7th Annual Conference
Connect. Thrive. Belong.
As parents and carers, you make a meaningful difference in your child’s life. When you feel supported, confident and connected, your child is more able to learn, grow and thrive.
The free Family Conference, hosted by Plumtree and Belongside Families, brings together family experiences and professional knowledge to support you in ways that build on your strengths.
It highlights how everyday moments, relationships and opportunities all play an important role in your child’s development and sense of belonging.
Explore practical strategies, fresh ideas and shared experiences, and feel part of a community of families walking a similar path.
Podcasts
You Make the Difference
Host: Bree Pennie
Panel members: Jennifer Williamson, Melo Kalemkeridis, Cathy Webb
While therapy plays an important role in a child’s development, research shows it’s the small, everyday moments in daily life that make the biggest difference. Children learn best when they are doing what they love, with the people they love, in the places where they feel safe and confident. Therapy can support this, but it’s through daily experiences, and the role you play in them, that your child grows and thrives.
Belonging in Everyday Life: School Years
Host: Bree Pennie
Panel members: Sarah Elsleiman, Deb Herbert, Kate Broderick
Once your child starts school, it can feel harder to get out and find spaces where they truly belong. Yet everyday community life — from sports and clubs to hobbies, parks, family interests, and even school communities — offers opportunities for children to connect, grow, and be themselves.
Caring for Yourself, Caring for Your Family
Host: Bree Pennie
Panel members: Kylie Aekins, Frank Mathisen, Helen Poulos
Between appointments, school, and the endless to-do list, it’s easy to put your own well-being last. But caring for yourself is one of the best ways to care for your child and family. Together, we’ll discuss the realities of family life when disability is part of the picture and explore ways to bring joy back into everyday life.