Practical Strategies and Expert Advice
Hear from experienced parents and therapists as they share real-life examples and practical strategies to help you advocate confidently and collaborate effectively with educators—ensuring your child thrives in primary school. This series is brought to you by Belongside Families (formerly known as Kindred) in partnership with the Early Childhood Intervention Best Practice Network (ECIBPN), a collective of not-for-profit organisations supporting children with disability through evidence-based early intervention services and early childhood education across NSW, VIC and ACT.
Join our new interactive workshops to gain knowledge and tools to support your child’s learning, development and participation at ECEC or Primary School. We’ll cover your role, building partnerships, collaborating as a team and advocating effectively to support your child to thrive.
Join our Interactive WorkshopsSign-up to our newsletter
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.
Join nowFollow us
@belongsidefamilies Over the coming weeks, we’ll be introducing the people who make up Belongside Families. We`re sharing who we are — and why we do what we do.
✨ Meet Kristy: Peer Facilitator at Belongside Families ✨
Kristy spent 15 years in the corporate world before stepping into her most rewarding role – being a mum to her incredible small human. When her child was identified as Autistic at 2.5 years old, she would often say, ‘He got it from his Mamma’, and she later discovered she is AuDHD herself.
🌈 Kristy is deeply involved in the not-for-profit sector, working with a local queer arts and culture organisation Coastal Twist, which brings an LGBTQIA+ festival to life on the Central Coast.
💖As a peer facilitator at Belongside Families, Kristy hosts virtual MyTime sessions, facilitates ENVISAGE programs, and leads in-person catch-ups on the Central Coast. In this role, she helps create inclusive spaces where parents and carers can connect, share and be their authentic selves – championing the power of community and support.
🐴 A fun fact about Kristy is that she can still name almost every horse breed in existence!
🎨 Outside of work, Kristy is a passionate and curious creative who believes she can make anything if she sets her mind to it. She loves reading and spending time at the beach.
🙏 In all her interactions with families, Kristy brings warmth, lived experience and connection to her work.
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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 every workshop, resource, and program we create — and it’s what makes Belongside Families different. Stay tuned for more team updates soon!
#BelongsideFamilies #WalkingAlongside #FamiliesSupportingFamilies #BelongsideCommunity #ByFamiliesForFamilies #PeerLed #ParentingDisability #BelongsideFamiliesTeam
Mar 26
Our free Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC) and School Webinar Series have almost come to an end—but it’s not too late to watch the replays!
📺 Sign up to receive the video recordings for the first three sessions from both series:
📚 ECEC
▶️ Session 1: Understanding Reasonable Adjustments
Learn what adjustments look like in practice and how they can support your child’s participation.
▶️ Session 2: Best Practice Therapy in ECEC
Discover evidence-based approaches and learn how therapists and educators can work together to support your child’s development.
▶️ Session 3: Building Strong Partnerships with ECEC Providers
Gain strategies to build and maintain positive relationships with ECEC staff through clear communication and collaboration
📚 PRIMARY SCHOOL
▶️ Session 1: Best Practice Therapy in Schools
Learn how therapists collaborate with teachers to support your child’s participation and development in a school setting.
▶️ Session 2: Understanding Individual Education Plans
Find out what should be included in an IEP, how to tailor it to your child’s needs, and the vital role you play in the process.
▶️ Session 3: Building Collaborative Partnerships
Learn how to foster positive relationships with teachers and school staff to create a supportive learning environment.
❗️There’s still time to register for the final sessions in the series:
What To Do If It’s Not Working
📚ECEC: Monday 31 March, 11am
📚 School: Wednesday 2 April, 12pm
🔗 Visit the Linkin.bio to register to attend live or receive the recordings today!
Mar 24
📢 Upcoming Events
While our name has changed we are still here, supporting, empowering, and walking beside you.
🎉 Find out more & register by visiting the link in our bio.
🔶 Connect & Chat: Virtual MyTime
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🔶 Building Your Child’s Confidence: Virtual MyTime
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🔶 Working Together in Early Education: Workshop
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🔶 What to Do If It’s Not Working: ECEC Webinar Series
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🔶 Introduction to Advocacy: Workshop
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🔶 Working Together with Schools: Workshop
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🔶 What to Do If It’s Not Working: School Webinar Series
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🔶 Continence: Webinar
**SAVE THE DATE**
🔶 Medical Trauma & Parenting: Info Session
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🔶 Finding Joy & Celebrating Wins: Virtual MyTime
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🔶 Healthy Mothers Healthy Families: Workshops
🔔Note: All times are AEDT / NSW Time.
