Going Places Orientation & Mobility

15/10/2026

International White Cane Day | 15 October

Today, we celebrate the white cane and, more importantly, the independence, confidence and freedom it represents.

The white cane is much more than a mobility aid. It is a symbol of independence, representing the skills, knowledge and determination that enable people who are blind or have low vision to travel safely and confidently through the world.

Independent travel involves so much more than walking from A to B. It means learning to navigate unfamiliar environments, locate landmarks, cross roads safely, use public transport, solve problems along the way and make independent decisions about where life takes you.

At Going Places Orientation & Mobility, we believe these skills open doors to opportunity, connection and participation in the community. With the right training and support, people who are blind or have low vision can develop the skills and confidence to travel independently and pursue the things that matter to them.

How did we celebrate today?

Today, Explorers United headed out for a special International White Cane Day adventure! Our group caught the train from Flinders Street to Belgrave before boarding the iconic Puffing Billy Railway for a trip to Emerald Lake.

Explorers United is a monthly group program delivered in conjunction with Confidence Steps, providing opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision to build confidence, develop independence and explore the community together.

It was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the journey, connect with others and celebrate what independent travel makes possible.

International White Cane Day reminds us that blindness does not define a person’s potential. Access, opportunity, good training and the freedom to move independently all matter.

Today, we celebrate every cane traveller, every new skill mastered, every challenging journey completed and every step towards greater independence.

Happy International White Cane Day from Going Places Orientation & Mobility and Explorers United!

The video shows our group on Puffung Billy going over the iconic tressel bridge. . 

17/08/2026

We will be travelling a little further than our regular programs during the next school holidays. Using both V line and the ferry service to Geelong to explore some of regional Victoria! 

GIONAL NAVIGATORS – TWO DAY ADVENTURE

Two destinations. Two very different adventures. One big navigation challenge!

Explorers United is heading regional for a two-day adventure combining independent travel, Orientation & Mobility skills, teamwork and plenty of fun.

We’ll be taking the V/Line, because getting there is part of the adventure!

Who is this for?
Young people aged 14 to early 20s with a vision impairment.

When:
Thursday 1 & Friday 2 October 2026

DAY 1 – BALLARAT: SOVEREIGN HILL

Step back in time and explore one of Australia’s most iconic living history sites.

Participants will:

• Wander through historic streets.
• Watch demonstrations.
• Try their hand at gold panning.
• Discover, explore and have fun while navigating a very different environment.

DAY 2 – GEELONG: CITY & SEA ADVENTURE

Travel to Geelong via Ferry and VLine back home to Melbourne.

Navigate Geelong C*D and explore the waterfront.

Participants will:

• Travel through the city.
• Explore the waterfront and foreshore.
• Solve challenges and work together as a team.

Across both days, the focus will be on building confidence travelling to unfamiliar regional destinations, navigating new environments, using public transport and developing practical O&M skills alongside peers.

Meeting & finish:
Meet at 8:30 AM at Flinders Street Station.
Return to Flinders Street Station at approximately 5:30 PM both days.

Two days. New places. Epic memories!

Sign up now!

Contact:
Marnie – 0423 783 760
Darren – 0414 083 652
[email protected]

Explorers United – Group O&M Programs
A collaboration between Going Places Orientation & Mobility and Confident Steps.

17/08/2026

We have been busy planning some fun Orientation & Mobility group programs for the upcoming school holidays. If you or somebody you know would be interested please get in touch! 

FOREST NAVIGATORS – JOIN THE ADVENTURE!

Explorers United is excited to offer Part 3 of our Navigators Series – Forest Navigators!

This school holiday adventure is designed to get kids out into nature, exploring new environments and developing Orientation & Mobility skills while having fun with other children with vision impairment.

Who is this program for?
Kids aged 7–14 years with a vision impairment.

When:
Monday 28 September 2026

Our Forest Navigators adventure will include:

STEP INTO NATURE
Explore beautiful forest trails and natural surroundings.

PUFFING BILLY ADVENTURE
Enjoy a scenic train journey through the Dandenong Ranges.

EMERALD LAKE PARK EXPLORATION
Discover and explore this beautiful park by the water.

Throughout the day, participants will build O&M skills through bushwalking and exploring forest environments, while developing confidence and independence in a fun group setting.

