Welcome to the party pal is a neurodivergent peer group for adults with ADHD & autism.
… I mean, it’s kinda like a party, and everyone has ADHD →
Late-identified, self-diagnosed, newly diagnosed or surviving & thriving as a neurodivergent person since childhood, wherever you are at with your ADHD journey,
you are welcome here.
About our peer group
Welcome to the Party Pal is a neurodivergent peer group for adults with ADHD or autism & ADHD (AuDHD).
Meeting fortnightly, the peer group is facilitated by registered Expressive and Creative Arts Therapist and neurodivergent practitioner, Jessie Upton, AThR.
This peer group seeks to provide a safe and welcoming space for neurodivergent people to connect, share experiences and learn from each other - in an environment that is just for them!
Jessie hosts Welcome to the Party Pal as they have experienced again and again, how transformative sharing space with neurokin can be.
It can be a moment of respite from masking and managing, a space to unapologetically celebrate the glimmers of neurodivergent joy or at it’s simplest, a nice way to spend some time in an environment that feels comfortable.
Join us as we meet around a table (physical or digital) to make, craft or simply sit - with a cup of tea or a paintbrush in hand. With groups both online and in-person, you are warmly invited to the party (pal) - come connect and create with us!
Let’s meet IRL
Join us in person for our IRL
(in real life) group, meeting most
fortnights in Melbourne, Australia.
OR
Join us online
Or join us from anywhere online,
where we meet most alternating
fortnights via Discord or Zoom.
Commences
May 2026!
We are thrilled to announce that Welcome to the Party Pal is set to commence in late May 2026!
Our online group will commence first, with our in-person group planned to start shortly after.
Both groups are open to anyone who is over the age of 18, who identifies as ADHD or AuDHD.
Our in-person group will meet on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land in the inner-north of Melbourne, in a venue close to public transport via tram and train.
Our online group will meet via Zoom. All you need is a computer or device with a camera, microphone and a good internet connection.
Register your interest above to be the first to hear when bookings open!
Access Resources
As we get closer to launching Welcome to the Party Pal, a range of resources are being developed to assist everyone. This includes a Social Story and Walkthrough Video to assist everyone with preparing for our time together.
As these are completed, they will be updated on this page. All resources will be sent to participants before our first session and if/when they are updated.
If you have any questions at all relating to accessibility, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jessie.
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Welcome to the Party Pal is hosted in-person in a converted art studio & gallery space on High Street in Thornbury.
There is wheelchair entry available however, unfortunately due to the age of the building, it does not have an accessible bathroom.
There are no steps inside the gallery/studio space. Seating is provided around a communal table with various height and back options.
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A Quiet Space will be available for all Welcome to the Party Pal sessions, both in-person and online.
This is a space away from the main activity area, where you can catch a breath, have a break or decompress at any time during our session.
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Welcome to the Party Pal will be hosted in-person and online via Zoom. These sessions will not be hybrid - but separate meetups, which take place on alternating weeks.
All you need is a computer or device with a camera, microphone and a good internet connection.
We ask that you either sit in a private room or wear headphones to ensure privacy for all who participate.
We don't request 'camera on' at all times but do ask for everyone to open and close the sessions on camera - which allows us to both connect together and check-in from a wellbeing perspective.
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Closer to Welcome to the Party Pal commencing, a social story for both sessions will be made available to help you prepare for our peer group.
Prior to then, If you have any questions or need to clarify anything - please don't hesitate to get in touch.
FAQs
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Welcome to the Party Pal is a peer group for adults with ADHD or autism and ADHD (AuDHD).
There is an online group and a group that meets in person in Melbourne, Australia.
Each group meets fortnightly on alternating weeks.
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Welcome to the Party Pal may be great for you:
If you have been diagnosed with or self-identify as someone with ADHD or AuDHD.
This is a peer group for people to share and learn from each other. Late identified, self-diagnosed, newly diagnosed or surviving and thriving as a neurodivergent person since childhood, you are welcome (to the party pal) here.If you are looking for a group of friendly neurodivergent people.
We have two groups, one that meets in-person in Naarm, Melbourne and one that meets online. You can join both or just one!If you are keen to learn from and share your experience as an ADHD or AuDHD adult.
We all come from different walks of life and the ability to sit within a space that is truly neurodivergent affirming can have a powerful impact. We don't share more than we wish to, and focus on making and connecting together when we meet.If you don’t have many folks in your social circle who have experienced ADHD.
And would like to interact with some people who have! Even if you do have a large support circle, one thing that you learn when meeting other neurodivergent people is that the journey is different for everyone. We hope that in Welcome to the Party Pal, you'll find your people!
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We want everyone to feel as welcome as possible at our peer groups. To create a safe and welcoming space and give the group the best experience when we meet, there are some guidelines around who this group is for.
Welcome to the Party Pal may not be for you:
If you are under 18.
This is a peer group for people over the age of 18, as the focus is on experiences as an adult navigating Au/ADHD. If you are under 18 and are looking for a safe space, reach out and we will do our best to suggest alternative options local to you.If you are a parent of a neurodivergent person but don’t identify as neurodivergent yourself.
This is an ADHD peer group, which means it is for people who identify as having ADHD or autism/ADHD. If you are looking for support and community as a parent of a child with ADHD, you may wish to look at ADHD who have a list of resources.If you are looking for group or solo therapy.
This is a peer group, and Jessie is not a psychologist - if you have participated in group talk therapy before, this is quite different! Jessie’s personal experience in similar peer groups has been that sitting within a truly neurodivergent affirming space can have great therapeutic benefit. Jessie does offer individual and small group art therapy. If this is what you are after, you can get in touch to book in a session.If you want individual art therapy or ADHD coaching.
As this is a peer group, the design of how we meet doesn’t allow for solo time with Jessie. Jessie does offer individual and small group art therapy and ADHD coaching. If this is what you are after, you can get in touch to book in a session.If your personal values do not align as queer and trans-friendly.
We are a proudly queer-friendly space. No TERFs here!
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If you identify as someone with ADHD/AuADHD you are welcome here!
We understand that due to the lengthy waiting lists and out-of-pocket expenses that accompany receiving an assessment for ADHD in Australia, accessing a diagnosis is a privilege. -
As we are still finalising venue location and format of the peer groups we don’t have finalised costs as of yet.
However, we are committed to being as accessible as possible with our pricing. As part of this commitment, we are currently reviewing all forms of grants and financial support available and will be implementing a sliding scale model to ensure as many people as possible can attend.
If you are keen to join us, please register your interest above and we’ll be in touch as soon as everything is locked in! -
Firstly, everyone is creative - it is how we are creative that is unique!
The peer groups will be facilitated via an open table. You contribute as little or as much as you like and participate in art-making as little or as much as you like.
Meet the Team
Jessie Upton (they/them) is a proudly neurodivergent Creative Art Therapist - AThR and professional member of ANZACATA; the Australia, New Zealand and Asia Creative Arts Therapies Association.
A late-identified ADHD adult, they are passionate about bringing people together to share experiences and connect using creativity.
Welcome to the Party Pal is facilitated by Jessie with assistance from Studio Assistant/Chief Treat Inspector Kibble (the corgi).
Looking for resources, information and research on ADHD?
Jessie curates the ADHD Resource Hub, a free directory to help you wherever you are at with your journey.
