Be Heard

Let us help you speak up and be heard

We seek to identify barriers experienced by children and young people with disability and their families.

Through explicit evidence, purposeful action and informed debate, we aim to improve social and institutional policy, legislation and the design of systems that empower those with disability and their families to live as they choose in communities where they feel valued and belong.

A powerful, collective voice | Together we are strong.

How we do this

With more than 6,400 parents and carers in the Kiind community, we are able to draw on a depth of experience to inform debate.

Compiling robust, evidence-based, applied research via surveys, focus groups, working groups and consultation forums.

Presenting the views and experiences of members and articulating necessary reforms via submissions, government inquiries and reviews.

Providing input to the development of systems and services across state and Commonwealth responsibility.

Participating in key government and industry advisory committees, nurturing our relationships and our influence with key government ministers.

Partnering with peak bodies and a range of business and community organisations.

Recent advocacy

Our systemic advocacy team provides input and recommendations directly to policy and decision-makers at a local, state and federal level.

We aim to improve access, design and delivery of mainstream and community services and create lasting change that benefits the broader disability community.

Early childhood
National Disability Insurance Scheme
Health system
Education system
Community inclusion

Opportunities for Kiind members to contribute

Open to NDIS Participants and their families, this is an opportunity to help improve NDIA policies, services, templates, communication and more. By completing an EOI form, you will receive regular updates to provide feedback – the level of involvement is entirely up to you.

Complete the form.

Registration is open for anyone interested in finding out about consultation opportunities to inform the development of early childhood intervention best practice guidelines.

Complete the form.

The Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) would like to hear if their legislation (the Health and Disability Services (Complaints) Act 1995 and Part 6 of the Disability Services Act 1993) is working and how it could be improved. Your feedback can help make the complaint resolution service more effective for other families.

Find out more.

Understand your rights

Understanding your child’s rights is important, particularly if you feel that your child is being treated unfairly and you need to advocate on your child’s behalf.

We’ve compiled a list of Conventions, Legislation, Acts and Charters to help you reference the information you need to exercise your child’s rights and advocate successfully.

Learn more

Issues raised by members

Advocating for a better IEP at school

Laura advocates for her son via the NDIS review and appeal process

Finding childcare in rural areas

View all

Share your experience

If you have an issue that you are willing to share, then we would like to listen.

By sharing your story, you can shine a light on issues that stand in the way of your child’s progress. Your experiences matter and often mirror those of other families. Why not turn your voice into a collective voice and support the call for change?

Tell us your story

What we know about carers*

2.65M

1 in 10 care for someone with disability, chronic health, serious illness, dependency or elderly (2018)

$77.9B

would be the annual cost if carers were replaced by paid workers (almost 1% of Australia’s GDP)

2.5

carers are 2.5 times more likely to have poor wellbeing compared to the broader Australian population

3

carers are three times as likely as other Australians to regularly experience loneliness

45%

of carers have poor health compared to 21% of the adult Australian population

52%

of Carers reported financial strain with 57% experiencing a financial event in the last 12 months.

* Source

Caring Costs Us: The economic impact on lifetime income and retirement savings of informal carers – a report for Carers Australia, Summary of Findings. Developed by Carers Australia, March 2022. For more information, please visit Carers Australia or download the report here.