Families Supporting Families

25/02/2026

Celebrate International Women's Day with Hunter Women's Centre!

Celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 with us 🎨✨

Through guided painting, we’ll explore this year’s theme, Balance the Scales, reimagining Lady Justice as a symbol of fair and inclusive justice for all women and girls ⚖️

No experience needed—just bring your voice, vision, and creativity 💜

🗓 Monday 9 March
⏰ 11am–2pm
💲 Free
👚 Wear pink or purple 💗💜

🎟 To book your place, register via the link below or click the link in our bio:
https://events.humanitix.com/international-women-s-day-k8mqsm8h/tickets

📧 admin@hwc.org.au

📞 4968 2511

We hope to see you there!

24/02/2026

Does your child seem more overwhelmed, less flexible, and struggling to cope with things they usually manage?

It could be Autistic burnout.

Belongside Families and Amelia Wright from neurotopical therapy are coming together for a free online webinar to gently unpack what burnout can look like in children, and how we can support wellbeing in ways that respect capacity, rather than pushing through.

In this session, we’ll explore:
• Early signs of overload and exhaustion
• Practical ways to reduce demands and support regulation day to day
• How to build capacity while protecting wellbeing
• Advocating for adjustments at school
• Talking with children about rest, needs and limits

📅 Wed 25 Feb
🕗 8pm NSW Time
💻 Free online via Zoom
👥 Created for parents and carers, professionals are also welcome.
🔗 Register to attend live or receive the replay: https://events.humanitix.com/aw2502

More about the Guest Speaker:
Amelia is an Autistic and ADHD senior social worker who blends professional expertise with lived experience to create safe, collaborative spaces where children and families can thrive on their own terms.

More about Belongside Families:
Belongside Families is an independent not-for-profit organisation providing free support to parents and carers raising children with disability, developmental delay, and autism.

20/02/2026

Meaning as Whole, Not Fragments

19/02/2026

Family Planning Australia are running their Planet Puberty five-webinar series, designed to help parents and carers support their children through the changes of puberty. The first session will be on the 4th of March from 1 to 2pm.

19/02/2026

If you or someone you support uses LAMP Words for Life® app on iOS, this FREE webinar is for you!

Register at: https://liberator.net.au/aac-learning/free-lamp-words-for-life-on-ios-technical-skills-training-3/

If you’re unable to attend the live session, you can register to receive a recording.

Thanks Twinkle Creators for bringing this webinar to our attention. 🙏

📱 FREE LAMP Words for Life® app on iOS Training
Join us on Tuesday, 24th February 2026 for a FREE 60-minute session that will help you understand more about the system's motor-based design.

12pm AEDT | 11:30am SA | 11am QLD | 10:30am NT | 9am WA

In this 60-minute session, learn about:
✅ Working with LAMP's motor-based layout
✅ Personalising vocabulary while maintaining motor patterns
✅ Using the word finder effectively
✅ Setting up data collection tools
✅ Creating backup files for your vocabulary

If you or someone you support uses LAMP Words for Life® app on iOS, this FREE web session is for you!
Register here: https://liberator.net.au/aac-learning/free-lamp-words-for-life-on-ios-technical-skills-training-3/

Unable to attend the live session? Register anyway and we'll send you a recording afterward so you don't miss this valuable information.

18/02/2026

18/02/2026

Our first Carers Café for 2026 will be held at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club on Wednesday the 4th of March from 10am.

Meet and chat with other parents and carers who "get it" and enjoy a coffee and cake on us in a relaxed environment. ☕️🧁

This event is proudly supported by Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group and Port Waratah Coal Services. We are very grateful for their continued support. 🙏

Image description: A flyer for Families Supporting Families Carers Café at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, 95 Hannell St, Wickham. The flyer includes a photo of a table with coffees, a pastry, an FSF flyer and a reserved sign. The image includes the logos of Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group and Port Waratah Coal Services who are proud supporters of this event. The FSF logo is in the top left corner. This event is free for current FSF members. Please RSVP by March 2nd via email to info@familiessupportingfamilis

16/02/2026

📢 Does your child need NAPLAN adjustments in 2026?

If your child has a disability or learning support needs, they may be eligible for NAPLAN adjustments. It’s important to get applications in on time.

Adjustments require approval and include assistive technology, scribes, double extra time and colour contrast changes.

⏰ Applications are open now until 4 March 2026.

