Family Advocacy

04/09/2026

📣 Final call to register your interest!

Our free 5-week online Inclusive Education course for families starts 14 September, and there is only 1 spot available.

Build your knowledge, confidence and advocacy skills with practical, research-backed strategies to support your child’s inclusion at school.

Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/OOTKOnlineSeptOct2026

02/09/2026

📣 Parents and families, have your say on disability inclusion in your local community.

Did you know that all 128 NSW local councils are required to have a new Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) by 1 July 2026? These plans help shape how councils improve inclusion across local services, facilities, events, recreation, employment, information and community life.

Families have valuable knowledge about what inclusion actually looks like on the ground. We encourage parents and families to find out what your council is doing, read its DIAP, give them feedback on their new DIAPs, get involved in consultations and advisory groups, and share your ideas about what would make your local community more inclusive.

Ask your council: How are people with disability being supported to become known, valued and contributing members of our community?

The NSW Government maintains a register covering the 128 local councils and their DIAPs, making it easy to find your council and its plan.

👉 Find your local council's Disability Inclusion Action Plan
Your local knowledge and lived experience can help shape a more inclusive community.

Links to plans that have been given to the Disability Council NSW pursuant to section 12 of the Disability Inclusion Act.

29/08/2026

Want to help turn inclusion into action? 📣

Join our Organising Together campaign briefing to hear what’s happening in inclusive education and employment, what we’re calling for, and how families and supporters can help create systemic change.

Choose the session that suits you:

☀️ 12:30pm session: https://bit.ly/OrganisingTogetherCampaign1230session
🌙 7:00pm session: https://bit.ly/OrganisingTogetherCampaign7pmSession

Come along, get informed and find out how you can be part of what happens next.

28/08/2026

🌱 Is your community preschool set up so every child can participate, learn and belong?

Inclusive environments are an important part of making sure children with disability can access and participate in early childhood education alongside their peers.

The NSW Government’s Inclusive Environments Funding Program provides eligible not-for-profit community and mobile preschools with funding for things like specialised equipment, furniture and minor environmental modifications that support the inclusion and participation of children with disability or additional needs.

Funding of up to $5,000 for specialised equipment or furniture and up to $20,000 for minor construction may be available through child-based applications.

If your child attends an eligible community preschool, this may be useful information to share with their preschool team.

👉 Read more about the funding and eligibility requirements in the article below. https://thesector.com.au/article/nsw-inclusive-environments-funding-community-preschools-2026

Eligible NSW community and mobile preschools can access up to $20,000 to make environmental modifications that support children with disability and additional needs, with the final child-based application round for 2026 closing in October.

28/08/2026

📚 As Children’s Book Week comes to a close, the importance of inclusive stories doesn’t end here.

This year’s theme, ‘Symphony of Stories’, is a beautiful reminder that every child’s story, experience and perspective matters.

Thehe books we share at home can help shape how children see themselves and understand the world around them. Stories that reflect disability, diversity and belonging can spark meaningful conversations, build empathy and reinforce the message that everyone has a place and everyone deserves to be included.

Inclusive books are important in the classroom, but they are just as valuable at home too.

💜 Explore our Inclusion Collection, choose a story to share with your child or loved one, and keep the conversation about inclusion going beyond Book Week:
https://family-advocacy.com/inclusion-library/

26/08/2026

What role can you play in improving the education and employment system in NSW? To hear the answers, learn about our campaign and how to approach your MP, join one of the online sessions below.

Join Leanne and Victoria from Family Advocacy’s Systemic Advocacy Team for a special campaign briefing webinar. We will be discussing the Family Advocacy campaign for inclusive education and employment, and what families can start doing now to help us achieve this systemic change.

We are running two sessions for your convenience, please register to the slot that works best.

Wednesday 9 September, 12:30pm AEST and,
https://bit.ly/OrganisingTogetherCampaign1230session

Wednesday 16 September, 7pm AEST
https://bit.ly/OrganisingTogetherCampaign7pmSession

All people with disability in NSW should have access to meaningful employment and inclusive education opportunities within their community. If you can’t join one of the above sessions but you’d like to hear more about our campaign, please register your expression of interest here 👉https://bit.ly/OrganisingTogetherCampaignEOI

26/08/2026

📚 Two days to go of Children’s Book Week!

Teachers, the books we choose for our classrooms matter.

Stories can help children learn about difference, challenge stereotypes and understand that everyone belongs. Having books that positively represent disability and inclusion on classroom shelves is one simple way to help build a culture where every student is seen, valued and included.

To help you get started, we’ve put together some of our favourite children’s books from our Inclusion Collection — perfect for classrooms, school libraries and conversations about belonging.

💜 Explore the Inclusion Collection:
https://family-advocacy.com/inclusion-library/

📖 View our Children’s Inclusion Library book list:
https://family-advocacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Childrens-Inclusion-Library-list.pdf

25/08/2026

Join Dr Loren Swancutt for a two-session webinar series exploring practical, evidence-informed approaches to inclusive education.

Designed for families and educators, these sessions can be attended individually or together for a fuller picture of how inclusive practice can be strengthened from classroom planning through to whole-school reform.

✨ Session 1: Inclusive Curriculum Design
📅 Wednesday 23 September | 4–6pm AEST
Explore how to maintain high expectations while reducing barriers for students with disability, including how the Australian Curriculum, adjustments, the DDA and Disability Standards for Education work together in practice.

👉 Register: https://bit.ly/InclusiveCurriculumDesignWebinar

✨ Session 2: Leading Inclusive School Reform
📅 Wednesday 21 October | 5–7pm AEDT
Learn practical approaches to building a shared vision for inclusion, using data to guide priorities and embedding inclusive practice across the whole school.

👉 Register: https://bit.ly/LeadingInclusiveSchoolReformWebinar

Why should you attend?

👩‍🏫 Teachers: Each webinar provides two hours of professional development across the teaching standards, with a certificate of completion available upon request.

👨‍👩‍👧 Families: Gain practical knowledge and confidence to support stronger conversations with your child’s school about inclusive curriculum, planning and school culture.

We encourage families and educators to attend together and build a shared understanding of what meaningful inclusion can look like in practice.

25/08/2026

🚨 Only two weeks to go!

Register now for our free advocacy webinar and learn practical ways to speak up effectively for your family member with disability.

Choose the session that suits you:

📅 Tuesday 8 September, 10–11.30am AEST
https://bit.ly/AdvocacyTipsAndToolsSeptember2026AM

📅 Wednesday 9 September, 7–8.30pm AEST
https://bit.ly/AdvocacyTipsAndToolsSeptember2026PM

The webinar includes a live Q&A and helpful follow-up resources. It will not be recorded, so secure your place today.

For family members and friends of people with disability only. Not open to professionals.

24/08/2026

Don't miss out on Advocacy Tips and Tools. This event is free and online via Zoom!

Join us for a conversation on why it is so important to know how to advocate effectively for your family member.

This event is for family members and friends of people with disability only. This presentation will be followed by a Q & A session, and all participants will receive further resources and information following the webinar. Please note this event will not be recorded.

For your convenience, we are offering two sessions. You only need to attend one. Click on your chosen date to register:

Morning session: Tuesday 8 September 10-11.30am AEST or
https://bit.ly/AdvocacyTipsAndToolsSeptember2026AM

Evening session: Wednesday 9 September 7-8.30pm AEST
https://bit.ly/AdvocacyTipsAndToolsSeptember2026PM