#ByFamiliesForFamilies #PeerLed #ParentingDisability #PeerSupport #Belong+Alongside #WalkingWithFamilies #ReframingDisability #SpecialNeedsMum #SpecialNeedsMother #ParentingDisability #MyTime #CheckInAndConnect #DisabilityAwareness #ConnectAndChat #DropInAndChat #AutismParentingTips #CareGiverSupport #DisabilityParenting #DisabilityEducation #InclusiveEducation
Mar 23
PAID FAMILY CONSULTATION: Help Shape the Future of Early Childhood Intervention
We want to hear from parents and carers of children (0-12) with developmental delay or disability about their experiences with early childhood intervention. Your insights will help shape a new best practice framework developed by the University of Melbourne and funded by the Australian Government.
📅 Monday, March 31, 2025
⏱️ 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM AEDT
💻️ Online via Zoom
💲 Families who take part will receive a $50 voucher for their time.
Join the consultation to ensure families’ voices shape the future of early intervention. Register now via linkin.bio
#EarlyIntervention #ParentVoice #FamilyConsultation #BelongsideFamilies #NDIS #DisabilityAdvocacy
Mar 20
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.
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. Families, like yours, need the right support to create the strong foundations necessary for children to reach their full potential.
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.
Belongside Families understands the power of family-led peer support and capacity building, based on our own lived experience. We are focused on making this a priority now, on behalf of families across NSW.
Read our Pre Budget Submission via linkin.bio
Mar 19
Do you want to feel more confident in navigating your child’s early education through childcare, daycare or preschool? Join our new workshop designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools to work in partnerships and effectively champion your child`s inclusion and participation.
During our Interactive workshop, you`ll learn how to:
✅️ Recognise the crucial role you play in your child`s educational journey
✅️ Build strong partnerships with ECEC providers
✅️ Advocate effectively for your child`s needs
✅️ Collaborate with therapists to enhance your child`s experience
Register today for our upcoming daytime or evening session:
📅 Thu, 27 Mar, 10:30am - 12:30pm
📅 Tue, 1 Apr, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
🔗 Visit the Linkin.bio
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#KidsWithDisabilities #ParentingDisability #SpecialNeedsParenting #BelongsideFamilies #DisabilityEducation #InclusiveEducation #EarlyIntervention
Mar 17
📢 Upcoming Events: While our name has changed we are still here, supporting, empowering, and walking beside you, with a packed line up of events.
🎉 Find out more & register visiting the link in our bio.
🔶 Connect & Chat: Virtual MyTime
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🔶 Central Coast Catch-Ups: Face-to-Face
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🔶 Building Your Child’s Confidence: Virtual MyTime
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🔶 Working Together in Early Education: Workshop
**SAVE THE DATE**
🔶 What to Do If It’s Not Working: ECEC Webinar Series
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🔶 Introduction to Advocacy: Workshop
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🔶 What to Do If It’s Not Working: School Webinar Series
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🔶 Working Together in Schools: Workshop
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🔶 Medical Trauma & Parenting: Info Session
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🔶 Healthy Mothers Healthy Families: Workshops
🔔 Note: All times are AEDT / NSW Time.
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#ByFamiliesForFamilies #PeerLed #ParentingDisability #PeerSupport #Belong+Alongside #WalkingWithFamilies #ReframingDisability #SpecialNeedsMum #SpecialNeedsMother #ParentingDisability #MyTime #CheckInAndConnect #DisabilityAwareness #ConnectAndChat #DropInAndChat #AutismParentingTips #CareGiverSupport #DisabilityParenting #DisabilityEducation #InclusiveEducation
Mar 16
Advocacy might seem like a big word, but every time you speak up for your child with a disability, that`s exactly what you`re doing.
Join our interactive Introduction to Advocacy Workshop to:
🔸 Break down the different types of advocacy
🔸 Share practical strategies and communication techniques for different settings
🔸 Build the tools and confidence to advocate effectively for your child
📅 Mon, 1 April
🕒 11:00 am – 12:30 pm AEDT
✏️ Register via Linkin.bio
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#KindredCommunity #KindredforFamilies #ByFamiliesForFamilies #ReframingDisability #ParentingDisability #FamilySupport #DisabilityAdvocacy #AdvocateLikeAMother #InclusiveEducation #DisabilityEducation
Mar 14
Join Prof. Helen Bourke-Taylor from Monash University, creator of the Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Program, for an empowering info session on managing stress and integrating small but impactful moments of self-care into your day.
