Join a Lab | The Lab

Where are you located?

All Labs are organised locally and applications are made directly to a Lab nearest to you. Some Labs are associated with larger organisations who manage or auspice The Lab and some Labs are organised by individuals or small groups of parents or carers in their local area.

Use the links on individual locations listed below to access venue and session information on a local Lab.

Please see the front page of the website for up to date information about the operation of local Labs during social distancing restrictions related to Covid-19.

All Labs operate independently and there may be variations in the schedule and cost of sessions between Labs.

Once you have identified a Lab near to you please register your interest by using our online registration system. Your registration will go directly to your local Lab.

PLEASE NOTE: Because of our .org.au email address, emails from The Lab will often go to your junk mail. Please check your junk mail if you are expecting confirmation of registration from The Lab. Marking mail as ‘Not Junk’ in your email app should solve this problem for future messages.

Click on the button below to register for a Lab near to you.
Please keep note of the password you set to login at a later time.

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Castle Hill, NSW

The Lab, at Museums Discovery Centre, Castle Hill , runs on Sunday Morning from 10:30-12:30 during School Terms.

At the Museums Discovery Centre we focus on technical and creative skills, offering mentoring by experienced professional tutors in gaming, coding and media production. While providing a safe environment for social development, we strive to optimise the agency of all group members. The sessions are held in a museum setting including access to galleries displaying inspirational artefacts and collections.

There is a dedicated meeting room located next to the Lab space for parents who wish to stay on site. General entry to the museum is included.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Castle Hills Lab from the list at the top of the child registration screen.

Hornsby, NSW

The Lab Hornsby opened in October 2012.

Originally the intention was to support a group of 10 young people in the program.

The demand we experienced convinced us to increase the numbers, and we now run two sessions each Saturday morning, enabling up to 30 young people to participate.

Hornsby RSL generously provide a room in which we hold The Lab Hornsby.

The sessions are facilitated by Just Better Care Hills District, a local Hornsby / Baulkham Hills area provider of in-home support for disabled and frail aged residents.

We have a team of five mentors who support our participants with guidance and technical expertise.
Saturday sessions are of one and a half hours duration (0900 to 1030 and 1030 to 1200).

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Hornsby Lab from the list at the top of the child registration screen.

For further information please email thelabhornsby@justbettercare.com or call (02) 9484 8788.

Rhodes, NSW

The Lab at The Learning Space, Rhodes, has been running since Term 3, 2018.

In Rhodes we focus on technical and creative skills, offering mentoring by professionals in coding, digital design, gaming, 3D modelling, 3D printing and more. We work to create a safe environment for social development. The sessions are held in a Makerspace with access to a wide variety of digital and physical tools.

There is a dedicated meeting room located next to the Makerspace for parents who wish to stay on site.

The Lab, Rhodes, runs on Tuesday afternoons from 4pm to 6pm during School Terms.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Rhodes Lab from the list at the top of the child registration screen.

Banyo, Qld

The Lab at Banyo runs sessions at 4pm on Wednesday’s during school term dates.

To register your child for the Banyo Lab please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and enter your and your child’s details. Select the Banyo Lab from the list on the top of the child registration screen.

You can contact the Banyo Lab at joshua@thelab.org.au

Gold Coast, Qld

The Lab on the Gold Coast commenced in February 2015.

The Lab sessions are held at Autism Gold Coast, Cascade Gardens, Gold Coast Highway.

The Lab is currently running three sessions per week during Queensland school terms:
Saturday – 9.00am – 11.00am, 11.15am – 1.15pm, 2pm – 4.00pm.

The cost is $25.00 per session without NDIS funding and $34.40 with NDIS funding.

To register your child for the Gold Coast Lab please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and enter your and your child’s details. Select the Gold Coast Lab from the list on the top of the child registration screen.

You can contact the Gold Coast Lab at goldcoast@thelab.org.au

Caboolture, Qld

The Lab Caboolture will recommence face to face sessions during term 2 2021 at Caboolture Hub, Hasking St, Caboolture.
We can’t wait til The Lab Caboolture is up and running again with a new venue and an opportunity for our IT team to mentor your kids in our social and technical groups.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child.

