Different Journeys social group for teens with autism meets at Club Kilsyth

A SOCIAL group for teens with autism is changing the lives of families in Melbourne’s outer east, but it’s so popular that families are being turned away.

Aidan orders a meal at Club Kilsyth during a meet-up for a group for teens with autism. Picture: Madeline McCarty

A SOCIAL group for teens with autism is changing the lives of families in the outer east, but it’s so popular that families are being turned away.

The Different Journeys group, which meets once a month at Club Kilsyth, was set up in February last year by two mums to provide teens with autism more avenues to socialise.

Croydon’s Mel Spencer, who has three children on the autism spectrum, was one of those mums.

Ms Spencer said the group was partly set up in response to “alarming” figures which showed people with autism were more likely to be unemployed and suffer from mental-health issues.

“Somewhere in their teenage years, something has gone wrong. A loss of confidence and motivation, feelings of worthlessness; they don’t get out and do anything,” she said.

“They have so much capacity, but at the moment the school system doesn’t support them, so it’s very hard.

“I didn’t want one of my children to be one of those statistics.”

A social group for teenagers with autism regularly fills a function room at Club Kilsyth. Picture: Madeline McCarty

At its first dinner, 28 people turned up. Now the events regularly fill the room’s 145-seat capacity.

Ms Spencer said families were travelling from as far away as Rosebud and Altona because there was a lack of similar groups in other parts of Melbourne.

“We would love to expand it, but what we’re looking for is someone who wants to partner with us, fund it and take it around to other locations and make it accessible,” she said.

An occupational therapist is at every meet-up and teaches teenagers basic social skills including how to order their meals.

Ms Spencer said the program provided independence to those with autism and was, at times, even bringing parents to tears.

“We had a 17-year-old girl who just had her first ever play date,” she said.

“The mum was so emotional, she couldn’t stop crying knowing someone would want her daughter to come and play with her.”

Club Kilsyth. Picture: Detlev Rueff

She hoped the group would pave the way for more employment opportunities for people with autism.

“If we make them feel worthy about themselves and they’ve got a reason to do things, then they can do anything,” Ms Spencer said.

“They just need people to believe in them and harness it in the right direction.”

Club Kilsyth’s staff have played a major role in the group’s success, though functions manager Laura Orr admitted it had been a steep learning curve.

“It’s been very different; we’ve had to throw hospitality out the window,” she said.

“But now the staff know the kids and the kids know them, and the staff know exactly what they’re doing.

“The parents find the confidence from the staff so relaxing.”

Different Journeys also runs regular meet-ups for adults living with autism.

To find out more, contact 0490 774 068, [e-mail] or visit differentjourneysasd.com