You’ll learn how to:
✨ Unique ways that mothers experience and respond to stress
✨ Looking out for `glimmers` in your day to reduce your stress response
✨ How to identify opportunities for Micro Breaks (small but impactful moments of self-care) and when to implement them in your daily routine.
✨ The key components of the Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Program, that have helped thousands of mothers enhance their wellbeing while managing their caregiving responsibilities
📅 Thu, 13 Mar | 🕛 12pm - 12:30pm NSW
🔗 Visit the Linkin.bio to register to attend live or receive a copy of the recording.
This event is part of the Belongside Families Info Sessions—featuring expert speakers sharing valuable insights to help you confidently navigate services and support for your child and family.
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#HealthyMothersHealthyFamilies #HMHF #SpecialNeedsMum#SpecialNeedsMama #MedicalMama #DisabilityMama #DisabilityMum #HealthyMothers #MonashUni #ForFamiliesByFamilies
Mar 11
📢 Upcoming Events: While our name has changed, our purpose remains the same. We are still here, supporting, empowering, and walking beside you, just as we always have been – and always will.
🎉 Find out more about the events starting over the next 2 weeks and beyond so you can put the dates in your calendar!
🔶 Building Strong Partnerships with ECEC Providers: Webinar
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🔶 Connect & Chat: Virtual MyTime
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🔶 Envisage: Workshop
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🔶 Managing Daily Life: Virtual MyTime
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🔶 Building Collaborative School Partnerships: Webinar
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🔶 The Power of Micro Breaks for Mothers: Info Session
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🔶 Central Coast Catch-Ups: Face-to-Face
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🔶 Understanding Neuroaffirming Care: Virtual Autism MyTime
**SAVE THE DATE
🔶 Working Together in Early Education: ECEC Workshop
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🔶 What to Do If It’s Not Working: ECEC Webinar Series
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🔶 What to Do If It’s Not Working: School Webinar Series
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🔶 Healthy Mothers Healthy Families: Workshops
✏️ Register today via Linkin.bio
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#ByFamiliesForFamilies #PeerLed #ParentingDisability #PeerSupport #Belong+Alongside #WalkingWithFamilies #ReframingDisability #SpecialNeedsMum #SpecialNeedsMother #MyTime #CheckInAndConnect #DisabilityAwareness #ConnectAndChat #DropInAndChat #AutismParentingTips #CareGiverSupport #DisabilityParenting #DisabilityEducation #InclusiveEducation
Mar 9
At Belongside Families, we are committed to walking alongside you. Why? Because we know just how transformational it is to connect with other parents and carers who truly understand—because they’re walking this journey too.
Our Connect & Chat sessions offer a safe, welcoming space to ask questions, seek guidance, share experiences, and feel heard. Most importantly, they’re a place of connection. Come when you can, leave when you need - we`ll be here.
Join an upcoming session:
📅 Mon, 10 Mar, 12:00pm
📅 Mon, 17 Mar, 12:00pm
📅 Wed, 20 Mar, 7:00pm
🔗 Register via the link in bio
Mar 7
Building a strong partnership between your family and your child’s school is essential for advocating for their needs and supporting their educational journey.
Belongside Families (formerly known as Kindred) is proud to partner with @koorana_child_and_family as part of the Early Childhood Intervention Best Practice Network for an online webinar to learn how to build and maintain effective relationships with teachers and school staff.
🗣 In this session, Zoe Jarocki, experienced Occupational Therapy Practice Lead at Koorana will be joined by Pam, a parent from the Belongside Community. Together they’ll share real-life examples and practical strategies that will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to build strong partnerships with your child’s school and advocate effectively to ensure their needs are met through their primary school years.
✏️ Register to attend live or receive the recording:
📌 Session 3: Building Collaborative Partnerships: School Webinar Series
🗓 Wednesday, 12 March, 12:30pm – 1:00 pm
👉 Find out more and register via Linkin.bio
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This series is brought to you by Belongside Families (formerly known as Kindred), a family-led not-for-profit supporting parents and carers of children with disability, developmental delay, and autism across New South Wales, in partnership with the Early Childhood Intervention Best Practice Network (ECIBPN). ECIBPN is a collective of not-for-profit organisations supporting children with disability through evidence-based early intervention services and early childhood education across NSW, VIC, and ACT.
Mar 6
