“This is my protected timeslot. It is saved in my calendar and my partner knows that this is a non-negotiable for me. I have learnt so much from everyone in the group and I love being able to share and help other parents.”
Who we are
Belongside Families is an independent, not-for-profit peer support organisation for families of children with disability, developmental delays and autism. We help families to navigate complex disability systems and services and build the skills, knowledge and confidence that will see their children and family thrive. Our peer groups and programs, trusted resources, and supportive community are online and free. We're passionate about all children and families living their best lives and discovering a future full of possibility.
Learn MoreNo family should start their journey alone
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Don’t worry, we’re not here to overload your inbox. What you’ll get from us will be inspiring stories, details of upcoming events, helpful resources and other opportunities to be part of our community. From our family to yours, every fortnight or so.
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To connect, celebrate and learn with parents and carers on their own beautiful journeys. Ours is a safe space where you can come to ask advice and share experiences on anything from your child's diagnosis to navigating the NDIS.
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@belongsidefamilies My name is Andrew but some people call me Drewstar!
I have two jobs: at the Sydney Opera House in the loading dock, helping with deliveries and mail and at Taronga Zoo in their retail warehouse.
The happiest moment of my life was when I was offered my job at Taronga Zoo working on the Sky Safari Cableway.
Transportation is one of my passions. I volunteered for a year and when a position became available, my boss told me I should apply. I didn’t think I could do the interviews and pass the exams, but he gave me the support and confidence to try. The Sky Safari is currently being rebuilt which is why I’m now working in the retail warehouse. I am also very proud to work at the Sydney Opera House.
My life is really good! I go to lots of sporting matches. I like to watch NRL, Super Rugby and cricket. We go to a lot of NRL games for the Rabbitohs and the Tigers with a group of supporters. I like to share the statistics I remember about games
In the future, I want to fly to Perth on Qantas or Virgin to see the Bears’ first game in the NRL in 2027! I also want to keep working and helping other people.
I like to have a routine and don’t like surprises. We have a family calendar so we know what everyone is doing. I like to go to Woolworths and buy myself food so I know I can eat what I want. And I like to exercise so I can be fit and healthy.
One thing I wish people understood about Autism is that I can hear you when I’m not looking at you! Eye contact is very hard for me. My parents take care of me and help me every day. They also made sure I went to schools that I loved and where I felt supported.
My advice for young Autistic people is that you can try new things if you have good supports and break down tasks into steps.
And my advice for parents raising an Autistic child is to make sure that everyone is positive about what you can do and not what you can’t do. Listen to us because we have a lot to say, even if we don’t use many words.
🚆 🏉 You can find out more about sports and transport enthusiast Andrew`s Good Life via the Linkin.bio
Jul 11
Looking for school holiday activities that are fun and accessible?
In this post we cover some inclusive activities in Sydney. If you know of accessibility programs in other parts of the country, feel free to drop a link in the comments. ⬇️
🎬 HOYTS: Monthly sensory screenings are available at some cinemas. Select ‘Sensory Screening’ from the filters section to find a session at your local cinema.
🎨 Art Gallery of NSW: Provides a range of programs for children with disability, and it’s wheelchair accessible with accessible bathrooms and changing facilities.
🦖 Australian Museum: Periodically, the Australian Museum opens early for children with disability. They also host sensory nights for teens aged 16 and up with disability. They are also wheelchair accessible with accessible changing facilities.
🐠SEALIFE Sydney: Has a dedicated sensory room and they are wheelchair accessible throughout. They are also hosting a quiet morning for children with disability on Sat 23 August.
⚓️ Australian National Maritime Museum NSW: Is wheelchair accessible and hosts sensory-friendly days for a quieter experience for guests with disability. The next one will be held on Sun 20 July.
🐘 Taronga Zoo: Is wheelchair accessible and periodically opens early for guests with disability. On Tue 8 July and Mon 14 July, Taronga will have Auslan interpreters onsite to provide interpreting for keeper talks and animal presentations.
🖼️ Museum of Contemporary Art: Has a dedicated sensory room and is wheelchair accessible throughout with lifts and accessible toilets. It also runs various disability programs.
🌟Shine Sheds: are fully accessible, all-abilities play centres located in south-west and north-west Sydney.
🏞️ Inclusive Playgrounds: The Touched by Olivia Foundation has consulted on the design of dozens of inclusive playgrounds around NSW. Called Livvi’s Places, these playgrounds offer young people with disability spaces to play, side by side, without discrimination or prejudice.
