Knights of the Shed

22/10/2025

A friendly reminder that there will be no social skills session this Thursday 23rd October due to Hobart Show Day. All other sessions will run as usual over Friday and the weekend.

17/10/2025

Wait a second, what's this? Give us a minute to explain...

Discover how participants at Knights of the Shed used the Social Stencil curriculum to explore friendship, collaboration, and emotions. See the fun AI-generated advertisements they created for "Friendships that Fly!"

03/10/2025

Our recent Knights of the Shed school holiday program focused on understanding the Convention on the Rights of the Child through a local Hobart lens.
The core of the program wasn’t about creation, but about conversation. Important discussions took place between participants and our therapy assistants related to the rights, safety, and support available to them.
Understanding our rights and available community support is essential. We specifically highlighted the roles of key Hobart services in upholding these rights:
• Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania (MRC)
• Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC)
• Working It Out (WIO)
• Association for Children with Disability Tasmania (ACD Tas)
What does it mean to understand our rights and what’s available to us? It means knowing where to turn when support is needed and feeling empowered to be an active part of the community.
While the primary activity was conversation, participants still engaged in focused activities like miniature figure painting and Zentangle-inspired art as tools for connection and discussion.
Disclaimer: Many of the art works featured here are “work in progress” and participants were very kind and tolerant of having them snapped before being “ready” or “finished”.

15/09/2025

Join Knights of the Shed for our Spring Holiday Program on October 2nd and 3rd.

This program is a great opportunity for both new and returning participants to engage in fun, motivational activities during the school break. Our sessions are built on an evidence-based social skills curriculum, created by experienced psychologists and educators to provide a supportive environment for everyone.

Our two-day program offers a mix of:

Art: A chance to explore your creativity with hands-on projects.

Narrative Creation: Build new stories and worlds with peers.

Structured Activities: Take part in shared adventures that help build social confidence and communication skills.

Whether you’re looking for a new experience or a way to continue your journey with us, we’re ready for an engaging and supportive time.

To find out more and register, please visit our website or contact us directly at enquires@knightsoftheshed.com.au

28/08/2025

Knights of the Shed would like to extend a huge congratulations to our former key staff member, Lil, who has established a wonderful new community service!

Lil was instrumental in the establishment of our social skills programs that you all see and love today. Without her work and dedication, we would never have been able to do what we do. Once again, Lil has created an inclusive and welcoming community and environment for others.

Join her at the Dementia Action Week Meet, Share, Learn Together event:

Creative Art Displays of Works by People Living well with Dementia in Collaboration with Dementia Australia and Gold Coast City Council Libraries

22/08/2025

Ashe and Kaelin, at the recent Rosny College 'Beyond the School Gate' expo.

The event provided an excellent platform to explore post-secondary education options for young people. Kaelin was a fantastic advocate, sharing his personal experience and highlighting the positive impacts he's gained from Knights of the Shed social skills programs. He spoke about how he's learned to be more socially aware, formed genuine connections with peers that extend beyond our sessions, and found fun and shared amusement through creative activities.

We were incredibly impressed by the Rosny College students and staff who demonstrated outstanding hosting skills and support for attendees. The attention to detail, including the delicious catering and the festive atmosphere enhanced by Book Week costumes, made for a truly well-executed and memorable day.

10/08/2025

Expressions of Interest close on August 24th.

Knights of the Shed is a psychology and disability support service offering a range of programs and assistance to people of all ages. Among our core services, we provide therapeutic activity-based social skills programs. We’re currently looking for a casual therapy assistant to join our experience...

04/08/2025

! KNIGHTS OF THE SHED IS HIRING !

Knights of the Shed is a psychology and disability support service offering a range of programs and assistance to people of all ages. Among our core services, we provide therapeutic activity-based social skills programs. We're currently looking for a casual therapy assistant to join our experienced and dedicated team.