Virginia, Qld

The Lab at Virginia will run sessions on Monday afternoons.

To register your child for the Virginia Lab please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and enter your and your child’s details. Select the Virginia Lab from the list on the top of the child registration screen.

You can contact the Virginia Lab at joshua@thelab.org.au

Mt Gambier, SA

The Mt Gambier Lab operates at the Group Training and Employment (GTE) Building.
173 Commercial St W, Mount Gambier SA

Saturday mornings during school term dates from 9:30am – 12pm.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Mt Gambier Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Melrose Park, SA

The Melrose Park Lab operates at The Benevolent Society. Unit 1 / 34-40 Bennett Avenue, Melrose Park, SA
Sessions run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 – 6pm & Saturdays from 10am to 12pm.

• Our friendly reception team will bring you through to the LAB Hub.
• Ample parking is available on-site.
• There are some coffee shops on site, but these close between 4PM – 5PM.
• There is a Parent Café/waiting area at Reception, if you wish to stay.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Melrose Park Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Salisbury, SA

The Salisbury Lab operates in the Helen Barnes Room at the Salisbury Library. 55 John St, Salisbury, SA.
Sessions are held on Saturdays from 10am to 12pm and 1pm – 3pm.

• Enter the library and head to the Helen Barnes room at the rear of the library.
• Parking is available locally. There are both street parks or a shopping centre nearby.
• There are some coffee shops nearby.
• You can stay nearby at the library if you wish to stay.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Salisbury Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Avondale Heights, Vic

The Avondale Heights Lab will run sessions on Wednesday 4.30pm – 6.30pm at the Avondale Heights Library and Learning Centre; 69 Military Rd, Avondale Heights

Sessions will run during the Victorian School terms.

The cost is $25 per session. This covers the cost of our mentors, who are professional programmers, graphic designers, 3D modellers and software designers.

To apply and reserve a place for your child, please register by clicking on the orange REGISTER button on this page and select the Avondale Heights from the list at the top of the child registration form

For further information please email carers@mvcc.vic.gov.au

Ballarat, Vic

Sessions are held at the Ballarat Tech School, 136 Albert St, Ballarat Central on Wednesday afternoons from 4.30 to 6.30 pm.

The cost will be $25 per session (for participants with no NDIS support) or $32 (where NDIS support is accessed) with session dates following the school term.
To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Ballarat Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.
For further information please contact ballarat@thelab.org.au

Bendigo, Vic

The Bendigo Lab is hosted by the Bendigo Tech School. Sessions are held on Tuesday afternoons from 4 – 6pm during school term dates and are offered at no cost.
For general enquiries please contact bendigotechschool@latrobe.edu.au

To register your interest and be contacted as soon as starting details are available please register by clicking on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Bendigo Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Docklands, Vic

The Lab at the Docklands Library will commence sessions during term 4 2019. Sessions will be held on Saturday mornings from 10am – 12pm.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Docklands Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Ferntree Gully, Vic

The Lab Ferntree Gully runs sessions on Wednesdays 4 – 6pm for 9 – 15 year olds.

The Lab is at: 22 Willow Rd, Upper Ferntree Gully

The cost is $25 per session ($20 concession) payable by the term.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of
your child. Select the Ferntree Gully Lab from the list at the top of the child registration screen.

Contact No: 9758 7081

Nth Fitzroy, Vic

The Lab at Bargoonga Nganjin, Nth Fitzroy Library will commence sessions as soon as possible following the lifting of access restrictions.
When sessions commence they will be held on a Saturday between 10am and 12pm.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Fitzroy Nth Lab from the list at the top of the child registration screen. You’ll be contacted as soon as we have more information about a start date.

Footscray, Vic

The Lab Footscray is currently running the following sessions;

Saturday
Social Session
11.30am – 1.30pm

The cost is $25 per session, payable each school term. This covers the cost of mentors who are professional programmers and software designers.

To register your interest please click on the blue Join a Lab button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Footscray Lab from the list at the top of the child registration screen.

Frankston, Vic

The Lab Frankston Vic Inc

The Lab was established in Frankston in 2013 and continues to operate with support from the Frankston City Council.

