Join us for an interactive three‑hour workshop designed to build confidence, knowledge and empowerment around relationships, friendship and intimacy.
Date
Saturday 2 May 2026
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (VIC)
Location
Down Syndrome Victoria head office, 552 Victoria Street North Melbourne
About the event
This workshop will offer a safe, respectful space where participants can learn, ask questions and explore what healthy relationships mean to them – at their own pace.
Participants will learn about:
- different kinds of relationships
- what types of feelings and touch are okay in different relationships
- what makes a good friend
- why friendships matter
- ways to make and keep friends, including how we use body language to communicate
- understanding attraction and recognising when feelings change
- practising respectful ways to show interest or ask someone out
- what it means to become a couple
- healthy versus unhealthy relationships
- what is appropriate in public and private spaces, including personal boundaries, communication and touch
- trusted people can support you and professional support is available.
This workshop will be led by speakers from Melba Support Service, and it’s for adults with Down syndrome.
Light refreshments will be served, and DSV’s Adult Support Manager Debby Fraumano and Club21 Manager Helen More will also be there. You are also welcome to bring a support person.
We are also hosting a relationship planning workshop for parents of adults with Down syndrome on Wednesday 29 April.
To register
To register, please visit our online registration page.
Presenters from Melba Support Service
Kate Taylor
As a facilitator at Melba Support Services, Kate’s work focuses on inclusive practice, creating safe spaces for conversations that are often overlooked or avoided. Kate has extensive experience designing and delivering workshops on intimacy, relationships, consent, and boundaries for people with disability, families, and their networks, ensuring content is practical, respectful, trauma aware and accessible. Kate supports participants to engage at their own pace and in ways that feel safe and affirming. She is deeply committed to the rights of people with disability to have fulfilling relationships and lives.
David Glazebrook
Dave has worked in the disability sector for over twenty years. He passionately believes in equality and human rights, and has a zero-tolerance approach to VANE. He loves a world that celebrates diversity! Leading workshops comes naturally to Dave: as a qualified secondary school teacher he previously ran a theatre education company in primary and secondary schools across Victoria. Dave is also a parent of two children with disability.
Dr Anneke Jurgens
Anneke is the Head of Practice Innovation and Senior Practitioner at Melba Support Services. With a background in behavioural science and a passion for inclusive service delivery, Anneke oversees the design and continual improvement of Melba’s evidence-informed practice frameworks. Anneke is also a contributor to Melba’s ongoing development of Easy English and accessible resources. With facilitating, Anneke has mostly developed and implemented training programs with disability support workers, but as a registered psychologist and positive behaviour support practitioner she has also worked directly with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (children and adults) in designing strategies and plans, and implementing structured programs and curriculums.
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