means the world to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2027.

More information and future updates: https://www.araluen.org/booksale2026/
💙 Thank you for your continued support.

17/09/2026

✨ A look into the not too distant future... ✨

Artist, Brady, is taking a moment to admire the progress of Araluen's new Lower Plenty gallery, a space made possible by the incredible support of our community (and Brady says, "Thanks everyone - it's really great!").

The gallery that you helped us build is taking shape, and we're getting close to announcing its name and the official opening date.

Stay tuned... exciting news is coming ! 🎉🏛️🎨

01/09/2026

New opportunity for someone looking to move into a share house! Details below.

We are looking for new mates as well as housemates - someone who’d enjoy fitting into a relaxed, active, and friendly home. Are you considerate, willing to develop skills and share in household routines? Are you willing to join with us, and with support from our staff, make our home a happy working household? A great fit would be someone social who enjoys joining in group activities, while still having their own interests - just like us. We value a positive attitude, a good sense of humour and someone who is interested to communicate their feelings openly and who listens to others.

13/08/2026

🎨 Fancy a cuppa, a biccy, some creative conversation and plenty of inspiration?

Join Diamantis and fellow exhibiting artists for a free, informal artist talk on Wednesday 19 August at 10am at the Eltham Library Community Gallery.

Presented alongside our group exhibition Shaping Selves, this is a chance to hear the stories behind the artworks, learn more about the artists' creative journeys, and enjoy a relaxed conversation about art and identity.

☕ Tea, coffee and biscuits provided
🎟️ Free event
📍 Eltham Library Community Gallery
🗓️ Wednesday 19 August, 10am
🏃Places are limited - booking is essential!

To book:
DM us to reserve your spot
Phone 1300 020 625
Book online:
https://events.humanitix.com/shaping-selves-artist-talk

Our thanks to Nillumbik Shire Council

06/08/2026

🎨🍪 As if a gallery overloaded with exceptional art isn't enough to entice anyone out of the house tomorrow evening... Lucky art lovers at our next Art Connects exhibition opening will also get the chance to taste some delicious new cookie creations from Chancez Café and vote for their favourite.

To celebrate 10 years of Chancez Café, participants have been busy inventing, baking and testing a range of celebration cookies. We've narrowed it down to our top 3 final delicious flavours - 'For fudge sake', 'Nutty by nature' & 'Crumb & get it'. Now we need your help to crown the winner.

You're welcome to join us at the opening of:

🎨Shaping Selves
Eltham Library Community Gallery
Panther Place, Eltham
Friday 7 August, 6.00pm-7.30pm.

Enjoy the artwork, sample the finalist cookies and cast your vote for the cookie you'd like to see officially crowned the Chancez Café 10-Year Anniversary Cookie. We'll be crumb-struck if you miss it👑🍪

Our thanks to Nillumbik Shire Council

15/07/2026

We did it – together! 🎉

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who supported our EOFY Appeal to create a gallery and web sales platform for Art Connects. Due to the incredible generosity of our community, we not only reached our $17,000 target - we smashed it!

Your support means we can now create an even more professional, inspiring and welcoming gallery, and showcase the exceptional work of talented artists and creators in the best possible way. We’re aiming to open the gallery in late 2026. In the meantime, stay tuned and stay involved >>>>

🤔💭🗯Help us name our gallery!
Have a great idea for what it should be called? We'd love to hear it. Send your suggestions via DM or email [email protected] by 31 July.

The winning entry will receive some exclusive campaign goodies plus a $100 Art Connects voucher.

Thank you for helping make this dream a reality. 💙

Address

226 Old Eltham Road
Lower Plenty, VIC
3093

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611300020625

Website

http://www.araluen.org/

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