VISION & SOCIAL IMPACT

A Living Vision for Community, Care and Belonging

The Australian Pigeon Council Ltd (APCL) was established to create something Australia does not yet have — a national network of Community Loft & Museum Hubs where elderly people, people with disabilities, and young Australians can find purpose, belonging and wellbeing through caring for pigeons and participating in living heritage.

Although APCL has only recently been formally registered as a charity, the vision behind it has been decades in the making.

Our founders have been personally involved with pigeons since the mid-1970s and have seen first-hand the powerful effect that animals, routine and responsibility can have on people who are isolated, ageing, living with disability or struggling to find their place in the world.

Our Proof of Concept: The Mallee Classic Internationale

Before APCL was formally established, our team managed the Mallee Classic Internationale One Loft Event — an internationally recognised pigeon event that did more than just bring people together.

Through this event:

  • Funds were raised for charitable purposes

  • People living with disabilities were invited to visit the lofts

  • Participants interacted with pigeons

  • Social connection and engagement were created in a safe, supportive environment

We saw something profound:
People who were often isolated or overlooked became engaged, curious, relaxed and connected simply by being around the birds and being part of something meaningful.

This experience became the foundation of APCL’s vision.

Our Flagship Project – Kalbar, Queensland

APCL now has secured, under agreement, access to a 15-acre site at Kalbar (QLD 4309) that is being developed as our flagship Community Loft & Pigeon Museum.

This site will become:

  • A community-accessible pigeon loft

  • A living museum of pigeon history and communication

  • A therapeutic, animal-assisted engagement space

  • An education and youth learning centre

  • A place of belonging for elderly and disabled visitors

Our founders have already committed personal investment to site preparation, planning and early infrastructure, meaning this project is already active and underway.

What Makes This Different

This is not a traditional animal project.
This is not a sports organisation.
This is not a static museum.

This is social infrastructure.

APCL’s Community Loft & Museum model brings together:

  • Animal-assisted wellbeing

  • Community participation

  • Intergenerational learning

  • Cultural and historical education

  • Therapeutic routine and purpose

All in one place.

Who Benefits

Our programs are designed specifically for:

  • Elderly people experiencing isolation

  • People living with disability

  • Young people seeking purpose and connection

  • Schools and community groups

  • Families and visitors seeking meaningful experiences

These groups don’t just visit — they participate.

Our 24-Month Impact Plan

Over the next 24 months APCL will:

  • Complete the Kalbar Community Loft & Museum

  • Begin structured elderly, disability and youth programs

  • Open the site to schools and the public

  • Measure participation, wellbeing and engagement

  • Establish the blueprint for national expansion

A Legacy in the Making

APCL is still in its early chapter — but that is exactly what makes this moment special.

We are building something that will not just operate for a few years, but will become a permanent part of Australia’s community wellbeing landscape.

This is an opportunity to help shape:

  • How elderly people stay connected

  • How people with disabilities are included

  • How young people find purpose

  • How animals can heal and unite communities

Join the Vision

We invite partners, supporters and philanthropies to join us in building something rare — a living community legacy where people who are too often forgotten are seen, valued and included.