Belongside Families is an independent family-led organisation that supports parents and carers raising children with developmental delay, disability and autism across NSW.
We raise the stories, lessons and ideas of families with decision makers to highlight the power of family-led peer support and capacity building.
Our staff, board, and volunteers have lived family experience of disability parenting, meaning we have a deep understanding of the challenges families face, and can provide support that is relevant and meaningful.
Through free online programs and peer groups, trusted resources and supportive community, we empower over 5,000 parents and carers each year to build the skills, knowledge and confidence to help their child and family to thrive.
Our Advocacy to Government
When a child is diagnosed with a disability or developmental delays, they and their family begin a complex journey that requires support, guidance and connection with others who understand their experience. These families need the right support to create the strong foundations necessary for children to reach their full potential.
Belongside Families is actively engaged in government advocacy to:
- build government funding for peer support and capacity building programs
- design foundational supports that meet the needs of children with disability and their families, particularly:
- funding for family capacity building and peer support programs
- connection to ‘mainstream’ and disability health services
- connection to ‘mainstream’ early childhood education service
- shape the National Carers Strategy on behalf of parent carers of children with disabilities
- NDIS reforms to support children and families
- showcase our innovative programs and services, developed using co-design and based on best-practice research.
We understand the power of family-led peer support and capacity building, and are focused on making this a priority for governments now on behalf of families across NSW.
Family Consultation
Belongside Families regularly hosts consultations to elevate the voices of parents and carers of children with disability, developmental delay and autism.
We consult directly with families to inform our own advocacy work and also on behalf of government departments and sector partners, ensuring that policies, programs and reforms are shaped by the people they impact most.
Recent consultations include:
- Western Sydney Family Consultations (2025) – hosted consultation groups with families in Western Sydney to understand their experiences and priorities, and to inform our advocacy and the co-design of peer-based support models that reflect local community needs and strengthen early support pathways.
- Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention (2024 & 2025) – facilitated family consultation sessions to inform the national review of early childhood intervention, led by the Department of Social Services (University of Melbourne for DSS)
- Foundational Supports (2024) – co-hosted family a consultation group in Sydney and national online groups to inform DSS policy and foundational supports reform. (The Social Deck for DSS)
- National Autism Strategy (2023) – targeted consultations with families of young Autistic children with high support needs in NSW, exploring key themes including social inclusion, diagnosis, service access, and health and mental health. (The Social Deck for DSS)
- NDIS Review – Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families (2023) – hosted targeted in-person consultations to explore how CALD families experience the NDIS, ensuring their voices informed the national review (NDIS Review Committee)
Belongside Families’ work has a positive impact across NSW
We fill a vital gap as the only family-led organisation in NSW providing comprehensive peer support, capacity building and connection to parents and carers of children with disability and developmental concerns during the crucial early years (0-8 years).
We guide families through every stage of their child’s journey – from diagnosis and early intervention to childcare, school transitions and across healthcare – regardless of their location, background or circumstances. Drawing from our lived experience, we create welcoming, supportive and educational spaces that reduce isolation and prevent burnout. Our community connects parents with peers who truly understand their challenges and can offer practical, meaningful support when it matters most.
Through evidence-based, innovative and scalable programs, we empower families to become effective advocates for their children. Our approach fosters inclusivity, strengthens family resilience and creates pathways for children to lead thriving lives.
Our Partnerships
We work collaboratively across the early childhood, disability, child and family sectors through partnerships including:
- the Child and Family Supports Alliance (CaFSA) NSW as Co-Chair and as a member of the Australian Child and Family Supports Alliance (ACaFSA)
- as a founding member of the Child and Family Disability Alliance (CaFDA), a formal partnership with family-led organisations in Western Australia and Victoria with national reach
- with Monash University, Australian Catholic University and the Parenting Research Centre to deliver evidence-based parenting programs and peer groups to families of children with disability in NSW.
Our Submissions
2025-26 Federal Budget
Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and every family deserves the support they need along their journey. The 2025-26 Federal Budget presents a historic opportunity to transform how we support families raising children with developmental concerns, delay and disability.
Investing in families has never been more important. After decades of fragmented solutions, we are excited to see real appetite for change from government, families and across the community sector.
Our plan will help the Australian Government to:
- set families up for success from their child’s point of diagnosis
- deliver peer support and capacity building, designed by families for families
- support carers of children with disability, recognising their invaluable role in our society.
By adopting these recommendations, the Australian Government can significantly improve outcomes for thousands of children with developmental delays and disability and their families across NSW.
National Carer Strategy 2024 – 2034
Carers of children with disability play an invaluable role in our society, providing round-the-clock care and support that is often unrecognised and undervalued.
Parent carers face distinct challenges compared to other carer groups. The difference between parenting and caring can be indistinguishable for parents, meaning they do not advocate for themselves as carers to make the critical changes to paid work and health service interactions or seek access to carer focused support.
By targeting carers of children with disability, the Australian Government can identify new carers and link them to appropriate supports early in their carer journey.
This preventative strategy will maximise the value of the Australian Government’s investment in carers and decrease the need for more costly and complex support later in the family’s journey.
Foundational Supports
Belongside Families (formerly Kindred) partnered with the Child and Family Disability Alliance to outline our recommendations for foundational supports.
Our shared vision is to build the capacity and wellbeing of parents and carers of children with developmental concerns, delay and or disability through our well established, robust and proven peer support and capacity building model.
NDIS Review
The NDIS Review was a critical opportunity to reshape the future of disability support for children and families—and to make sure the scheme delivers on its original promise. Through our submission and targeted consultations, Belongside Families, in partnership with CAFDA, advocated for a more inclusive, accessible, and family-responsive NDIS that recognises the unique role of parents and carers of children with disability.
We called for reforms that:
• recognise the value of early family support and capacity building
• embed peer support as a core component of the early childhood pathway
• improve access, communication, and cultural responsiveness for diverse families
• reduce complexity and administrative burden on parents navigating the scheme
Families want an NDIS that is easier to use and better connected to the everyday supports their children need to thrive.