You'll support upper primary through post-secondary individuals, fostering a positive and inclusive environment for them to practice evidence-based social strategies, engage in collaborative problem-solving, and build connections. We need someone adept at facilitating motivational activities, especially Dungeons and Dragons (essential), along with miniature figure painting and board games (highly desirable). Flexibility to learn and lead new activities is also crucial.

All motivational activities at Knights of the Shed are used as a method to reinforce, apply and experiment with key concepts and strategies covered in our evidence based and neuroaffirming social skills lessons and your capacity to adjust and adapt the activity to enhance this learning and ensure accessibility and engagement of all participants is required.

This is a casual relief role filling in for therapy assistants who take leave on both advanced and short notice. The current remuneration weekday rate for a casual in this position starts from $22.53 - $32.18/hr (depending on age as per the Health Professionals and Support Services Award - weekend penalty rates apply). An induction period and quarterly annual training is provided for key therapeutic practices within the role; however, Knights of the Shed is not responsible for training staff in learning and understanding motivational activity content.

⚔️ Essential for this role:

- Ability to facilitate a variety of motivational activities (DnD, Minipainting etc) in an engaging and highly responsive manner
- Ability (with direction) to modify your approach to align with the program's therapeutic goals.
- Ability to work in a team to provide a child safe and neuro-inclusive environment
- Capacity to work on weekends
- 18 years of age or over

⚔️ Key Responsibilities:

- Receiving direction from and supporting line managers with planning and implementing therapeutic programs
- Providing individual support to neurodivergent young people, offering guidance and encouragement
- Facilitating group activities and goal setting, promoting active participation
- Observing and documenting participant progress, strengths, and identified needs
- Maintaining a safe and neuroaffirming environment for all participants
- Contributing to a positive and inclusive team culture
- Adhering to child protection policies and procedures, including mandatory reporting obligations
- Understanding and implementing infection control measures, including COVID-19 protocols
- Please share any additional Qualifications and Skills

⚔️ Also Desirable:

- Lived experience with/caring for others who are neurodivergent
- Relevant qualification in psychology, social work, youth work, or a related field
- Current Working with Vulnerable People Card (or ability to obtain)
- Completion of NDIS Modules preferred (or ability to obtain)
- Demonstrated ability to work successfully within a professional team
- Demonstrated successful experience working with young people, preferably in a therapeutic setting
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to build rapport and trust with young people
- Ability to stay up to date with current DnD modules and changes
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances
- Receptiveness to feedback and desire to improve
- Passion for working with young people and promoting positive mental health
- COVID-19 vaccinations (or ability to obtain)

🌈 We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, or any other characteristic that makes you, you.

To Apply please:

✅ Do: Complete the Expression of Interest Form (below) If you have completed this already, your expression of interest is already under consideration.

✅ By: Midnight on the 24th of August 2025 (24/08/2025) Include the name, contact details and role titles of (minimum 2) referees

📌Expression of Interest Form – https://www.knightsoftheshed.com.au/contact/join-our-team

✅ Then: Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by us before close of business 31st of August 2025 (31/08/2025) and receive more comprehensive application questions, and if successful, an invitation for interview will follow.

⚠️ Unfortunately due to our hiring processes we are unable to contact everyone who doesn't make it to the short list, but we do appreciate you taking the time to apply.

❓ Questions? Please read the FAQs on our website carefully and then direct all further enquiries to: ethan@knightsoftheshed.com.au

Frequently Asked Questions – Working at Knights of the Shed Welcome to Knights of the Shed! We’re excited you’re considering joining our team dedicated to supporting young neurodivergent individuals in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Here are some answers to common questions about working with us...

03/08/2025

Advancing Our Creative Programs:

Knights of the Shed is pleased to announce that Ashe is set to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) this October. This advancement will enhance our program offerings and provide new creative opportunities for our community.

