Operation Gamechanger
Operation Gamechanger
A $40m 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 just do not have the room to expand to cater for the demand for our services and the benefits of being out at the farm will be incredible for our clients and students.
Operation Gamechanger, includes a new term therapeutic 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 $40m and we are seeking external funding from government, from 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.
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. Mansfield Autism has also contributed about $8.5m. Thanks also to the many local businesses, community and philanthropic trusts that have made significant contributions.
Project
Retreat
12 x 3 bedroom accessible, self contained cabins. All purpose activities centre. Meeting place. Funded by Commonwealth Government & Victorian Government under the Bushfire Recovery program & the Commonwealth’s Building Better Regions, together with Mansfield Autism.
Conference and training centre with dining area. 2 x ensuite style mega cabins.
Project
Education
New school campus – term therapeutic.
Stage 1 of Project Education funded by Victorian State Government’s Independent Schools Capital Infrastructure Fund, together with Mansfield Autism.
Project
Residence
Client accommodation – term placement, respite, crisis and permanent.
Project Residence is funded by the Victorian State Government.
Project
Activate
Hydrotherapy & learn to swim indoor pools, splash park, hard court, equine facilities, walking & bike paths, sensory gardens.
Theses funding bodies have generously contributed toward Operation Gamechanger.
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...
1st slab poured for Project Retreat
The first concrete slab has now been poured for our 12 Camp Retreat accessible self contained family cabins.
Project Residence – Crisis pods arrive on site
Project Residence forges ahead with the arrival of the Crisis Pods.
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...
Work continues on Project Residence
Rain - no probs. Progress on our crisis pods continues indoors, with the steel floor frame taking shape. The 3 transportable, resilient 2 bedroom pods will be located at our farm and increase our capacity to offer respite and crisis care for autistic children. All...
Mansfield Autism story on NDIS website
The following story is now displayed on the National Disability Insurance Scheme website. Netherclift family say autism training was a total gamechanger The Netherclifts are grateful the NDIS is supporting their son, Perry, 8, so he can receive “life-changing”...
9 News Melbourne story on Mansfield Autism
The following story appeared on 9 News Victoria during the 6 o'clock News on Sunday 20th June, 2021 A 9 News Melbourne team visited the farm that is the site of Operation Gamechanger where the Therapeutic Care Farm will be built greatly increasing the number of...
Children with autism and their families to benefit from $6.5m Victorian government funding boost
The Mansfield Autism Statewide Service will be able to help more children with autism and their families after receiving $6.5 million from the Victorian government to build more accommodation on its 100-acre therapeutic farm. "To have the funding for the houses so...
Mansfield teen with autism has big dreams for therapeutic farm
A teenage prodigy living with autism has proposed a major revegetation project for a therapeutic farm in regional Victoria. Earlier this year, not-for-profit organisation Mansfield Autism Statewide Services (MASS) bought an idyllic farm for its clients. However, the...
Peaceful road to a ‘vision of paradise’
It was the tranquil hush of the 40ha farm that first convinced Simone Reeves and her board to buy the land, just outside Mansfield in Victoria’s high country. Simone, director of Mansfield Autism Statewide Service (MASS), says they had for many years been looking for...
