Family Conference Online 2021

Dream big at the Annual Family Conference

The Family Conference brings together, informs and inspires families of children with disabilities and their allies on taking the lead and building a good life.

Created at Plumtree in 2017, the conference is planned and run by families, for families. Originally held at our centre for 50 parents, the event has since moved online with attendees from over the world.

Conference guests include professionals, parent peer workers, as well as families and young people with a disability.

Their uplifting presentations educate and empower attendees on topics from achieving great goals, getting the best from the NDIS and professional partnerships, building family agency, and more.

See our YouTube Channel and blog for past conference presentations. Register for the 2021 conference below.

Upcoming Conference 2021 – Online

5th Annual Family Conference – Together towards tomorrow

Building your child’s future: The role of families

Saturday 23 October 2021

1pm to 3.30pm AEST

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See the Family Conference site

Plumtree, Now & Next and Reframing Disability are excited to announce the 5th Annual Family Conference.

“You make the difference in your child’s life.” Some parents of a child with disability or developmental delay can get confused by this statement… aren’t the therapists in charge?

That’s only half true. Research has shown that achieving a good life of citizenship, acceptance and purpose for a child involves more than service providers.

There’s a lot that parents can do. Big picture visioning is vital for the future when children are very young. So is developmental parenting—guess who a child models their behaviour from? Learning to take the lead in partnerships with professionals is also important, as strong family leaders nurture children’s leadership skills.

Join our presentations by disability professionals, peer workers and young people living with a disability to learn about:

Guiding and supporting a child through developmental parenting
How professionals, families and young people with disability can work together to achieve positive outcomes
What young people say about the role of their parents

This event is for:

Parents, carers and family members of children aged birth to 12 years with a delay, disability or neurodivergence.

Early intervention professionals welcome.

Stay tuned for more announcements.

Past Conferences

Now & Next Family Conference
Doing things differently
13 September 2020

The pandemic has changed many of our daily routines. Early intervention services moving online is one of them. Are they as effective as face-to-face sessions? We have good news: the delivery may be different, but many families are making progress and achieving positive outcomes with their children.

Proudly hosted by Plumtree, Now and Next and Reframing Disability.

See Resources

Now & Next Family Conference
Small steps, giant leaps
26 October 2019

“Small Steps, Giant Leaps” covered keynote presentations based around fostering independence, nurturing friendships, inclusion, communication and building the capacity of families to create the best life for their child.

Proudly hosted by Plumtree, Now and Next, Reframing Disability and Reframing Autism.

See Resources

Now & Next Alumni Conference
Reach for the stars
30 June 2018

As families, we want the very best for our children and our mission is to aim high for a positive and hopeful future. But hope is not enough – we need the skills, knowledge and networks to help us continue to strive and Reach for the Stars.

Proudly hosted by Plumtree and Now and Next.

See Resources

Now & Next Alumni Inaugural Conference
By families for families
15 April 2017

The Now and Next Alumni Inaugural Conference itself was pioneering: to our knowledge, it was the first to be organized and run by families of young children with disabilities or delays, with a program guided by their needs and interests.

Proudly hosted by Plumtree and Now and Next.

See Resources