Equal Access Adventures

If you've ever wondered what happens when hundreds of people dressed in spectacular gothic and alternative fashion gather for a relaxing afternoon, the Brisbane Gothic & Alternative Picnic is exactly that—and so much more. Held in a welcoming park setting, this community event brings together people from all walks of alternative culture, from traditional goths and metalheads to punks, emos and everything in between. It's a celebration of individuality, creativity and finding a place where everyone can simply be themselves. We recently attended the picnic for the first time, and it quickly became one of the most welcoming and visually stunning community events we've experienced. Here's a look at what made the day so memorable! The Atmosphere I found this event similar to Pride events—everyone was so welcoming, inclusive and friendly. It had such a relaxing and positive vibe. Pair that with a beautiful Brisbane winter's day that was sunny but not scorching, and i...

There’s something truly special about stepping away from everyday life and into a world filled with magic, imagination, and wonder. That's exactly what we experienced at Faeries & Folklore at Pine Rivers Showground in Lawnton — where fairy wings, mythical creatures, and fantasy enthusiasts transformed the grounds into an enchanting realm straight from a storybook. A Magical First Impression From the moment we arrived, we were surrounded by colour, creativity, and excitement. Visitors of all ages embraced the spirit of the event, with many dressed as faeries, elves, woodland creatures, witches, and characters inspired by folklore and fantasy. The atmosphere was welcoming and vibrant, with every corner of the market offering something new to discover. It felt as though we had stepped through a hidden portal into a magical kingdom. Incredible Costumes Everywhere One of the highlights of the day was seeing the incredible effort attendees put into their costumes. Delicate fairy ...

Op shopping is an awesome inclusive outing — relaxed, affordable, and great for sensory-friendly browsing! It’s easy to tailor the experience to your mood, energy level, and support needs. This makes for a wonderful day out with your support worker and in the community. Plus, you’re supporting great charities while you shop, and you can donate items you’ve been meaning to clear out. We were a little short on time due to other errands and appointments, but we still managed to sneak in a few shops before our shift together ended. It was SO worth it! Bonding Beyond the Bargains Shopping together is not only fun — it helps build a great rapport with your support worker. Browsing together, sharing fashion inspiration, pointing out hobbies or crafts you spot in-store, and laughing over nostalgic items creates a relaxed and enjoyable connection. We kept finding things we hadn’t seen in years. Memories sparked like, “Oh, we had this when we were little!” or “We used to have this punch bowl!” I...

Last week I got into more crafting for Halloween - it was so much fun for such little expense! I love a good browse around Kmart and found these awesome mini coffins for just $4. You can also buy a larger one for only $8 - what a bargain! Getting Into the Spooky Spirit There's so many fun and creative ways you could decorate them - paint, photos, newspaper clippings, stickers, diamond art or even some of the fantastic Halloween craft items out at $2 shops like spiders or skeletons. I wasn't sure what I was going to use it for, I just knew I wanted one - haha! I had a lot of paint and materials leftover from the Witch Hat Luminaries , so I didn't need much else to get started. What You’ll Need Most of my supplies were budget finds from Kmart, and you might already have some of these at home. For this project I used: Small mini coffin ( Kmart ) Paint set ( Kmart ) Paint brushes ( Kmart ) Palette set ( Kmart ) Baking paper (to help stop sticking and separate sections) Plac...

The Hologram Zoo is a walk through experience full of epic animal holograms that feel like the animals are right there with you! You go through tunnels following the marker and watch huge creatures in their natural habitat, come alive right before your eyes. The experience feels surreal and is truly a wonder to behold. We also added the Dinosaur Experience, because why not while we were there. It was amazing to see huge animals walk overhead, beside you or fly past! There was excellent audio which really made you feel a part of the ancient world of dinosaurs. At the end of your travel through the tunnels, you can also take a photo with the dinosaurs! They can then be easily downloaded directly to your phone digitally. I removed us from this photo, but we were screaming at the T-Rex. I reckon it looked more like I was yelling back at it though - haha! This place is such a fun venue to take you back in time and let your imagination run wild. You can't help but reach out, trying ...

🌈 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! I was so excited to go to my very first pride festival. I'm in my 40s, but hey, better late than never, right?! This awesome festival is on annually at Pine Rivers Park in Strathpine. The festival is filled with nothing but good vibes and colourful fun! There were fantastic markets to explore and many community services offering cool, free activities. We made some pins, a bracelet, got stickers and I even brought home beads to make another bracelet. I also won a Lychee Mojito diffuser on a wheel spin at one of the stalls! I loved the activity where you take a message from a ball, like the one on the blue note. You then get to write something and put it in a ball for someone else to read. How beautiful and wholesome. There were even FREE iron-on transfers of the PrideFest logo or other cute designs that you could add to merchandise you brought with you! I got two done on my Splatter room shirt that was covered in coloured paint. How cool! I freaking love it!...