💡 What families should do now
Speak with your child’s school as early as possible. They will help identify which adjustments your child may be eligible for and ensure applications are submitted before the deadline.

For full details, visit the NAP website: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/accessibility/adjustments-for-students-with-disability

15/02/2026

Upcoming events from Belongside Families. All events are online and free to join!

This week’s events are a chance to learn from and alongside other families, while growing skills, confidence and knowledge together.

Here’s what’s coming up this week, plus a look at some of our upcoming webinars and workshops for the term.

🔹 EVENTS THIS WEEK⁠ ⁠

🔸 Understanding School IEPs: Webinar
📅 Mon, 16 Feb | 8:00pm
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) can be an important support at school, yet many families find the process unclear or inconsistent. In this webinar Kim Waldron from Early Ed joins us to share what makes an effective IEP, how the process works, how to feel more confident partnering with your child’s school and what to do if a plan is not working.
🔗Register to attend live or receive recording: https://events.humanitix.com/webinar1602x

🔸 Rediscovering Yourself: Daytime Virtual MyTime
📅 Tue, 17 Feb | 12:00pm
As parents and carers, we carry so many responsibilities and it’s easy for the other parts of who we are to slip into the background. In this session we’ll talk about identity, joy and the things that make you feel like you and explore gentle ways to nurture your own interests and wellbeing.
🔗Register: https://events.humanitix.com/mytimeonline1702x

🔸 Healthy Mothers Healthy Families: Workshop
📅 Tue, 17 Feb | 7:30pm or Wed, 18 Feb | 12:00pm
Do you wish you had more balance in your life, and time for your own well-being? Healthy Mothers Healthy Families is an evidence-based program that supports mothers of children with disability to create a healthy lifestyle that fosters their own well-being, alongside a healthy, happy family life.
⁠🔗 Register: https://collections.humanitix.com/hmhf

🔸Under 8 Years: Seeing the Signs of Overwhelm: Virtual Autism MyTime
📅Wed, 18 Feb | 8:00pm
Many children show signs of overwhelm long before they reach their limit. This session is a chance to talk about the small shifts in behaviour or energy that can signal when a child is nearing their limit. We’ll look at what overwhelm can look like in everyday moments and how we can support our children with connection and understanding.
🔗 Register: https://events.humanitix.com/virtualmytime1802

🔸Connect & Chat: Virtual MyTime
📅Thu, 19 Feb | 7:30pm
Are you looking to connect with other parents and carers who really understand what it’s like? This group is a space to share experiences, ask questions, and find support.
🔗 Register: https://events.humanitix.com/virtualmytime1902x

🔹 UPCOMING WEBINARS

🔸Autistic Burnout in Children⁠ - Autism Webinar
📅Wed, 25 Feb | 8:00pm⁠
🔗 Register to attend live or receive recording: https://events.humanitix.com/aw2502

🔸When Words Are Misunderstood⁠ - Receptive Language Webinar
📅Thu, 26 Feb | 8:00pm⁠
🔗 Register to attend live or receive recording: https://events.humanitix.com/rlwebinar2602
⁠
🔸Understanding Adjustments & Supports at School⁠ - Webinar
📅Mon, 2 Mar | 8:00pm⁠
🔗 Register to attend live or receive recording: https://events.humanitix.com/webinar0203

🔸Practical Strategies for Burnout
📅Wed 11 Mar | 12:00pm
🔗 Register to attend live or receive recording: https://events.humanitix.com/infosession1103

🔹UPCOMING INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS ⁠

🔸Partnering with Your Child’s School ⁠
📅Mon, 23 Feb | 8:00pm⁠
🔗 Register: https://events.humanitix.com/partnerships2302
⁠
🔸Advocacy at School⁠
📅Mon, 16 March | 8:00pm or Thu, 26 March | 10:00am⁠
⁠🔗 Register: https://collections.humanitix.com/advocacy
⁠
📌 See the full event calendar at: https://belongsidefamilies.org.au/humanitix-events/
👩🏻‍💻 All sessions are FREE and online. Times shown in NSW / AEDT. 🧡

14/02/2026

Last days to register for the awesome all-abilities program run by Wallsend Touch Association.

Final days to register Wallsend All Abilities Program📣

Program runs for 6 weeks starting 25 February.

For all the details and to register: https://wallsend.nswtouch.com.au/2025/12/coastal-fire-all-abilities-ds-roofing-touch-football-program-feb-2026/

The program is proudly sponsored by Coastal Fire Services and DS Roofing☺️