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Mandala Estate

A limitless future for diversability.

🌿 Join Mandala Estate’s Work & Wellness Program! 🌿

Looking for an NDIS work day program or community participation that feels like a retreat? Mandala Estate offers a hands-on boutique experience set on a 5-acre equine estate in the peaceful semi-rural suburb of Duffys Forest, Northern Beaches. Our program blends work tasks, wellness, and life skills in a stunning, nature-filled environment.

Team Members engage in meaningful work tasks on the estate, develop real-world skills, and contribute to micro-businesses, earning shared remuneration based on their contributions. All profits are split amongst Team Members.

With limited spots available, our boutique program ensures a personal, tailored experience to help you grow, thrive, and connect with nature.

Contact us today to join the Mandala Estate Work Program, or learn more below.

Mandala Work Program

Our Mandala Work program (innovative day program & community participation alternative) empowers participants (known to us as Team Members) to attend to real work tasks in a 1:1 supported environment.

The Work Program has 4 micro-businesses that our Team Members can participate in.

Team members engage in meaningful work tasks, socialise, contribute to their communities and develop their individual skills.

Mandala sets a new standard for economic and social inclusion for people with diversability, allowing team members to earn a small shared remuneration based on their level of contribution.

Remuneration for the team and each individual Team Member is tracked and shared on our communal board. Once per month the totals are updated. Team Members can choose to spend their earnings or save.

Those Team Members who choose to spend, are supported in purchasing the items they want online or in-person. Online deliveries are received at our estate where Team Members can take delivery of their items.

Our Micro-Businesses

Team Members participate in Mandala's micro-businesses to perform work tasks, whilst learning life skills.
Profit generated from these tasks are shared amongst Team Members based on their time contribution.
There are 4 micro-businesses:
Farmer's Garden (Harvesting of honey, lavender, fruit, veggies and eggs) // Farmer's Kitchen (Producing products for sale using the estates harvest) // Farmer's Entrepreneur Hub (Marketing, inventory management, selling to local businesses, fulfilling orders, online store management) // Farmer's Market (attending local markets to sell the products produced by the team) // COMING SOON...Equine Care (Horse Grooming & Tack Cleaning - Saddles, Bridles & Gear)

MICRO BUSINESS

Bee Keeping

Step into the fascinating world of beekeeping. Through hands-on experience, learn about the essential role bees play in our ecosystem while gaining valuable skills in caring for bee colonies and harvesting honey.

  • Learn Bee Care: Understand the basics of beekeeping, from managing hives to checking for queen activity, honey production, and ensuring the health of the colony.
  • Harvest Honey: Gain skills in extracting honey from the hive safely, using the right equipment and techniques to collect and store the honey for use in products and for market.
  • Understand Pollination: Discover how bees pollinate flowers and plants, helping gardens flourish and crops thrive. Learn about the important environmental contributions bees make to food production.
  • Bee Safety: Learn how to handle bees safely and responsibly, including wearing protective gear, understanding bee behavior, and respecting their environment to ensure a successful harvest.

MICRO BUSINESS

Chicken Coop

Our Chicken Coop provides Team Members with the opportunity to care for and maintain our chickens. It’s a rewarding experience that fosters responsibility and an understanding of animal care while ensuring the chickens are healthy, happy, and productive.

  • Collect Fresh Eggs: Learn how to gather eggs daily, checking for freshness and ensuring the chickens are laying regularly.
  • Feed & Care for Chickens: Understand the needs of chickens, including providing them with a balanced diet, cleaning their living spaces, and ensuring they have access to fresh water.
  • Maintain the Coop: Help clean and maintain the chicken coop, ensuring it is a safe, hygienic, and comfortable environment for our chickens. This includes bedding, cleaning feeders, and checking for potential issues like pests.
  • Learn About Chicken Health: Learn how to identify signs of illness in chickens, administer basic care, and keep the flock healthy and thriving.