Explorers United is a collaboration of two independent Orientation & Mobility Specialists offering school holiday O&M group programs for children with low vision and blindness.

Meeting details

Meeting point: Box Hill Station
Alternate pick-up: Deer Park Station also available.

Please be on time. We will depart together promptly at 9:00 AM and return by 5:00 PM.

Sign up now!

Contact:
Marnie – 0423 783 760
Darren – 0414 083 652
[email protected]

Explorers United – Group O&M Programs
A collaboration between Going Places Orientation & Mobility and Confident Steps.

12/08/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaY31okhz6_/?igsh=MWphczY0dXg1bHgxaw==

11/08/2026

Two days. Two cities. One goal: an independent holiday.

Recently, I had the opportunity to take on a slightly different Orientation & Mobility challenge with a client who is totally blind and had set himself a fantastic goal: to be able to travel independently from Melbourne to Sydney for a holiday.

The plan was that once settled in Sydney, he could use a support worker for some of his day-to-day adventures. But getting there, navigating a new city, finding his accommodation and getting himself established? He wanted to be able to do that independently.

That meant learning the entire journey from start to finish.

We began at Southern Cross Station, learning how to locate the XPT departure area and Platform 1 before tackling the overnight train journey to Sydney.

Arriving at Central Station was where the real navigation challenge began. We worked through navigating the Grand Concourse, moving through the station to locate Platform 21, boarding the train to Museum Station, then independently navigating Museum Station, finding the correct exit and completing the five-minute street-level walk to his hotel.

And finding the hotel was only the beginning!

Once there, we worked on:
• Locating and entering the hotel independently
• Navigating the lobby and lifts
• Learning the layout of the accommodation floor and locating his room
• Establishing routes to nearby food venues and other useful locations

Of course, we also had to fit in some classic Sydney experiences — including catching the ferry to Manly Beach and exploring Circular Quay and the walk around to the Sydney Opera House.

What made this particularly rewarding was the intensity of the learning. This was essentially two full days of concentrated Orientation & Mobility in a completely unfamiliar city, with skills needing to be taught, practised, consolidated and then performed with increasing independence in a very short period of time.

As a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist, this was a little outside the usual day-to-day O&M session for me too. It was a great professional challenge to teach such a complex sequence of travel skills intensively and then see them come together so quickly.

For someone who is totally blind, independently navigating interstate rail travel, one of Australia’s busiest railway stations, connecting trains, an unfamiliar station, city streets and a new hotel is a significant undertaking.

By the end of the two days, he had demonstrated some excellent Orientation & Mobility skills and a strong ability to learn, remember and consolidate a large number of new routes in a short period of time.

A really great achievement and one that should put him in a fantastic position to take on his next Sydney trip independently.

17/06/2026

Five years ago, I sat the ACVREP Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) examination and became internationally certified. Today, I am proud to have successfully recertified for a further five years.

This achievement is personally meaningful, but it also reflects the continued growth and recognition of Orientation and Mobility as a profession. Within Australia, COMS certification is increasingly recognised as the benchmark qualification for Orientation and Mobility Specialists delivering therapeutic supports under the NDIS, helping to ensure high-quality, evidence-based services for people who are blind or have low vision.

I am grateful to the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP), the Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia (OMAA), and the many colleagues and mentors who continue to strengthen our profession.

Maintaining COMS certification requires ongoing professional development and continuing education, ensuring practitioners remain aligned with international standards, current research, and best practice approaches. This commitment to lifelong learning ultimately benefits the people we support by ensuring services remain contemporary, effective, and person-centred.

It is a privilege to be part of a profession that empowers individuals to travel safely, confidently, and independently. I look forward to continuing to grow as a practitioner and delivering the highest quality Orientation and Mobility services over the next five years.

15/06/2026

Why do blind people wear sunglasses? 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BqaqEuG9g/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/06/2026

We're excited to announce our next Explorers United Youth Program – the Goldfields Adventure!

Designed for young people who are blind or have low vision aged 14 to early 20s, this two-day adventure will take us to Sovereign Hill and Bendigo on 9–10 July 2026.

This program combines orientation and mobility skill development, regional travel, social connection, and plenty of fun while exploring Victoria's famous Goldfields region. Participants will be supported throughout the program by Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists.