🌻Don’t forget your Hidden Disability Sunflower Lanyard. It indicates discreetly that you may require understanding and additional assistance.
🔗 Visit Linkin.bio for more details
Jul 6
"I will not for one minute sugar coat our journey.
It is tough – some days more than others.
Often full of heartbreak, fear and uncertainty.
We are constantly second-guessing ourselves and our decisions.
But caring so deeply for someone who faces daily hardships brings with it a certain clarity. A fresh perspective, and lessons that should be shared ..."
Pam, from Belongside Families and mum to Christopher, shares just a few of those lessons:
🧡 Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Christopher’s struggle to survive, his bravery to live, and the smile he continues to share with us puts it all into perspective. Things which would have once consumed our energy, we now let wash over us.
🧡 Gratitude and Grief can be Friends
While I grieve the boy who could have flung his arms around my neck, I’m beyond grateful for the beautiful boy who looks up at me with such love and adoration when I cradle him to sleep.
🧡 We Are All Human
Disability or not, we all want the same things — to belong, to be accepted, and to be loved just as we are. That’s true inclusion, and it should be accessible to everyone.
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This journey changes you. If you feel comfortable, we’d love to hear what your child has taught you. Feel free to share in the comments below.
Jul 4
There’s more than one way to say “I love you.”
It shows up in tight hugs.
A face that lights up when you walk into the room.
A flap, a giggle, a sound of pure joy.
For lots of families, “I love you” doesn’t always come out as words.
But it still comes through, loud and clear.
For @breepennie son Dax, it’s full-body joy and happy sounds that fill the room.
How does your child say “I love you” without using words?
We’d love to hear. 🧡
Jul 2
Looking to grow your skills, feel more confident, or connect with other families?
Swipe ➡️ to see what free events we have coming up in the last week of term!
🔶Transition to Teens: Interactive Workshop
(LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER)
📅Mon, 30 Jun, 7:30pm
🔶Supporting Social Connections: Virtual Autism MyTime
📅Wed, 2 Jul, 8pm
🔶Connect & Chat: Virtual MyTime
📅Thu, 3 Jul, 7:30pm
🔗https://events.humanitix.com/virtualmytime0307
🔶Understanding PDA: Virtual Autism MyTime
📅Wed, 9 Jul, 8pm
See the full list of events via the Linkin.bio
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All times are based on NSW Time
Jun 29
This one’s for the parent who wonders if they’re doing enough.
Who questions every decision.
Who carries the guilt of not doing more.
When you`re raising a child with disability, those thoughts are so often on your mind.
In our Good Life series, we spoke to young people with disability about what made the biggest difference in their lives.
And there was one thing we heard time and time again:
“My parents”
They talked about support. They talked about sacrifice. They talked about you.
So on those days when you question whether you are doing enough…
This is your reminder: you already are.
Jun 27
✨ Meet Belinda: Peer Support Facilitator at Belongside Families ✨
Belinda is an experienced community advocate with more than nine years of supporting individuals with disability and their families.
Previously she served as Manager for Community Groups at Autism Community Network, where she led peer programs, facilitated inclusive events and supported families in accessing vital services. Later, she worked with Zen Tea Lounge Foundation, where she delivered programs and initiatives focused on self-advocacy, multicultural inclusion, and empowering women to gain employment, while also championing the rights of adults with disabilities to access meaningful and inclusive job opportunities.
👨👩👧👦 It was her own family’s journey that motivated Belinda to shift her career towards the disability/not-for-profit space to help give back to the community. She aims to help as many families as possible.
💁♀️ In the role of Peer Support Facilitator at Belongside Families, Belinda is currently facilitating events for families in Western Sydney.
🐈 A fun fact about Belinda is that she owns a cat and a canary.
✈ Outside of work, Belinda likes to travel overseas, and enjoys walking, gardening and cooking.
🧡 Belinda hopes that her work helps families feel less alone and more connected to a community that truly understands and supports them.
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Everyone on our team is raising a child with disability, delay, or autism. That lived experience is at the heart of everything we do — and it’s what makes Belongside Families different.
#BelongsideFamilies #WalkingAlongside #FamiliesSupportingFamilies #BelongsideCommunity #ByFamiliesForFamilies #PeerLed #ParentingDisability #BelongsideFamiliesTeam
Jun 25
Last chance! Register by midnight tomorrow to get the full series
In Beyond the Diagnosis we brought together parents and professionals for four powerful sessions that spoke honestly about the emotional and practical realities of raising a child with disability.