MICRO BUSINESS

Fruit & Veggie Patch

The Fruit & Veggie Patch is the heart of our sustainable garden. In this hands-on program, Team Members will learn the essentials of growing vegetables, from planting seeds to harvesting their efforts. It’s a chance to connect with nature, learn valuable gardening skills, and enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of their labour.

  • Plant & Harvest: Learn how to plant, nurture, and harvest a variety of vegetables. Understand the growth cycles of different plants and how to ensure they flourish.
  • Garden Maintenance: Develop skills in garden care, including weeding, watering, and mulching. Team Members will learn how to create and maintain healthy soil and grow organic produce.
  • Understand Seasonal Gardening: Gain knowledge about seasonal planting and the best vegetables to grow throughout the year.
  • Sustainable Practices: Learn how to practice sustainable gardening, including composting, water conservation, and using eco-friendly techniques to care for the plants and the environment.

MICRO BUSINESS

Lavender Garden

The Lavender Garden offers a tranquil space where Team Members can learn the art of growing and caring for lavender. Lavender is not only a beautiful plant, but it also has numerous uses, from crafting homemade products to its calming properties. This program blends gardening with creativity and relaxation.

  • Grow & Harvest Lavender: Learn the steps to successfully grow lavender, from planting and caring for the plants to harvesting the flowers at the perfect time for use in products.
  • Create Lavender Products: Use the harvested lavender to create handmade products like soaps, face scrubs, sachets, and lavender oils. Team Members will learn about the uses of lavender in both personal care and wellness.
  • Understand Lavender’s Benefits: Discover the many benefits of lavender, including its calming and therapeutic properties. Learn how lavender can be used in aromatherapy, skincare, and as a natural remedy.
  • Maintain the Lavender Garden: Care for the lavender plants by ensuring they are pruned and watered correctly, allowing them to thrive and bloom year after year.

MICRO BUSINESS

Farmer's Kitchen

The Farmer's Kitchen, provides Team Members with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the art of farm-to-table cooking using fresh, seasonal produce from the estate’s gardens. Whether it's harvesting vegetables, collecting eggs, or using estate-grown honey and lavender, the kitchen becomes a space for creativity, learning, and connection.

  • Learn Meal Preparation: Understand the fundamentals of preparing healthy meals, following recipes, and balancing nutrition. Learn to cook simple, delicious dishes that use produce from the garden.
  • Practice Cooking & Baking: Develop skills in cooking savory meals and baking treats, from garden-to-table.
  • Focus on Nutrition: Learn the importance of healthy eating, portion control, and how to incorporate sustainable, locally sourced food into your daily routine.
  • Produce Products: Create products using the estates honey and lavender. Products include honey jars, lavender tea, facial & body scrubs, bath salts and many more.

MICRO BUSINESS

Entrepreneur Hub

Our Entrepreneur Hub offers Team Members the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of business through hands-on experience. Here, Team Members will learn how to create and market products using the estate's honey, lavender, and garden produce. This dynamic hub is designed to teach essential business skills while also providing a chance to earn from the estate’s micro businesses.

  • Create Handmade Products: Learn to develop products like honey jars, lavender soaps, face scrubs, moisturisers, and other special items using the estate’s honey, lavender, and garden-grown ingredients. Understand the entire process of product creation—from concept to completion.
  • Master Product Marketing: Gain valuable skills in product marketing, including creating product descriptions, designing branded materials, and promoting products through social media. Team Members will explore how to connect with customers both locally and online.
  • Learn Sales Techniques: Develop sales skills through hands-on experience in selling products at the local farmers' market and online via the estate’s Shopify store. Engage with customers, handle transactions, and manage customer feedback.
  • Manage Online Business: Get practical experience with online business management, including updating the Shopify store, listing products, managing inventory, processing orders, and tracking sales.
  • Order Fulfillment: Understand the logistics of order fulfillment by preparing products for sale, packaging them correctly, and ensuring timely delivery to customers.
  • Build Business Skills: Develop a strong foundation in business essentials, such as pricing, budgeting, inventory management, and understanding profit margins. Team Members will gain insights into managing the daily operations of a small business and contribute to the success of Mandala Estate’s micro-businesses.

