Our History
The 1970s
- 70s
- 70s
Building a school
In the early years of The Bridge, thanks to the unwavering efforts of the committee and the City of Springvale, land was secured in Noble…
- 70s
A strong beginning
On 20 October 1970, a group of keen and committed community members met in the Supper Room of City Hall in Springvale. Their vision was…
The 1980s
- 80s
- 80s
Innovation and reform
The Bridge was at the forefront of participatory practice, when they formed a ‘Centre Council’ at the Adult Unit in 1983….
- 80s
Consolidation and development
The 1980s saw much hard work come to fruition with the opening of the Adult Unit in 1982. In conjunction with families, the staff developed…
The 1990s
- 90s
- 90s
Strengthening services
In 1995, a decision was made to merge Urimbirra (as The Bridge was named at this time) with Western Port Adult Service Providers (WASP)….
- 90s
An era of expansion
During the 1990s, The Bridge’s open employment program expanded and went from strength to strength….
The 2000s
- 2000
- 2000
A new policy landscape
The new millennium saw significant government reform, including the introduction of the State Disability Services Plan (2002 – 2012). This Plan had a strong focus…
- 2000
Growth and change
In the 2000s, The Bridge’s employment programs flourished and community services kept growing. A highlight of this decade was the official opening in February 2000…
The 2010s
- 2010
- 2010
What’s in a name?
Over the years, the organisation has been known by a variety of names. It was familiar to many across the decades as Urimbirra, and more…
- 2010
A time of transition
The 2010s saw The Bridge manage the transition to the NDIS, as the federal government moved to fund individuals rather than service providers….
The 2020s
- 2020
- 2020
Celebrating 50 years
The archives at The Bridge are full of stories of people. There are boxes of photographs of participants, of families, of volunteers and staff being…
- 2020
Diversity and new horizons
Over 50 years, The Bridge has become a more diverse organisation. Services now include supported employment for people both with and without disabilities and local…