Refer a Family

A joyful young boy with Down syndrome smiles as a woman hugs and kisses him on the cheek in a bright living room.

Know a parent or carer who could use extra support?

Raising a child with disability, developmental delay, autism, or medical needs can be overwhelming—especially in the early stages. Many parents don’t know where to begin, or where to find support that feels safe, practical, and genuinely understands their experience.

That’s where Belongside Families comes in. We’re a family-led organisation that offers free, peer-based programs and resources designed to complement the work of professionals like you. Our supports are delivered by experienced parents who’ve walked a similar path and understand the systems, the emotions, and the everyday realities families face.

When you refer a family to Belongside, you’re helping them connect with trusted support.

Why refer a family?

Trusted support for families

Professionals often tell us parents come with questions they can’t always answer. Referring families to Belongside gives them a safe space to ask, learn, and feel supported.

Family-led and relatable

All of our programs are designed and delivered by parents who’ve walked a similar path. Families gain reassurance knowing they’re understood and not alone.

Flexible delivery formats

Families can join programs online at times that suit them, with recordings available to watch later if they can’t attend live.

Inclusive and welcoming

Our programs are open to all parents and carers, wherever they are on their journey, and no matter where they live.

How to refer?

Many families come to Belongside because a trusted professional — someone like you — told them about us.

The simplest and most effective way to connect a family is to share our details directly, so they can explore in their own time and reach out when they’re ready.

If you’re supporting a family who you feel would benefit from a little extra help making that connection — perhaps because they’re feeling overwhelmed, unsure, or finding it hard to reach out on their own — you’re welcome to make a warm referral. With their consent, our team can contact the family directly, talk them through what we offer, and help them find the right starting point.

Let families know there’s free, family-led support available — no diagnosis, referral, or paperwork needed.

Here’s how that might look in practice:

“There’s a free organisation called Belongside Families that supports parents raising children with disability, developmental delay, autism, rare and genetic conditions. They’re all parents themselves, and they run parent groups, workshops, and one-on-one support sessions online. They can help you to understand systems like education and NDIS and what supports are availability for you, your child and family. Everything they offer is free. You can have a look at their website to see what they offer, and sign up to their mailing list to receive emails with upcoming events and helpful resources.”

Then, make it easy for them to take the next step:

Show them the website during your appointment: belongsidefamilies.org.au/for-families
Text or email the link straight after your session
Hand them a flyer (available to download below)

Families are far more likely to engage if the website or link is shared, not just mentioned.

Download our flyer

If a family prefers that we reach out to them — and they’ve given permission — you can send basic details to: info@belongsidefamilies.org.au

Please include:

Parent or carer’s name
Best contact number or email
Child’s first name and age (optional)
A brief note about what kind of support the family might need (e.g. feeling overwhelmed, seeking connection, new diagnosis, etc.)

Our team will contact the family within two business days to talk through what support might be most helpful and help them find the right starting point.

Please ensure the family has given consent before sharing any information. You may also choose to cc them on the email to make a warm introduction.

Email us

A woman gently kisses the cheek of a young girl sitting in a wheelchair outdoors, surrounded by greenery. The girl looks ahead with a soft expression while the woman shows affection.

A simple introduction could make all the difference for a family feeling alone or overwhelmed.

What professionals are saying

A woman and a young girl sit on the floor playing with colorful plastic building blocks. The girl is stacking blocks while the woman points and helps, both focused on the activity. Play equipment is visible in the background.

I always knew the significance of family-centred practice, but hearing from parents about what it actually means was invaluable. I now prioritise what’s most important to each family and share Belongside Families as a trusted support network.

Allied Health Professional