Now & Next | Wednesday
Wednesday 13 May @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm AEST
RSVP
One ticket per family
Empowering families since 2015
Now & Next is a free 8-week online program developed by families to support parents of children with a disability, developmental delay or developmental concerns.
The program is facilitated by parent peer leaders who are trained to support families. Over 8 online sessions, parents set goals, explore possibilities and take small practical steps forward while learning alongside other families who share similar experiences.
Stronger families lead to better outcomes for children. Now & Next supports families to build confidence, develop practical strategies for their child and navigate the next steps ahead.
In Now & Next, you will:
- Plan strengths-based goals and take small, practical steps to achieve them
- Connect with other families, share information and learn together
- Explore ways to collaborate with people involved in your child’s learning to achieve goals
- Support your child and family’s wellbeing with practical strategies
Facilitated by parents like you
Now & Next is facilitated by parent peer workers. These are parents raising a child with a disability or developmental delay, who are trained to support families and also bring their knowledge and insights.
Program structure
Now & Next runs for eight weekly sessions. Each session is two hours.
- Session 1: Create a vision and explore goals for your child, family, and yourself using our unique Pictability™ tool. This session sets a foundation for the future.
- Session 2 and 3: Use our Goal to Action™ coaching tool to set and achieve three goals for you and your child.
- Session 4: Identify your strengths and learn how to use them to accomplish your goals.
- Session 5: Focus on the areas where you can make the greatest impact for your child and family’s life using the Now & Next Mindfulness colouring-in book.
- Session 6: Explore the concept and practices that enhance well-being. Learn how to boost the well-being for your child and family.
- Session 7: Develop skills for partnering with professionals and creating positive relationships, enhancing your personal agency, well-being, and family resilience.
- Session 8: Review your resources and practice applying them in various scenarios for the best outcomes.
Internationally acclaimed
Launched in 2015, Now & Next is now being delivered in Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Canada, Singapore, Croatia and Albania. From our surveys, 97% of families who completed Now & Next say they would recommend the program.
Who is this program for
Parents, family members and primary carers of children aged 0–12 years who have a disability, developmental delay, are neurodivergent or if there are concerns about their development.
When
One session per week for 8 weeks; 2 hours each;
Attendance at all eight sessions is required.
From Wednesday 13 May to Wednesday 1 July;
8pm to 10pm AEST/ NSW, ACT, VIC and TAS time
Please adjust for your time zone if needed.
Where
Delivered online via Zoom. Families from anywhere in Australia are welcome to join.
Instructions will be emailed to you closer to the event date.
If you need accessibility support, please let us know when you register.
Cost
Free for families in Australia with or without NDIS funding
RSVP
by Thursday 30 April
Groups are subject to cancellation due to low RSVP
Flyer
To provide personalised support, we ask families to enrol in one course per term, helping us focus on helping each family reach their goals.
Additional info
Resources
Once your registration is confirmed by a Now & Next team member, we will mail all the materials you need to participate in the program.
Log in details
Once registered, we will provide further details closer to the date, including the link to join the session. You will need a good internet connection to attend.
Certificate of Completion
To receive a certificate of attendance, you must have your camera on for all eight sessions to confirm your attendance and engagement. We encourage active participation in each session for the best learning experience.
Accessibility
We want all families to fully engage in our Now & Next program, and everyone is welcome! This includes parents or carers with disabilities, neurodiversity, medical conditions, or those who speak English as a second language. Let us know how we can support your participation to ensure a successful experience.
Contact details
For more information about future course dates, details, or if your organization is interested in hosting Now & Next or making group bookings, please contact the Now & Next team at nowandnext@plumtree.org.au or call (02) 9572 8840.
Plumtree is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation that helps families thrive.
Trusted for 40 years, we work alongside children and families in the early years to build confidence, capability and inclusion. Plumtree provides therapy and specialist support for children from birth to 8 years in everyday settings — at home, in the community, online or at our Marrickville centre.
We also offer free playgroups, workshops and programs for all families, along with an inclusive preschool where children of all abilities learn together.
Our work is co-designed with families, including programs like Now & Next and Pictability, and we partner with organisations and government to build more inclusive communities.
