Many of our participants are eligible to apply for a companion card, which is a government initiative that allows free entry for a card holder’s companion (support staff, mentor, carer, even a family member or friend) into a whole range of venues and activities.
This means that the participant only must pay for their own entry costs (often they get a concession price), and you get in with them for free!
Companion Card Affiliates Link
Having a companion card really expands the options for activities, including going to the movies, bowling and plenty of other fun things around Adelaide, including special events such as concerts and plays.
Check out the list of affiliates below. Or, if there’s something you’re interested in doing, call ahead to see if they are a participating venue.
Apply for a Companion Card
Many participants and their carers aren’t aware of the companion card, so Creativ Minds includes this information in our welcome pack. It may also be a good idea to remind participants and offer assistance with the application if needed.
The application process for the companion card involves filling out the form (see the link below), providing x2 recent passport photos (can be done at the post office for a fee) and signed by a treating health professional)
www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/disability/companion-card/apply-for-a-companion-card
A small list of things that are either FREE or have a low entry cost, for you and your participant to explore and enjoy.
Community Centres and Libraries offer a wide range of interesting events, activities and programs; from arts, crafts and anime clubs to exercise classes, playgroups, social groups and skills-building workshops. Regularly check out your local community centre/library activities guides below, they are updated regularly with cool new offerings.
Drop in Care Space (City)
Disabled, Neurodivergent friendly community space with free and low cost activities including arts and crafts, body doubling sessions and dungeons and dragons sessions.
The Brocas Youth Space (West)
State Library of South Australia – events, exhibitions, workshops, talks, live stories
City of Adelaide
City of Unley
City of Marion
City of Onkaparinga
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
City of Charles Sturt
City of Tea Tree Gully
City of Campbelltown
City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters
City of Norwood, Youth Events & Activities
City of Prospect
City of Salisbury
City/Central
South Australian Museum – check for events throughout the year
Migration Museum
The Bradman Museum
Tandanya Cultural Institute
Museum of Economic Botany (in Botanic Gardens)
The Centre of Democracy
Adelaide Holocaust Museum
North/West
National Railway Museum
Southern Australian Aviation Museum
South Australian Maritime Museum
Garden Island Ships Graveyard
Classic Jets Fighter Museum – Parafield (North)
South
Bay Discovery Centre – Glenelg (South)
Southern Fleurieu Historical Museum
Army Museum of SA
Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk
Carrick Hill Museum
Old Government House Belair
National Motor Museum (Birdwood)
Art Gallery of South Australia
First Friday night of each month the gallery is open late for events including talks, live music and tours. The gallery also offers school holiday workshops and various other creator/artist talks and events.
https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au
Samstag Museum of Art
Carclew Arts – events & exhibitions
The Mill Adelaide – events, exhibitions & workshops
Jam Factory – demonstrations, exhibitions, talks
The Main Gallery
ACE Open (Lion Arts Centre)
Pom Pom Youth Arts Hub (Northern Suburbs)
Spending time in nature is beneficial for our well-being in many ways; providing a perfect opportunity for mindfulness, physical exercise, and exposure to fresh air and vitamin D – essential components for maintaining our mental health.
Nature walks allow us to connect with the natural environment and immerse ourselves in our surroundings. You could go on a mindfulness walk and pick wildflowers and plants while appreciating the intricate and often overlooked details of your surroundings. Perhaps prepare a picnic and find a serene spot to enjoy it or pack art and craft supplies and find a peaceful area to sit and draw or paint the natural scenery.
For those seeking a more challenging adventure, consider stepping it up a notch with a hike or trail exploration. An added bonus is that these open settings foster great conversations with our participants, providing a platform for more indirect mentoring and connection.
Adelaide Street Art Walking Trails
A place to walk and get in touch with Adelaide’s finest street art
National Parks SA
A guide to South Australia’s parks and wildlife, including accessibility information.
Wirrarninthi Environmental Education Trail – Western Parklands
Himeji Garden (Japanese Garden)
Botanic Garden
International Rose Garden (Spring, Summer)
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
Morialta Conservation Park/Morialta Falls
Waterfall Gully
Gorge Wildlife Park
Cleland Wildlife Park/Waterfall Gully
Bunyip Children’s Trail Bonython Park
St Kilda Adventure Playground
Wittunga Botanic garden
Laratinga Wetlands
Myponga Reservoir
Happy Valley Reservoir
Kuitpo Forest
Onkaparinga National Park/Wetlands
Belair National Park
Port Adelaide Dolphin Trail/Garden Island
River Torrens Linear Park Trail
Skate Parks/Basketball Courts
look for opportunities to connect participants to other similar-aged locals, perhaps: offering for others to share the court or join you in a basketball game etc
Hiring free bikes from West Lakes or Semaphore library and going on a coastal ride
If doing this with our youth participants please ensure carer permission has been given first, and ensure the participant has road safety awareness, if not, this could be something to teach them beforehand. If in doubt, speak to your team leader!
Other Walking Tours
St Peter’s Cathedral
Haigh’s Chocolate Factory Tours
Melba’s Chocolate Factory
If one of these festivals or events is of interest to the participant, together you can research and explore free or low-cost activities to do in your time together. If something falls outside of your shift time, perhaps you can help them prepare or make a plan to access the activity independently or with someone else close to them!
January – Tour Down Under
February – Fringe Festival
March – Adelaide Writer’s Week, Adelaide Festival (performing arts)
April – Tasting Australia
May – SA History Festival
June – Adelaide Cabaret Festival
July – Naidoc Week, Illuminate Adelaide, Anime & Video Games Convention (AvCon), Guitar Festival
August – South Australian Living Artists Festival (SALA)
September – Papercuts Comics Festival
October – OzAsia, Wellfest, Tarnanthi Festival, Nature Festival, Adelaide Film Festival, ADL Fashion Week
November – Supanova (Comic Con & Gaming), Feast Queer Arts and Cultural Festival
December – TBC
Click here to download a comprehensive list of, free water play activities for participants, as well as a list of swimming centres around Adelaide.
Most of these are free and swimming centres are quite low cost (companion cards can be utilised for free staff access!)
Unfortunately given the risks involved there can be no swimming at the beach with participants.
When engaging in swimming with a participant in a swimming pool we simply ask:
- That the mentor gains an understanding of the participants swimming competency
- That the mentor engage actively in this activity with the participant, nearby them in the pool
- And that an activity risk assessment is completed for each instance of swimming with a participant