We’re so grateful to the incredible speakers who shared their lived experience, deep insight, and practical strategies:
Parent and writer @melanie.dimmitt , Helen Poulos from @askcounselling , psychologist Mitchell Woods, Professor Helen Bourke-Taylor from Healthy Mothers Healthy Families, and parents Kelly Reid, Pam Rogers, Sarah Elsleiman from @belongsidefamilies and Atilio Brito from @dads.speak
If you missed any of the sessions, there’s still time to register:
✨ Reimagining your parenting role
✨ Dealing with family and friends
✨ When the load gets heavy
✨ Finding you again
🎥 Sign-up by midnight tomorrow Tues 24 June and we’ll email you the full series to watch in your own time:
https://events.humanitix.com/conversationsrecordings
Jun 23
Swipe ➡️ to see what’s coming up over the next 2 weeks. Join our free interactive workshops, webinars and Mytime peer groups to grow your knowledge and confidence and connect with other families.
Here are just a few of the upcoming highlights:
🔶Supporting Your Child in Early Learning: Interactive Workshop - Mon, 23 Jun, 7:30pm
🔶Sibling Support in Medically Complex Families: Webinar Series - Tue, 24 Jun, 12pm
🔶Transition to Teens: Interactive Workshop - Mon, 30 Jun, 7:30pm
🔗 To find out more and register visit the Linkin.bio
#ByFamiliesForFamilies #PeerLed #ParentingDisability #PeerSupport #Belong+Alongside #WalkingWithFamilies #ReframingDisability #SpecialNeedsMum #SpecialNeedsMother #MyTime #AutismParentingTips #CareGiverSupport #DisabilityParenting
Jun 22
From 1 July 2025, changes to NDIS travel funding will reduce the travel rate for allied health professionals and limit how much travel time can be claimed.
We’ve heard from families who are worried this means therapists may no longer be able to travel to their homes, preschools, schools, or community settings.
Belongside Families is very concerned about this change.
It is best practice for therapists to see children in everyday spaces. We also know that for many children and families, it’s not possible to attend clinic-based services.
We are working with our partners from the Child and Disability Alliance (CAFDA) to raise our concerns to the NDIS. To do this, we are asking for your help.
Please take a moment to share how this change could impact your family: https://bit.ly/HaveYourSayNDISTravel
And please share this post to help other families have their say.
Jun 20
Siblings carry unspoken worries, big emotions, and quiet heartbreak especially when someone they love isn’t home and is away in hospital.
Pam, from our team, knows this all too well. Her son Christopher has been in hospital many, many times, and Pam and her husband Tom have become pros at pivoting routines, prioritising family time, and making the ward feel like home.
But this admission hit differently.
Their eldest daughter, Charlie, has an incredibly close bond with her brother. As she’s grown, so has her awareness of what Christopher goes through, and what it means when he’s not home. This time, all the emotions Pam and Tom had been trying to protect her from came to the surface.
“It’s unfair we have to leave him there...”
Deep emotions, too big for little bodies to hold, don’t float away — they land, right in their parents’ arms. It’s one more layer for parents to hold, on top of the complex logistics, the care needs, and the everyday work of trying to meet everyone’s needs in the family.
Pam will be joining Shannon Schedlich from Siblings Australia, to share more of her journey and talk about what helps — for siblings, and for the parents supporting them.
Supporting Siblings in Medically Complex Families
Tuesday 24 June, 12:00pm (NSW time)
Free online session
Don’t worry if you can’t attend live. If you register via the Linkin.bio, we will send you the recording so you can watch in your own time.
Jun 19
It`s time to clear up a few things about daycare and preschool when it comes to children with disability, delays, and autism.
There are a lot of myths out there. Things like:
🤔 Children need to be toilet trained before they start
🤔 Educators can’t support your child without a diagnosis
🤔 Therapy is more important than early learning
Kristy from Belongside Families is sorting the fact from fiction, so you can feel more confident about navigating your child’s early learning experience.
And if you want to know more about how you can partner with educators at daycare or preschool, and advocate for your child in simple everyday ways join our free interactive workshop.
Supporting Your Child in Early Learning
📅 Mon, 23 June, 7:30pm (AEST / NSW Time)
🔗 Register via Linkin.bio
Jun 17
