It’s just after 9am on a weekday at Sunshine Butterflies in Cooroibah, five minutes from Noosa, and the 15-acre property is already buzzing with activity.
More than 50 cars line the car park as staff and volunteers load participants into minivans for day tours. Inside the main hub, the smell of coffee and breakfast drifts from the kitchen, where families are gathering and cooking classes are underway. Nearby, art sessions are beginning, while others prepare for water sports, life-skills programs or time spent with animals.
This is a typical morning at Sunshine Butterflies, a disability support service that has grown into one of the region’s most significant community organisations.
From humble beginnings in 2010 as a volunteer-run group with just a handful of members, Sunshine Butterflies has evolved into one of the largest employers in the area, now supporting hundreds of people with disability and their families. At the heart of that growth is founder and chief executive Leanne Walsh, whose mission has always been clear: reduce the stigma around disability and create opportunities for people to thrive.
Today, Leanne leads a passionate team of more than 90 staff and 30 volunteers, all committed to delivering inclusive, meaningful programs that enrich lives. Sunshine Butterflies offers a wide range of daily recreational, educational and life-skills activities for individuals of all ages, helping participants build confidence, independence and a sense of belonging.
The programs are as diverse as the people they support. Cooking classes teach practical skills and teamwork. Art sessions encourage creativity and self-expression. Outdoor activities and excursions promote physical wellbeing and connection to the broader community. Each program is designed to meet participants where they are, focusing on strengths rather than limitations.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Sunshine Butterflies is its animal therapy program. This week, two new residents arrived at the sanctuary: Smudge and Ginger, a pair of 10-year-old rescue pigs re-homed from a farm in Kin Kin. They join an eclectic menagerie of donkeys, goats, horses, dogs, chooks, sheep, fowl and geese.
For many participants, the animals play a powerful therapeutic role. Caring for them helps regulate moods, reduce anxiety and build emotional connections. The simple act of feeding, grooming or spending quiet time with an animal can be life-changing, offering comfort, routine and joy.
Sunshine Butterflies also provides permanent accommodation for around 12 people with disability, offering a safe, supportive environment and much-needed respite for families with children and adults requiring ongoing care. For parents and carers, knowing their loved ones are supported in a nurturing community brings immeasurable peace of mind.
While the organisation receives funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), community support remains vital. Grants, sponsors, contributors and local support groups help make many of the programs possible, filling gaps that funding alone cannot cover.
Scott Harrison from Sunshine Butterflies said the organisation is always looking to expand what it can offer. “We have a range of activities for people, including water sports, cooking and art classes,” he said. “We’re always looking for assistance, whether that’s financial donations or in-kind support.”
There are many ways for residents and businesses to get involved, from sponsoring an animal or becoming a partner, to offering services, materials or financial support. Every contribution helps ensure Sunshine Butterflies can continue providing life-changing programs for people with disability across the Noosa region.
As the morning rolls on at Cooroibah, laughter drifts across the grounds, vans head off on excursions and the animals settle into their day. It’s a snapshot of a community built on inclusion, compassion and possibility – one that continues to grow, one butterfly at a time.