A not-for-profit association run by our members, The Lab Frankston Vic Inc moved to a new home to start 2021.

The Lab Frankston is now at Ebdale Community Hub, 20 Ebdale Street Frankston VIC 3199

DAYS & TIMES – SCHOOL TERMS ONLY

TUESDAYS
4:00 – 6:00pm
6:00 – 8:00pm

FEES
What you will pay depends on whether you have NDIS funding.The cost of a Lab session for participants WITH NDIS funding is $32.84.
This is the standard NDIS rate (($16.42 x 2 hours – slightly less than before due to no COVID fee).For participants WITHOUT NDIS funding, the session fee will remain at $25 per session.
Two siblings. e.g. a brother and sister, without funding, will be charged a combined weekly fee of $40.

We request a single payment to cover the weeks of each school term. Your payment covers the cost of room rental, our paid mentors, insurance, bookkeeping and consumables.

A $10 admin applies to the total term fee for NDIS-funded participants.

To register your interest please click on the REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Frankston Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

We are planning to start new sessions on other days and times, so if you cannot attend current sessions, please contact us by emailing: frankston@thelab.org.au

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop or other device. A limited number of loan laptops are available.

For those looking to purchase a laptop, here are some recommendations of what to look for;

Cheaper/Short Term (2 years)
CPU: i3-i5
Ram: 4GB+
Graphics card: Intel/AMD would suffice.
Hard Drive: 500GB+

Longer term (4 years)
CPU: i5-i7
Ram: 8GB+
Graphics card: nVidia or ATI Radeon
Hard Drive: 1TB

Geelong, Vic

The Lab Geelong was established in March 2013.

The Lab Geelong is thankful for the support of Just Better Care.

The Lab Geelong currently runs the following sessions;

Wednesday
Social Session
5:00pm-7:00pm

Friday
Social Session
5:00pm-7:00pm

Saturday
Social Session
9.30am-11.30am

Saturday
Social Session
11.30am-1.30pm

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Geelong Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Greensborough, Vic

Greensborough Lab will run one session per week during Term 1, 2021.
Wednesday from 3 February until 24 March
4:00pm to 6:00pm

There is no cost to participate in The Greensborough Lab.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Greensborough Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Highett, Vic

The Lab Highett operates from the Highett Neighborhood Community House at 2 Livingstone St, Highett.
Sessions currently run on Wednesdays from 4.30 – 6.30pm during school terms.

Additional sessions are likely to be added soon, so please register your interest even if you cannot attend the current Wednesday session.

To register your interest, please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Highett Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Mildura, Vic

Lab sessions will run at Ajay’s Makerspace and Gaming, 10th Street Mildura from Term 2, 2021.

Please check back here for more details available soon. To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Leopold Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Moonee Ponds, Vic

The Moonee Ponds Lab will run sessions on Saturday 10am – 12pm and 1pm-3pm at the Sam Merrifield Library; 762 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds

Sessions will run during the Victorian School terms.

The cost is $25 per session. This covers the cost of our mentors, who are professional programmers, graphic designers, 3D modellers and software designers.

To apply and reserve a place for your child, please register by clicking on the orange REGISTER button on this page and select the Moonee Ponds Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form

For further information please email carers@mvcc.vic.gov.au

Mornington, Vic

The Lab Mornington operates from ‘The Corner’ Mornington Youth Centre at 91 Wilsons Rd, Mornington (cnr Nepean Hwy).

Sessions currently run on Mondays from 4.30 – 6.30pm during the school term.
Additional sessions are likely to be added soon, so please register your interest even if you cannot attend the current Wednesday session.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Mornington Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Morwell, Vic

The Lab at Morwell will commence sessions for Term 4 2019 on October 8. Sessions will be held from 6pm to 8pm at CoAbility, 215 Princess Drive, Morwell. The venue is conveniently located near to bus and train services.
Please register your interest by clicking on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Morwell Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Niddrie, Vic

The Niddrie Lab will run sessions on Tuesday 4.30pm – 6.30pm at the Niddrie Library; 483 Keilor Rd, Niddrie

Sessions will run during the Victorian School terms.

