May 08, 2026

Celebrating 45 Years of Gateways: The people who shaped our beginning

In 2026, Gateways proudly marks 45 years of supporting people with disability and their families across Geelong and Melbourne’s west. This milestone offers an opportunity not only to celebrate how far the organisation has come, but to honour the people, values and community spirit that shaped Gateways from the very beginning. 

Seeing the gap: Why Gateways was founded 

Gateways’ story began in 1980, when Dr Bernie Jenner arrived in Geelong as a Consultant Paediatrician. 

He had entered medicine with a clear sense of purpose, to stand alongside the most vulnerable in the community. Over time, that purpose deepened into a belief that a society is ultimately judged by how it cares for those who need the most support. 

Through his work with children with disability and their families, Bernie saw firsthand the challenges they faced. Families often navigated complex needs with little guidance, limited services, and overwhelming isolation. Many were providing around the clock care without meaningful respite, often at great personal, physical and emotional cost. 

He encountered elderly parents still caring full-time for their adult child, single parents experiencing physical strain from years of lifting and caregiving, and families pushed to breaking point without access to support, information or allied health services. At times, families were even blamed for their child’s behaviour or left questioning whether institutional care was their only option. 

Alongside this, Bernie witnessed something equally powerful, the extraordinary strength of families. Parents, most often mothers, demonstrated unwavering love, resilience and fierce advocacy for their children. They fought to keep their children safe, included and connected, often sacrificing career opportunities, relationships and their own wellbeing in the process. 

These experiences made one thing clear, this was not a challenge that families should carry alone. It was a shared community responsibility. 

From insight to action 

Motivated by this belief and grounded in a strong sense of fairness and mateship, Bernie brought together a small group of like minded people in 1981. 

Rather than waiting for systems or funding to catch up, the group focused on what they could do themselves, drawing inspiration from emerging community-based models in Canada, Sydney and Melbourne. 

They decided to start with respite, something practical, immediate, and deeply needed. 

This led to the creation of Interchange Barwon. 

After 18 months of planning and development, local volunteer families were trained as host families and matched with families of children with disability. These volunteers opened their homes regularly, offering overnight stays and weekend care. 

At its heart, it was a simple but powerful idea, community caring for community. Ordinary people learning what it takes to support a child with additional needs, and in doing so, giving families the breathing space they so desperately needed. 

Small beginnings, shared intent 

In 1981, the Interchange Host Program, now known as Gateways Support Services, began with humble and ever evolving spaces across Geelong. 

Like many grassroots organisations, there was no single first office. Instead, the service moved where it could, beginning upstairs in the Aberdeen Street Child Protection Society building, then operating from East Geelong’s Karingal special school and day centre, a back room in a house in Fenwick Street, and later the Illawarra Community Centre in Newtown. 

These shifting locations reflected the energy and determination of a community driven initiative finding its feet. The physical spaces were secondary to what was being built within them, a place where families felt understood, supported and connected. 

As the organisation grew, so too did its collaboration with others in the sector. In the early 1990s, a partnership between Interchange Barwon, the Autism Association and Allied Disorders, and Shannon Park Spastic Society (as it was known at the time) led to the creation of the Resource Centre for Children and Young People with Special Needs. 

This collaboration brought services together under one roof in Albert Street, creating a more coordinated and accessible support network for families. It also laid the groundwork for the eventual merging of these organisations, forming Gateways Support Services in 1997, a name chosen by the community through a public process. 

From the beginning, Gateways was shaped by a group of professionals, parents and community members united by a shared belief that people with disability and their families deserved dignity, inclusion and opportunity. 

While Bernie’s professional background gave him a platform to lead, educate and advocate, the values that came to define Gateways were shaped collectively by the people involved, families, volunteers and the broader community. Together, they established a culture grounded in compassion, respect, inclusion and the idea that everyone deserves a fair go. 

The power of volunteer advocates 

Volunteers were central to Gateways’ early growth and identity. 

Many were parents, carers or community members with lived or professional experience of disability. At a time when disability was often misunderstood, hidden or stigmatised, these volunteers played a critical role in shifting community attitudes. 

They not only supported programs but also advocated for families, raised awareness and helped open doors to greater inclusion and opportunity. Their efforts created momentum for change and embedded Gateways firmly within the community. 

Their contribution extended beyond practical support. They built trust, strengthened connections and helped families feel less alone. This spirit of volunteerism became a defining feature of Gateways and remains a cornerstone of the organisation today. 

Growing with the community 

Over the past 45 years, Gateways has evolved alongside the community it serves, expanding its supports and adapting through significant sector changes, including the introduction of the NDIS. 

Collaboration has always been key to this growth, and the foundations built through early partnerships continue to shape the organisation today. 

Despite this growth, Gateways has remained grounded in its core purpose, supporting people with disability to live meaningful, connected lives, and ensuring families feel supported, informed and included. 

Its longevity can be traced to a clear and enduring foundation, recognising the gap in support, holding a strong vision of fairness and inclusion, and bringing together people willing to take action. Community minded individuals contributed not only their skills and expertise, but also kindness, respect and a deep commitment to creating a more inclusive society. 

Honouring the past, shaping the future 

As Gateways prepares to celebrate 45 years, it remains focused on honouring the people and values that shaped its beginnings, while continuing to evolve to meet the needs of future generations. 

The Gateways story is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared purpose. 

Built by families, volunteers, leaders and the broader community, its 45-year journey reflects the impact of care, commitment and belief in a more inclusive society, one where everyone belongs.