WARNING: Ticket sales to our 7th birthday end tomorrow!
For those of you not in the know, this Thursday we’ll be blowing out the candles on our birthday cake. Join us for a night of live music as we take over the top floor of Liverpool Street’s Shark Bar.
Our birthday bash is shaping up to be the biggest event we’ve ever hosted - surpassing last year’s gathering on Cockatoo Island.
Don’t miss out - get your ticket while you can!
Get your Gig Buddies merch
And if you’re after more reasons why you should attend, we can now reveal our exclusive merchandise designs.
On the night we’ll be - for the first time ever - selling Gig Buddies branded t-shirts and tea towels.
Priced at $30 each, our t-shirts are available in S, L and XL, while tea towels cost $20.
Attendees also have the chance to win one of three gift vouchers. And did we mention there will be cake?
It’s been a long time since we’ve had the opportunity to bring the entire Gig Buddies community together. Whether you’re based in Sydney or on the Central Coast, we invite you to join us as we celebrate turning 7.
Limited tickets are still available. To buy yours before tomorrow’s 3pm deadline (Tuesday 24/5), load up the following link.
Another June date for your diary
A late addition to our June social calendar, we’re delighted to offer buddies discounted tickets to FBi Radio’s annual SMACS Fest.
Taking place on Friday 10 June at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory, attendees can snap up tickets for the bargain price of $25 (plus $1 booking fee).
On the night buddies will hear from Rainbow Chan, Tasman Keith, Shady Nasty - plus a number of other local and international artists.
A Gig Buddies staff member will also be in attendance, should your buddy be unavailable to attend. For more information about our appearance at FBi Radio’s SMACS Fest, including how to purchase your discounted ticket, load up the link below:
June movements
On the subject of our June gatherings, tickets are still available for our catch up at The Juniors Kingsford for Harry Potter trivia (Wednesday 15 June), and our first ever visit to Supanova Comic Con & Gaming (Sunday 19 June).
To reserve your place (and to find out more information about each event), load up the links below:
Rugby under lights
And this forthcoming Saturday (28 May) we head to Leichhardt Oval for the Super Rugby Pacific clash between NSW Waratahs and Auckland Blues.
We’re down to the last two tickets. To join us load up the link below:
If you have any questions about any of our forthcoming events, get in touch: we can be reached via Facebook Messenger, email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or via text or phone call on 0411 252 228.
Viva Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney is set to make a welcome return this forthcoming Friday (27/5). For the proceeding 23 days “the festival will connect our city to light artists, music makers, brilliant thinkers and all creatives.”
Good news, thanks to the generosity of event organisers and the Sydney Opera House, discounted tickets are still available for the following gigs:
- HTRK: Friday 27 May @ Sydney Opera House, Drama Theatre. 7pm start (duration of show yet to be confirmed). Reserve seating. Standard ticket price: $49.50. Gig Buddies price: $20 (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
Event information: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/vivid-live/2022/htrk.html
- RVG: Monday 30 May @ Sydney Opera House, Studio. 8pm start (duration of show yet to be confirmed). General admission, standing only. Standard ticket price: $34. Gig Buddies price: $20 (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
Event information: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/vivid-live/2022/rvg.html
- Skeleten: Wednesday 1 June @ Sydney Opera House, Studio. 8 - 10pm. General admission, standing only. Standard ticket: $34. Gig Buddies price: $20 (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
Event information: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/vivid-live/2022/skeleten-utopian-sound.html
- Astral People: Friday 3 June @ Sydney Opera House, Northern Broadwalk (outdoors). 5 - 10pm. General admission, standing only. Standard ticket: $89. Gig Buddies price: $30 (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
Event information: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/vivid-live/2022/astral-people-10-1-birthday.html
- Miiesha: Friday 3 June @ Sydney Opera House, Utzon Room. 7 - 8pm. Unreserved seating. Standard ticket price: $34. Gig Buddies price: $20 (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
- TEEKS: Monday 13 June @ Sydney Opera House, Joan Sutherland Theatre. 8 - 9:30pm. Reserve seating. Standard ticket price: $39. Gig Buddies price: $20 (plus $8.50 booking fee per transaction).
Event information: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/vivid-live/2022/teeks.html
To take advantage of the discounted prices, email the team with the name of the event you’d like to attend. We can be reached at: info@gigbuddiessydney.org. We’ll then forward a unique ticket link.
Please note, the reduced rate only applies for Gig Buddies’ participants. Whether you’re based in Sydney or on the Central Coast, all fully signed up buddies and volunteers are welcome to purchase discounted tickets.
Once again, we are indebted to the generosity of Vivid Sydney organisers and the Sydney Opera House. Thank you for your ongoing support and for providing participants with the opportunity to sample some of the best live music at this year’s event.
Microphones at the ready
In preparation for our 7th birthday, this week we invite you to join us online for group karaoke.
Taking place at the different time of 4-5pm on Wednesday (25/5), this is your chance to sing alongside your fellow buddies. We'll load up your song choices, ready for everyone to have a go.
For our 7th birthday party we’ll be spinning a selection of 70s and 80s remixes. To help get us in mood, we’re inviting buddies to select songs from the two decades.
In addition to Wednesday’s group karaoke, we also invite buddies to connect with us at 4pm today (Monday 23/5) for our weekly chat. To attend get in touch via text: 0422 061 990 or Facebook Messenger.
