Since April, I have had the opportunity to attend Able+ Meet Up events as a table host, attending each month throughout April, May, June, July and August 2026.
Being a table host means settling in for around two hours of fast-paced networking, with attendees rotating around the room and stopping at my table for a quick five-minute conversation before it's time to move on to the next!
Five minutes might not sound like much time, but you'd be surprised how much you can learn about someone, their organisation and the work they do in the disability sector in such a short conversation.
For me, attending these events is about much more than simply talking about Experience Life and the supports we provide. It's an opportunity to meet people with a disability looking for providers, Support Coordinators, allied health professionals and other people working within the disability community, while learning more about the services and supports available to participants.
Each five-minute conversation is an opportunity to introduce myself and Experience Life, but it's equally important to hear about the person sitting across from me - what they do, who they support and how we may be able to work together in the future, we just keep their time limited!
Building connections that continue beyond five minutes
While the initial conversation might only last five minutes, the connection certainly doesn't have to.
Over the past five months, I've been able to reconnect with familiar faces, meet plenty of new ones and continue building relationships with people and organisations across our sector.
Having these connections is incredibly valuable in my role. When a participant, family member or support team is looking for a particular service, having a network of people I've met and spoken with can make all the difference.
From our first event in April through to our most recent Meet Up in August, there have been plenty of five-minute conversations, introductions, laughs and new connections along the way.
Thank you to everyone who has taken five minutes to stop at my table, have a chat, learn a little more about Experience Life and share what you do with me.
And if we've crossed paths at an Able+ Meet Up over the past few months, hello again!
I'm looking forward to continuing to get out into the community, meeting more people and building connections that ultimately help us all work together to provide greater outcomes for people with a disability.
Chelsea Thorne, August 2026