Over the two days participants will:

• Travel by VLine train to regional Victoria.• Explore the historic township of Sovereign Hill and experience the gold rush era.• Visit Bendigo and go underground on a fascinating mine tour.• Build confidence navigating unfamiliar environments.• Practise real-world orientation and mobility skills.• Develop public transport travel knowledge and experience.• Meet new people and enjoy a memorable adventure with peers.

This is a fantastic opportunity to build confidence, develop travel skills, make new friends, and explore a new region of Victoria in a supportive and fun group environment.

Dates: 9–10 July 2026 Age Group: 14 years to early 20s

For bookings and enquiries:

Marnie: 0423 783 760 Darren: 0414 083 652

Email: [email protected]

Come along, challenge yourself, make new friends, and discover Victoria's Goldfields with Explorers United!

02/06/2026

Regional Navigators – Destination: Sovereign Hill!

We’re excited to invite children who are blind or have low vision to join us for Regional Navigators, the next adventure in our Explorers United series!

This exciting day trip to Sovereign Hill is all about building orientation and mobility (O&M) skills while exploring a new environment, making friends, and having fun. Participants will travel by V/Line train, navigate unfamiliar spaces, and work together to solve real-world travel challenges in a supportive and enjoyable setting.

Learning to explore new environments is an important part of developing confidence and independence. By travelling together, sharing strategies, and learning from one another, participants can strengthen their orientation and mobility skills while discovering that they are capable of more than they may realise.

📅 Date: Monday 6 July 2026

⏰ Meeting Time: 7:40 AM

📍 Meeting Points:
• Box Hill Station (Main Concourse) – 7:40 AM
• Deer Park Station (Main Concourse) – 7:40 AM

🏁 Finish: 6:00 PM at the same location where participants were dropped off.

🚂 Build O&M Skills By:
• Exploring V/Line train travel
• Navigating a regional environment
• Practising route planning and orientation skills
• Developing confidence in unfamiliar settings
• Learning alongside peers with low vision and blindness

🏛️ At Sovereign Hill participants will:
• Step back in time and explore the Gold Rush era
• Experience interactive exhibits and hands-on activities
• Build confidence travelling in a new environment
• Enjoy a day of discovery, friendship, and adventure

📧 To register or find out more:
[email protected]

📞 Contact:
Marnie – 0423 783 760
Darren – 0414 083 652

01/06/2026

AI ON THE MOVE

Free 1-Hour Online Workshop

Choose the session that suits you:

• Wednesday 10 June, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM OR Thursday 11 June, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Have you heard about ChatGPT, Meta AI Smart Glasses, Gemini, or Be My Eyes but aren't sure how they can help you when travelling?

Join Going Places Orientation & Mobility for a free online workshop exploring how the latest AI technology is increasing independence and access for people who are blind or have low vision.

Discover how AI can make travel easier, safer and more independent.

Who is this workshop for?• People who are blind or have low vision• Family members and carers• Support workers• Teachers and allied health professionals• Anyone interested in accessible travel technology

What will we cover?

Meta AI Smart GlassesLearn how smart glasses can provide information about your surroundings and support independent travel.

ChatGPTDiscover how AI can help answer questions, provide recommendations, assist with planning journeys, and solve problems while you're on the go.

GeminiLearn how Google's AI tools can help you find places, understand your surroundings, and access information.

Be My EyesExplore how on-demand visual assistance can help when travelling and navigating unfamiliar environments.

You will learn how to:• Navigate unfamiliar environments• Read signs, menus and printed information• Find shops, services and points of interest• Build confidence when travelling independently• Stay up to date with emerging travel technology

What will you gain?• A greater understanding of how technology is advancing Orientation & Mobility• Practical ideas to make travel safer and easier• Confidence to embrace new tools that can expand your independence

Cost: Free

Location: Online via Zoom

Places are limited and registration is essential.

To register, please click on the Google Form link attached to this post and complete the registration form.

Once you have registered, a Zoom link and joining instructions will be emailed to you before your selected workshop.

We look forward to exploring the future of travel with you.

Darren MoyleGoing Places Orientation & Mobility

Ph: 0424 860 836
Email:[email protected]
Website: www.going places.net.au

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfarY0ftADkguV6BoGah_IwG1N4DJw0OQEd8yHOQxHF9rjbjA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Date: June 10th or 11th, 2016 Time: 5pm - 6pm Event Address: Zoom Contact us at [email protected]