Holiday program open to neurodivergent youth

A SCHOOL holiday program aimed at empowering neurodivergent young people and fostering connections through a shared interest in technology will be held between 6 and 27 January on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre.

The holiday sessions will be run by Tech Together’s Troy Tzotzis – a primary school teacher, disability worker, mentor and self-described passionate supporter of neurodivergent youth.

Mr Tzotzis said a typical session involves Lego, retro games, gaming PCs and all sorts of consoles, as well as card games.

“Depending on the participant, we might do some Lego when they first come in or some gaming,” he said.

“Then we’ll break it up in the middle of the session with a card game – something fun and short – then sit around the table and talk.

“We might do some VR after that, or more Lego.

“The goal is ultimately to get kids out of the house and help them find a safe space and encourage communication through tasks and activities.

“Isolation for neurodivergent young people is very common, and it’s a big issue.

“The lack of communication with others, and some anxiety around that, is common for some of the participants we have.

“That’s why sometimes I get them to come in and check out the space first, to see how they feel about it.”

He said he’s decorated the room at the Neighbourhood Centre with posters, Minecraft blocks, lanterns and an arcade machine.

“I’ve done that on purpose,” he said.

“If the kids walk in and the lighting is right and the room doesn’t look too clinical or off-putting, they feel more comfortable.

“I’ve found that as soon as they come in, they don’t want to leave.”

For further information and to make a booking, visit the Tech Together website.