The cost is $25 per session. This covers the cost of our mentors, who are professional programmers, graphic designers, 3D modellers and software designers.

To apply and reserve a place for your child, please register by clicking on the orange REGISTER button on this page and select the Niddrie Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form

For further information please email carers@mvcc.vic.gov.au

Reservoir, Vic

The Lab Reservoir is located at The Reservoir Neighborhood House. Following on from the Digital Enterprise Project, passionate staff and participants were eager to continue its success.

Sessions run every Saturday during the Victorian school term for two hours. There is a morning session at 10am-12:00pm and an afternoon session at 12:30pm-2:30pm.

Sessions are semi-structured with the term 2 program focusing on content creation. Participants are welcome to explore the topic of the day, or let us know what you’re interested in and our dedicated mentors will be more than happy to guide you along.

Term fees are payable at the beginning of the term.

To register your interest please click on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Reservoir Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Please contact admin@reservoirnh.org.au for further details.

Werribee, Vic

A new Lab is set to open in central Werribee soon.
More details will be posted here when they are available.
Please register your interest by clicking on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Werribee Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form. We can then contact you directly when we have session times and a starting date.

Canberra, ACT

The Lab in Canberra is run at Marymead, 255 Goyder Street, Narrabundah.

Sessions are on Wednesdays 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Marymead is a registered NDIS provider so all NDIS participants are welcome to join. If you wish to use your NDIS plan, the cost is $39.10 per session, this can be claimed from the ‘Core’ category.

For Non-NDIS participants, the cost is $25 per session.

Please register your interest by clicking on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Canberra Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

Hobart, Tasmania

Lab sessions will commence in June at the Glenorchy Library. Sessions will be on Saturday mornings between 10am and Noon. Bookings are essential.

Please register your interest by clicking on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the Hobart Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form.

WA Online, Western Australia

This is a new group that will be commencing for Term 4.

Please register your interest by clicking on the orange REGISTER button on this page and register your details and those of your child. Select the WA Online Lab from the list at the top of the child registration form. We can then contact you directly when we have session times and a starting date.

This group will be able to transition to face to face sessions as soon as social distancing restrictions are lifted.

The Lab Online, National

The Lab Online has been running since 2016 and while it is a different experience to face to face venues, it still offers participants an opportunity to explore their technology interests in a social setting. We use video chat technology that is both highly secure and has a range of privacy controls that allow each participant to switch their audio or video feed on or off as they want.

Group sizes are small so that participants get sufficient assistance with sessions focused on the development of a project that might be coding or art based, depending on participants interests. For more information please refer to the page linked further down this page or register using the orange button.

The Lab Online

The Lab Online delivers The Lab program in an online format for participants unable to access a face-to-face venue. We use a highly secure video conferencing platform to deliver weekly mentored sessions that explore creating coding and other game and web related creative activities.

The Lab in the media

Jobs at Labs

The Role of the Mentor
The Lab aims to encourage social engagement through a young person’s interests in technology. The mentor’s role is to facilitate participants technology and skill development experience during Lab sessions. Mentors are experienced programmers, games developers and digital media artists who have all successfully completed Police and Working With Children Checks required by law in each state in which Labs operate.

Mentors are valued for their technical and interpersonal skills but the mentor’s role is not as a teacher, parent, disciplinarian or therapist. The most important element of the participants experience is that they have an enjoyable experience in a safe and supported environment.

The Lab Mentor’s role and Responsibilities.pdf

Mentoring at a Lab
Labs are always on the lookout for enthusiastic IT and Game Developers to work as mentors at The Lab. Being a Lab mentor is a fun and highly rewarding opportunity to share your tech skills with enthusiastic young people with a passion for games and technology.

While a spot might not be immediately available, Labs are keen to know that you are in their area and interested to be involved.

Read more about mentoring at The Lab and what’s involved: Introduction to Mentoring at The Lab.pdf

For more information please contact us at admin@thelab.org.au, include your current CV with emphasis on your games and technology experience, whether coding, designing or just as a passionate game player. Please indicate the Lab venue most appropriate for you.

Want to be a part of The Lab?

Find your nearest Lab and get involved in a network of like-minded techology experts.