Founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in the USA in 1989, Best Buddies is a friendship program that matches young people and adults with an intellectual disability with people from the wider community. Best Buddies is the world’s largest non-profit organisation that provides friendship programs for people with an intellectual disability.

In Melbourne, Best Buddies is auspiced by Big Brothers Big Sisters and is generously supported by the ANZ Foundation and the Department of Education, Science and Technology. Best Buddies Melbourne operates a schools program targeting secondary school aged students and a ‘Citizens’ program that targets adults over the age of 18 years.

Student volunteer Kelly Styles from Doncaster Secondary College explains that she is increasingly aware of the challenges her ‘Buddy’, Sarah, has in doing things that she takes for granted.

“Other than family and friends, I soon realised that I was probably the only friend she had that didn’t have a disability”, explained Kelly. “I like Best Buddies because I’m making a difference to someone else’s life.”

The Citizens program has already established nearly 10 friendship matches and hopes to more than double this number by the end of the year. Further funding is being sought to establish a Citizens program for adults living in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula area.

For further information about:

- Referring a young person or an adult with an intellectual disability
- Becoming a volunteer
- Involving your school
- Assisting with fundraising

Please contact Program Manager, Rebecca Vanderspek on 9855 9200 or rebecca.vanderspek@bbbs.org.au.