Understanding the Zentangle Method:

Zentangle is an accessible and mindful art form focused on creating intricate images from structured, repetitive patterns known as "tangles." It's a practice that fosters:

Mindfulness and Focus: The deliberate nature of tangling encourages concentration and can serve as a calming, stress-reducing activity.

Creative Expression: While based on defined patterns, Zentangle allows for significant personal interpretation and unique artistic outcomes.

Structured Creativity: It balances systematic pattern creation with the freedom of individual design, often leading to what we might describe as "organised chaos."

Universal Accessibility: No prior artistic experience is necessary to engage with and benefit from the Zentangle method.

Zentangle's Relevance to Knights of the Shed Participants:

This new offering aligns well with the interests and values of many within the Knights of the Shed community. Zentangle is particularly relevant for participants who appreciate:

Artistic Engagement: It provides a new avenue for creative exploration.

Mindfulness Practices: The method offers a structured approach to enhance focus and well-being.

Balancing Order and Creativity: Its methodology resonates with those who enjoy the interplay of structure and spontaneous design.

Meaningful Peer Interaction: Zentangle sessions will offer a collaborative and supportive environment for individuals to connect and create together.

Expressing Your Interest:

We are seeking to understand the level of interest in Zentangle sessions. If you, your child, or someone you know might be interested in participating, please let us know. Kindly share your preferences regarding:

Participant: Self, child, or another individual.

Preferred Times: (e.g., weekdays, evenings, weekends).

Frequency: (e.g., weekly, fortnightly, monthly workshops).

Reply to this post or email ashe@knightsoftheshed.com.au

15/07/2025

Ashe Lan recently completed the "Advanced Social Thinking Training" with The Social Mind in June. This professional development wasn't about introducing a new direction for us; rather, it was about enhancing and refining the neuroaffirming practices that are fundamental to our work.

Social Thinking 2.0 complements our existing philosophy by providing deeper insights into:

Understanding Social Nuances: This approach helps individuals explore the 'why' behind social interactions, fostering a more profound comprehension and flexible problem-solving, moving beyond rote memorisation of social responses.

Strengthening Neuroaffirming Support: It reinforces our commitment to respecting diverse thinking styles, offering refined strategies that are inherently neuroaffirming. This empowers participants to achieve their personal social goals in ways that are authentic to them.

Developing Self-Awareness: The training enhances our methods for guiding participants in metacognition—thinking about their own thinking—which strengthens their ability to understand their unique social processing and advocate for their needs.

Tailored, Participant-Led Approaches: It provides further tools to adapt strategies to each individual's learning style, ensuring our support remains highly effective and relevant.

05/07/2025

Term 3 at Knights of the Shed:

This term, our Social Skills Program focuses on Time Management, an important aspect of executive functioning which can be pretty tricky to master.

Drawing on lessons & concepts from the Time Tracker Program by Sarah Ward & Kristen Jacobsen, we will address the abstract nature of time by teaching concrete strategies for managing it. Participants will be encouraged and supported to conceptualise time and experiment with applying this understanding to daily planning and self-regulation.

Developing strong time management skills can enable individuals to:

Plan effectively and set realistic goals.

Stay organised and complete tasks efficiently.

Reduce stress by avoiding last-minute rushes.

Build confidence and independence in managing responsibilities.

We're busy working on making this learning as engaging and meaningful as always, and rumour has it, some highly organised capybaras are assisting with our planning!

Term 3 enrolments are open now.

03/07/2025

Last weekend, Paul attended Chaosium Con 2025 AU in Melbourne. Here he is, about to embark on a 12 hour gaming marathon as a volunteer GM.

Players took on roles of Arthurian Knights and the story was designed to compel players to act according to their values and traits. The adventure scenario: 'Cognitive Dissonance in 509AD' - designed by Paul to leverage the inner dilemma experienced when there is a clash between values you hold dear.

Paul then went on to participate in sessions with RPG Industry VIPs, taking notes on the techniques they use to create and facilitate captivating adventures.