• A group of parents of people with disabilities met to discuss support options on the Atherton Tablelands.
• Focus: Linking people with disabilities into their community – the inspiration for our name.

• Funding secured through Department of Family, Youth & Community Care.
• Small office opened in Tolga; Tableland Community Link officially commenced.
• Introduced the ‘flow-through’ support model: each person had a goal, once achieved, support moved to the next person.

• Consultations revealed people with ongoing support needs could not use the flow-through model.
• Planning began for long-term community access support.

• Funding obtained to purchase a Ford Transit Van for wheelchair users – state-of-the-art modifications at the time.

In 2001, due to the need for expansion TCL moved from it’s Tolga office to the current premises on Grove Street, Atherton. This was originally a carrot packing shed and TCL renovated the building to its current configuration. This property (1 acre) was purchased by TCL in 2010.

The ‘Wheelchair Rally’ was run in 2006 and 2008 as a community disability-awareness activity.

Van replaced with a Toyota Tarago featuring:

• Internal ramp
• Air-conditioning
• Advanced disability modifications

Received 39 individual funding packages covering:

• Post-School Support
• Institutional Reform Support
• Accommodation Lifestyle Support
• Housing & support for psychiatric disability
• Support for dual diagnoses
• Family Support Program
• Privately funded clients

• Approved to provide Flexible Respite services.
• Gained additional block support hours for people with ageing parents or carers.

2009 saw the introduction of the Client Christmas Party which is now a well attended Annual event.

In 2010, TCL was offered free use of a room at the old primary school in the centre of Atherton by the Lions Club. This has been converted into an activity / drop-in centre for people with a disability and has been highly successful. Clients enjoy music sessions, movie days, art and crafts, and group meetings. With assistance from their support workers they conduct their own monthly meetings and discuss and plan activities they want to do and be involved in in their community. Other organisations that support people with disabilities or mental health issues in our community have also been invited to utilise it.

Our goal was to have an Activity Centre built on our land in Grove Street. We started fundraising events.

Walk and Roll-athon first run in 2016, again in 2018. Now a bi annual fundraiser.

The Grove opened in Nov 2018. A purpose built centre for our clients and others in the community. Read more about it here

Winner of the 2019 TRC Business Excellence Sustainability Contribution Award – Implements initiatives that have a positive community impact, particularly long-term environmental, social and/or community benefits & Sustainability Contribution Award People’s Choice Award.

In July 2019 NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) rolled out in Qld. All clients fully rolled into the NDIS scheme by March 2019.

After much discussion with our committee and community groups preliminary planning commenced for a housing project focusing on challenges people with a disability or mental illness face with unsuitable on unavailable community or public housing.

Grove Accommodation Project. To build suitable, accessible accommodation for people with disabilities and /or mental illness, and other community members, on our land at 13 & 15 Grove Street, Atherton. 

Covid-19 severely affect our organisations ability to provide supports to venerable community during lockdown. The Grove is utilised to provide scheduled 1:1 supports.

We honoured our past, celebrated our present, and looked forward to a future filled with hope and opportunity.

The Grove became a place where our community gathered for a day of fun, connection, and celebration — with market stalls, raffles, activities, a BBQ, cake, and so much more.