MICRO BUSINESS

Farmer's Markets

The Farmer's Market offers a unique opportunity to experience the business side of producing products. Every week, Team Members prepare products to sell at the North Narrabeen Farmer's Market. It’s an opportunity to be hands-on, creative, and develop business and social skills.

  • Prepare Market Stock: Organise products such as honey jars & lavender products for the weekly market. This includes packaging, labeling, and ensuring products are market-ready.
  • Customer Service & Sales: Develop skills in marketing and customer interaction. Team Members will be involved in creating display setups, engaging with customers, and managing sales transactions.
  • Manage Inventory: Keep track of stock levels, ensure products are well-organised, and assess sales to determine product demand.
  • Prepare for Market Day: Get everything ready, from checking the EFTPOS machines and cash float to ensuring promotional materials are available. This gives Team Members a real understanding of how to run a small business.

MICRO BUSINESS

Horse Grooming & Tack Cleaning (Saddles & Bridles)

COMING SOON....As part of our equine care program, Team Members will have the opportunity to care for local horses, building a connection with animals and gaining important hands-on skills. Horse grooming and tack cleaning is a therapeutic and educational experience that helps develop responsibility, patience, and attention to detail.

  • Learn Grooming Techniques: Understand the proper techniques for grooming horses, including brushing, mane and tail care. Learn about the anatomy of the horse and the importance of grooming in maintaining their health.
  • Care for the Tack: Learn how to clean and maintain saddles, bridles, and other tack, ensuring the equipment is in top condition. This teaches attention to detail and the importance of equipment maintenance in animal care.
  • Horse Safety: Learn the basics of working safely around horses and gain skills in animal handling and care.

Wellness & Social

At Mandala Estate, we believe that wellness is at the heart of personal growth and success. That’s why we focus on offering Wellness Sessions, Outdoor Sensory Experiences, Social Events, and Camping and Nature Tours for our Team Members. These activities are designed not only to foster physical and mental well-being but also to strengthen social connections, spark creativity, and promote a deeper connection with nature.

WELLNESS & SOCIAL

Wellness Time

Wellness Sessions are more than just physical activities; they offer our Team Members an opportunity to unwind, relax, and focus on personal development. Whether through outdoor yoga, mindfulness practices, or gentle exercises, these sessions create a space where Team Members can recharge, manage stress, and build resilience.

WELLNESS & SOCIAL

Outdoor Sensory Spaces

Our Outdoor Sensory Experiences engage the senses in meaningful ways, allowing Team Members to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of the estate. These activities help to stimulate creativity, encourage mindfulness, and promote emotional well-being while fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural environment.

WELLNESS & SOCIAL

Camping & Nature Tours

Explore the natural beauty of The Basin & other nature inspired local areas through nature tours and camping experiences. Spend time in the great outdoors, enjoying peaceful walks, observing wildlife, and connecting with nature on a deeper level. These experiences offer a sense of adventure and exploration in a safe and supportive environment.

WELLNESS & SOCIAL

Events

We host seasonal family and team events at the estate, where Team Members can share their experiences, bond and celebrate their achievements. These events help build community and allow participants to feel supported by their families and teammates.

Work Experience & Volunteer Programs

COMING SOON....At Mandala Estate, we believe in providing our Team Members with opportunities that extend beyond the traditional learning environment. Our Work Experience and Volunteer Programs are designed to help Team Members gain real-world skills, build professional confidence, and contribute meaningfully to the community. These programs empower individuals to explore their interests, develop a range of competencies, and prepare for future careers or educational paths.

WORK EXPERIENCE & VOLUNTEER

Taronga Wings Program

Coming soon....Taronga Zoo's Wings program, allows Team Members to take part in work experience. Offering many exciting learning opportunities, from making food and feeders for the animals, to helping out at the animal hospital. A fantastic innovative and interactive program for animal lovers.

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Reach out to our friendly team

Discover the Mandala Care Group difference. Join our boutique work program today! For more information or to get involved, please fill out the form below.

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