‘Neurokin’, Australia’s pioneer neurodiversity arts festival kicks off today, June 6, and will take place over two massive weekends of online and in-person events.
The festival (formerly Sensory Sanctuary) is the creation of local resident Louise ‘Rockabilby’ Cooper and was founded in 2023.
Louise said the festival celebrates and showcases the diverse creativity and talents of neurodivergent people whilst fostering neurodivergent community, culture and leadership.
Louise and her team have once again been hard at work behind the scenes curating another amazing event in 2025.
This weekend’s events are all online making them accessible for all and will will kick off with a Neurokin online networking event today June 6 from 10.30am-11.30am. You can register for the session via the website below and this will be a great opportunity to chat with some of the speakers which will feature across the event and other members of the neurodiverent community.
“Today we also have an online discussion around ‘Improving Access in Theatres’ Robert Lewis and Dan Graham, co-authors of Authentic Voices: An Australian Perspective of Neurodiversity and the Performing Arts, and I will also be leading a discussion with Professor Dawn Adams, Caity Girle and Hannah O’Keefe why sensory spaces are so important and how can we (co-) design them?” Louise said.
Other online sessions this weekend will include: ‘In Our Own World’ Collaborative World-Building & Storytelling Workshop, an Open Mic event where participants can share words or songs; an ‘Untangling Your Thoughts’ journalling workshop with Lisa D’Onofrio; and ‘Raising Neurodivergent Readers’ with children’s book whisperer Melissa Gijsbers.
Next weekend June 13-15 the focus will move to in-person events over three big days at the Campbells Creek Community Centre kicking off Friday evening June 13 with the ‘Wayapa, Sensory Storytelling & Silent Disco’ with Rachel Findeis, Wanda Halden and Lou O’Duibhir, and wrapping up Sunday June 15 with a ‘Neurokin Book Fair, Makers Market an Show & Shine’, a vibrant afternoon celebrating the brilliance of neurodivergent authors, artists, and makers. Locals are also invited to bring your truck, car or bike to show off!
Neurodivergent, ally or curious – come and get amongst it!
For more information, workshop and event tickets visit www.neurokin.org.au
Victoria Police will be conducting a road blitz over the King’s Birthday long weekend, with regional roads in their sights.
Operation Regal will be under way from 12.01am on Friday morning through to midnight on Monday night.
It follows a terrible period on Victorian roads which saw 37 lives lost during May – the worst May for fatalities on record in over 20 years.
There have now been 136 lives lost on Victorian roads in 2025, up 14 per cent on the same time last year.
With winter officially getting underway this week, police are urging drivers to take extra care and pay attention behind the wheel, particularly with reduced daylight hours and inclement weather impacting visibility and conditions.
Sergeant Geoff Annand of the Macedon Ranges Highway Patrol said police would be out in force this long weekend targeting speed, impaired driving, distracted drivers and more.
“We will be targeting local towns and rural locations, anywhere at any time,” he said.
Sgt Annand said preliminary breath testing would be conducted in various locations.
“We’re hoping that we don’t meet you on the road,” he said.
