WHEN Sonja and Ian Duric opened Stories by the Sea in Mount Eliza last year, inclusion was in the blueprint. The independent bookshop has been recognised with the Stan Spencer Award from the Rotary Club of Mount Eliza, which honours significant contributions to education and community life on the peninsula.
Sonja and Ian are parents to Neave, who is autistic, and together they spent years confronting the barriers the world places in front of neurodiverse young adults, so their vision for the shop grew from lived experience.
Their idea was to open a “sanctuary” – their word – where stories, community, creativity, acceptance and social justice could share one room.
“Local awards serve as a powerful sign that the community believes in our vision,” said Sonja Duric.
“It is pretty special.”
The physical space was designed by the owners’ own design practice StudioBE and built by Nick Leong of Onset Arts, with the layout developed through five years of research into sensory comfort alongside Distinguished Professor Dr. Winnie Dunn.
The aim was a calm, warm and accessible environment for neurodiverse staff and customers. First Nations books are shelved prominently as a deliberate signal that “first people come first,” said Duric.
Since opening, the shop has evolved into what Duric calls a “vital cultural space” for the village, integrating local art, handmade objects and vinyl records alongside books. They also run a “very, very busy” events calendar of at least one event per week, including author talks and storytime sessions for younger readers.
Today, more than half the team identifies as neurodiverse or disabled, alongside NDIS participants who attend through the MiLife Work Immersion Program. Experienced staff Mel (a textile artist, marketing practitioner and yoga teacher) and Emma (a librarian), both work three days a week, anchoring the day-to-day operations and supporting younger team members.
Among the NDIS participants is 18-year-old Will Morrison, who also received a Shine On Award from Rotary this year for his courage, determination and personal growth. Will works four hours a week alongside his support worker Heather, and has learned both the shop’s cataloguing software and counter service.
“Will is very techy and capable – he is often teaching me hacks using our point-of-sale software,” said Duric.
The shop has a core commitment to a biopsychosocial model of disability, which is the principle that the environment, not the individual, is what disables a person.
“We want to create a place where people feel valued, capable and included,” said Duric.
“Many of these young people simply need an opportunity and the right environment to thrive. We are committed to providing that with dignity, kindness and genuine support.”
They are currently in what Duric calls a “bridge phase”, transitioning from a passion project to a sustainable business, and operate with a weekly shortfall while working towards Social Enterprise status. The Stan Spencer Award prize money will help cover immediate staffing and operational costs while that work continues.
Duric told The News the shop’s approach relies on “divergent thinking” and focusing on what is possible.
“It looks like a warm, low-stress environment where individual learning styles and personalities are accepted without judgment,” said Duric.
“It is also reflected on the shelves themselves – the team deliberately curates stories representing diverse backgrounds so that anyone who walks in can see a reflection of themselves and know they belong.”
First published in the Mornington News – 7 July 2026
