- 70s ·
A strong beginning
On 20 October 1970, a group of keen and committed community members met in the Supper Room of City Hall…
Our History
The 1970s
- 70s ·
Building a school
In the early years of The Bridge, thanks to the unwavering efforts of the committee and the City of Springvale,…
- 70s ·
The 1980s
- 80s ·
Consolidation and development
The 1980s saw much hard work come to fruition with the opening of the Adult Unit in 1982. In conjunction…
- 80s ·
Innovation and reform
The Bridge was at the forefront of participatory practice, when they formed a ‘Centre Council’ at the Adult Unit in…
- 80s ·
The 1990s
- 90s ·
An era of expansion
During the 1990s, The Bridge’s open employment program expanded and went from strength to strength.
- 90s ·
Strengthening services
In 1995, a decision was made to merge Urimbirra (as The Bridge was named at this time) with Western Port…
- 90s ·
The 2000s
- 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…
- 2000 ·
A new policy landscape
The new millennium saw significant government reform, including the introduction of the State Disability Services Plan (2002 – 2012). This…
- 2000 ·
The 2010s
- 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…
- 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…
- 2010 ·
The 2020s
- 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…
- 2020 ·
Celebrating 50 years
The archives at The Bridge are full of stories of people. There are boxes of photographs of participants, of families,…
- 2020 ·