Ballarat Young Families to New Carers: Juggling a diagnosis, early support and family life
Free event in Ballarat for parents and carers of children with disability, developmental delay or neurodivergence.
Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026
Location: The Goods Shed, Ballarat
Time: 5:00–7:00pm
Register: At least 10 business days before the event to secure a supervised place for your family member.
About this event
A diagnosis can bring answers, new questions and plenty to think about. Working out which services to contact and how support will fit into family life can take time.
Join Lifely and local professionals in Ballarat for a practical, welcoming session about finding your way through those early stages. Come along to explore your options, ask questions and connect with other parents and carers, whether you’re seeking a diagnosis or planning your next steps.
What we’ll cover
- Navigating a diagnosis and understanding the next steps
- Exploring early support and services for your child
- Balancing appointments, caring responsibilities and family life
- Looking after your wellbeing and building your support network
Meet our speakers
- Siddhi Pathak — Ararat Wellness
- Keshia Fithall — Senior Support Coordinator, Lifely
- Stephanie Van Velzen — Uplift Therapy
- Rebecca Paton — Pinarc
What’s included
- Short, practical talks from local professionals
- Panel Q&A with time for your questions
- Opportunities to meet local services
- A chance to connect with other parents and carers
- Light refreshments
Support during the event
Lifely staff can spend time with your family member while you attend. This is short-term, on-site general supervision and engagement.
We can’t provide:
- One-on-one support
- Personal care, including toileting
- Medication support
- Complex behaviour or medical support
You remain responsible for your family member and will be asked to step in if they need additional support.
Please register your family member at least 10 business days before the event. After this cut-off, we may not have enough staff available to provide supervision.
Important information
This event has been made possible through additional carer respite funding from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
When you register, we may ask about your family member’s needs and preferences to help us provide safe and appropriate support.