And to find out more about this week’s online offering (and to sign up), load up the link below:
Wednesday 25 May
All online games will take place via Zoom. For information on how to use Zoom, load up the following easy read guide written by Learning Disability Wales. Alternatively, click here to check out our 'how to use Zoom' video.
If you have any questions or would like more information, send us an email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org or call/SMS us on 0402 708 814.
Pawsome!
Thanks to those who joined us in Erina for yesterday’s catch up at Socares Central Coast Animal Shelter.
We spent time with many a furry friend, walking dogs and prepping treats. It was great to give back to such a worthwhile project!
To see more photos from yesterday’s gathering, click here.
Volunteer expo
We’re always looking for new volunteers - and this Wednesday (25/5) you’ll find us spruiking our services at the 2022 Central Coast Volunteer Expo.
Taking place at the Erina Centre, Erina Fair, we’ll be informing attendees all about who we are and what we do.
We’ll be there from 10am - 2pm. If you’re in the area feel free stop by and say hello, and if you know someone who might be interested in joining us, be sure to send them our way.
For more information about the event and Volunteering Central Coast, click here.
"I highly recommend Gig Buddies”
Each and every month we bring you news and views from buddies who make up our user-led team, Soul Fly Band.
This time we hear from Joni, who has shared her views on being part of the project.
“My name is Joni Campbell and I have been a part of Gig Buddies for the past few years. I have been to lots of great events through this amazing organisation. I’ve been to a silent disco at the aquarium, have been on a Halloween cruise and have also danced and been a part of the Mardi Gras Parade the last two years which was so surreal, and a big dream come true.
When I first signed up to be a part of Gig Buddies I was so lucky to be paired up with a lovely woman called Jade. Jade and I did many fun activities together such as bowling, going out for dinners, going to the Grease Sing Along Night and last year’s Christmas party. At the end of last year I found out that Jade would no longer be my volunteer; I was sad when I found this out but also understood why and her and I have kept our friendship, which is lovely. The fun times I had with Jade will remain with me always. I’ll be honest not having a volunteer has been challenging and I have found it hard to go to socials as having someone there with me makes me feel at ease and socially comfortable. I would like to work on being confident in going to socials on my own - and I know that If some of my friends are going that will give me the confidence in attending those socials.
I had my paired meeting on Saturday 14 May with Bec and my new volunteer, Elise. Before the meeting I was both excited and nervous. As soon as I met Elise my nerves went away and discovered that we have a lot in common and we had so many things to talk about. Elise and I have planned many fun activities together such as going to some cool bars, going out for dinner, a stand-up comedy show and attending the Gig Buddies 7th Birthday party. I’m really excited as this is the start of a new friendship that I know will last a lifetime.
Being a part of Gig Buddies has changed my life and I have found a new confidence within myself and feel confident in going up and meeting new people. I have made many new friends at the socials and it’s always lovely catching up with my old ones as well. I have social anxiety and so meeting new people and having a conversation with them can be quite overwhelming, but I’ve learnt to have confidence and to tell myself that I’ve got this and I can do it - and it’s these positive words that I tell myself which really help and end up having a positive outcome.
I highly recommend Gig Buddies as it’s a great way to meet new people, make new friends and to do things you’ve always wanted to do but might not have had the chance to do them. Gig Buddies will change your life just like it has changed mine."
Joni, gig buddy and Soul Fly Band member
COVID-19 Vaccinations
Thanks to all of our fantastic volunteers who have sent through an updated version of their vaccination certificate. We really appreciate you doing this so quickly.
If you haven’t done this yet, it’s important that you send the latest copy of your vaccination certificate to Chelsea ASAP. The certificate must show the dates on which you have received all THREE doses of the COVID vaccine.
You can access your vaccination certificate through your Medicare or MyGov account. Please send this certificate to chelsea@assistcom.org or via text/Whatsapp it to 0412 145 819.
The Public Health Order (PHO), mandated by NSW Health, was recently updated to mandate that all workers/volunteers within the disability sector must receive their third COVID-19 booster shot if they are to continue working/volunteering.
The deadline for all volunteers to have their 3rd COVID Booster vaccination is 1st June 2022.
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or concerns about this. Alternatively, for more information from NSW Health load up the following link.
IMPORTANT COVID-19 Isolation Update
As you may have recently heard, NSW Health announced changes to the isolation requirements for individuals who are deemed household or close contacts of people confirmed to have COVID-19. However, please be advised that the updated self isolation advice for household and close contacts does not apply to people visiting or working/volunteering in the disability sector.
Gig Buddies and our parent organisation, ACL Disability Services, adhere to the guidelines applicable to the disability service sector. You can find more detail about these guidelines here.
In short, if you are a household or close contact of a person with a confirmed COVID-19 positive test, as per NSW Health we strongly recommend you to exercise caution.
We advise that you do not meet up with your buddy in a face-to-face setting for at least seven days. We also recommend the use of masks and hand sanitiser following this period, and potentially looking to facilitate catch-ups in outdoor, minimally-crowded areas to avoid potential transmission.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: we can be reached on 02 9419 6951 or via email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org
Matthew Collins
Gig Buddies Central Coast coordinator
Would you like more information about Gig Buddies Central Coast? You’re only a click away. Connect with us via the links below.
Fancy revelling in legendary status? If so, please support us in our cause to get more people out to live events in Sydney.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible and all are gratefully received.
Gig Buddies Central Coast is an initiative of ACL Disability Services.