A $50m expansion plan on our recently purchased 100 acre farm on the rural outskirts of Mansfield, has been dubbed Operation Gamechanger.
It will be home to new facilities and expanded services, so that we can support more families. Our current premises have served us well, but we no longer have the room to expand to cater for the demand for our services, not to mention that the benefits of being out at the farm will be incredible for our clients, students and their families!
Operation Gamechanger includes a new Therapeutic Term Placement school campus, residences for students, respite and crisis care, recreational facilities, family camp, equine therapy centre, swimming pool, walking & cycling tracks and professional development training facilities.
The total cost is around $50m and we are seeking external funding from government, donations and philanthropic trusts and then we will borrow to fund the balance. Down the track, we may sell existing land and buildings to help pay down debt. All up Mansfield Autism will be contributing about $8m for Operation Gamechanger, so every dollar raised or donated is vital.
We are over half way in our delivery of Operation Gamechanger. We have received over $16m in federal and state government grants, contributions from philanthropic foundations and bequests and donations from businesses and community. Some of the donations have come via fundraising events that are run by us including Mansfield Rideathon every November and some run by others including Oscars Hut2Hut and Horsepower in the High Country. Stay tuned for more information about Lake High ‘Women off the Rails’ Great Victorian Walk for Autism on the Great Victorian Rail Trail April 26 2024. Mansfield Autism has invested about $16m and to support this we have sold land and buildings and borrowed. Every dollar raised or donated is vital for us to complete the committed construction elements of Operation Gamechanger.
Operation Gamechanger is well named: not only will our expansion help transform the lives of families living with autism, it will also drive the state economy with jobs set to double to over 250. A conservative cost benefit analysis on Operation Gamechanger determined a socio economic benefit of $127m over a 10 year life of project, with an investment return rate of 1.6.
Thank you to the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments for the significant funding support to date equating to ~$15.5m, matched by Mansfield Autism.
Thanks also to the many local businesses, community and philanthropic trusts that have made significant contributions.
Project
Retreat
This part of the farm will cater for autistic people and their families – they will be able to come to the farm for some rest, relaxation, learning and fun!
There will be 12 three-bedroom accessible, self contained cabins, an all purpose activities centre and a meeting place.
This part of the project will also feature a conference and training centre with a large dining area and two ensuite style mega cabins.
Project
Education
We’re building a beautiful school with state-of-the-art facilities. This is where our Skill Building Stay clients will attend school.
The school will be a place of learning for education and allied health professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in the area of autism.
Stage 1 of Project Education funded by Victorian State Government’s Independent Schools Capital Infrastructure Fund, together with Mansfield Autism.
Project
Residence
Several styles of accommodation will be offered at the farm.
Clients will stay with us for the duration of their skill building stay, spend some time with us for respite care, access crisis accommodation or even live on the farm on a more permanent basis.
Project Residence is funded by the Victorian State Government.
Project
Activate
Just like it sounds! This aspect of the project is focused on ensuring that MASS’s clients experience the amazing benefits of being active and in nature.
Activate involves hydrotherapy & learn to swim indoor pools, a splash park, hard court, equine facilities, walking & bike paths, sensory gardens, and an ancient forest to explore.
Funding for this part of the project will go towards furniture, fit outs and landscaping.
We are almost there!
We are closer than ever to having our new facilities ready to go. See below a reflection on the journey from our friends at Mansfield Construction that they recently posted. Mansfield Constructions MASS Operation Gamechanger In January 2022 we moved our gear onto site...
Lake High 2025
Lake High – Great Victorian Walk for Autism will be held 22 March 2025, following the success of the inaugural event in April 2024. Participants choose an ~15km or ~30km challenge, in teams of 2 to 10, along the picturesque Great Victorian Rail Trail in Mansfield. The...
Operation Gamechanger at end of 2023
2023 was a big year for our expansion. In mid-December we have all our buildings up with roofs on, work starting on solar panels, power lines have been dropped underground, and work has started on the pathways and basic grass landscaping. We hope to be able to start...
Lake High – Great Victorian Walk for Autism
Lake High is a new walking event for women by Mansfield Autism Statewide Services on the Friday of the Anzac Day weekend, 26 April 2024. Participants choose a 15km or 30km challenge, in teams of 2 to 10, along the picturesque Great Victorian Rail Trail in Mansfield....
Progress with Operation Gamechanger
Progress continues toward expanding our capacity to deliver much needed support to children and families in Victoria living with autism. Family Cabins are almost done This is where families will stay when they come for Family Camps; three bedroom, two bathroom...
All twelve family cabins are up!
Construction of our new purpose-built facilities is well underway and we are delighted to see our vision taking shape. All twelve family cabins are up! This is where families will stay when they come for Family Camps; three bedroom, two bathroom accessible cabins...
Great effort by Team MASS at Oscars 100 Hut 2 Hut
A not so lazy $5500 was raised by TeamMASS, with these 2 intrepid legends tackling the 100km and a staff mob of awesomeness taking on the 10km - skating rink to summit included. Thanks to everyone who donated. Oscars100 Hut 2...
The first concrete slab has been poured for Project Retreat
The first of our 12 accessible self contained Camp Retreat family cabins has had it's foundations poured. Project Retreat will enable us to run our Family Camps much more effectively and much more often.
Project Residence – Crisis pods arrive on site
Project Residence forges ahead with the arrival of the Crisis Pods. After many delays caused by the like of the COVID pandemic, some redesign and assorted other production issues, the Crisis pods have arrived and have been installed.
Mansfield family camp for children with autism receives funding boost
Family holidays can be frantic, frustrating, and fantastic, sometimes all at the same time. But for a lot of children with autism and their loved ones, family holidays can be out of reach. "It can be quite challenging for families to go on a family holiday and to have...
Project Education funding provided by Victorian government
$4.9m toward Stage 1 new school campus at the farm. To say we are excited & appreciative would be a massive understatement. Thankyou! To Jaclyn Symes for the sensational support. Building boost for Mansfield School Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes today...
More Mansfield Autism stories highlighted by NDIS
Andrew Field is grateful to the NDIS and says his family is now much better equipped to manage his son’s diverse behaviours since he was able to use his son’s NDIS funding flexibly to attend a Mansfield Autism Statewide Services (MASS) family camp. Andrew said after...
Theses funding bodies have generously contributed toward Operation Gamechanger.
