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1300 344 954

We are the National peak organisation for people living with Down syndrome and their families

Overview

We are the National peak organisation for people living with Down syndrome and their families.

People with Down syndrome are at the centre of all the work that we do.

We work with the Down Syndrome Advisory network to get their ideas and suggestions about our work.

We work to create change in social and public policy.

We want to make sure people understand the experiences of people with Down syndrome and their families. All our work is informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

We work together with state and territory organisations to achieve our vision.

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Our Vision

People living with Down syndrome are valued and have full access to social and economic inclusion in order to achieve their full potential.

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Down Syndrome Australia

Down Syndrome Australia logo

Down Syndrome Australia is the national peak organisation for people with Down syndrome in Australia.

A map of Australia and the Down syndrome Australia logo

This means bringing together and working with the other Down syndrome associations around the country.

A man and woman stand next to each other

People with Down syndrome are at the centre of all the work we do.

Down syndrome Advisory network group photo

We work with the Down Syndrome Advisory Network (DSAN). This is a group of people with Down syndrome who give us their ideas and suggestions about our work.

A mother, father and daughter stand together outdoors

We want to make sure people understand the experiences of people with Down syndrome and their families.

A board meting with people sitting around a meeting table

Our work helps the government and the community to make changes that help people with Down syndrome.

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We use the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities to guide us in our work. This tells us all about the rights of people with disabilities.

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📣 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘆 – 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲!

Attention family members, parents, carers, and anyone with a role in supporting people with Down syndrome. We want to hear from you about how we can best provide information to people with Down syndrome, families, and supporters across Australia.👉 The survey will take around 7 minutes to complete.ℹ️ This survey is run by the Down syndrome federation which is made up of Down Syndrome Australia which provides national information and advocacy, and the state and territory Down syndrome associations which provide local supports and services.#VoiceForDownSyndrome #DownSyndromeAwareness #Survey #DownSyndrome ACT Down Syndrome Association Down Syndrome WA Down Syndrome Victoria Down Syndrome Tasmania Down Syndrome NSW Down Syndrome Queensland Information Service SA - Down Syndrome Australia ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago
📣 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘆 – 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲! Attention family members, parents, carers, and anyone with a role in supporting people with Down syndrome. We want to hear from you about how we can best provide information to people with Down syndrome, families, and supporters across Australia. 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q37SDHH The survey will take around 7 minutes to complete. ℹ️ This survey is run by the Down syndrome federation which is made up of Down Syndrome Australia which provides national information and advocacy, and the state and territory Down syndrome associations which provide local supports and services. #VoiceForDownSyndrome #DownSyndromeAwareness #Survey #DownSyndrome ACT Down Syndrome Association Down Syndrome WA Down Syndrome Victoria Down Syndrome Tasmania Down Syndrome NSW Down Syndrome Queensland Information Service SA - Down Syndrome Australia
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🤍🤍🤍🤍

Advocating for people with Down syndrome and their families at a national level is at the heart of what we do. This week, Down Syndrome Australia's CEO Darryl Steff has been in Canberra continuing our ongoing advocacy efforts, attending key meetings with the Australian Federal Government, including meetings with Senator Jordon Steele-John and the Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care.

We took this opportunity to outline some key points from our Advocacy Asks document and to provide feedback on the recent budget measures and the progress on the Roadmap. Image credits: Darryl Steff with Senator Jordan Steele-John, and Minister Butler with Health Ambassador Kimberley Adams, DSA CEO Darryl Steff and ACT Down Syndrome Association's CEO Shannon Kolak. #InclusiveCommunity #VoiceForDownSyndrome #DownSyndromeAdvocacy #AdvocateForInclusion ... See MoreSee Less

6 days ago
Advocating for people with Down syndrome and their families at a national level is at the heart of what we do. This week, Down Syndrome Australias CEO Darryl Steff has been in Canberra continuing our ongoing advocacy efforts, attending key meetings with the Australian Federal Government, including meetings with Senator Jordon Steele-John and the Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care. We took this opportunity to outline some key points from our Advocacy Asks document and to provide feedback on the recent budget measures and the progress on the Roadmap. Image credits: Darryl Steff with Senator Jordan Steele-John, and Minister Butler with Health Ambassador Kimberley Adams, DSA CEO Darryl Steff and ACT Down Syndrome Associations CEO Shannon Kolak. #InclusiveCommunity #VoiceForDownSyndrome #DownSyndromeAdvocacy #AdvocateForInclusionImage attachment
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🔗 To learn more about our advocacy efforts and read our Advocacy Asks document, visit: www.downsyndrome.org.au/advocacy/

Namaste 🙏🏾 I believe that God is omnipresent and all people must be treated with reverence unconditionally.

Lovely photo

Rolling into team spirit! 🎳⚡️ On a recent trip to Brisbane for our in-person team meetup, we took a break from work in the traditional sense and hit the green for some friendly barefoot bowls and camaraderie. With each precision shot and strategic move, we bonded, laughed, and celebrated an afternoon well spent 🌿🤝

In case you're wondering...the jury says it was a tie! #TeamLawnBowls #TeamBuilding #FridayFun ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago
Rolling into team spirit! 🎳⚡️ On a recent trip to Brisbane for our in-person team meetup, we took a break from work in the traditional sense and hit the green for some friendly barefoot bowls and camaraderie. With each precision shot and strategic move, we bonded, laughed, and celebrated an afternoon well spent 🌿🤝 In case youre wondering...the jury says it was a tie! #TeamLawnBowls #TeamBuilding #FridayFunImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment
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Lovely photo

ℹ️ Have you seen the new NDIS Supported Decision Making Policy?

This policy is about helping everyone understand what supported decision making is, and how people with disability can be better supported to make decisions in the NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme. This includes things like applying, setting goals and how to use the supports in participants’ plans. Down Syndrome Australia's CEO Darryl Steff said "We welcome the release of this policy and are pleased that it has been co-designed with people with disability. We often hear from people with Down syndrome that they are not appropriately supported to exercise choice and control in relation to their NDIS plans and we will be working with the NDIA to ensure that the implementation of this policy goes towards closing this gap".To read and learn more about this policy, visit the NDIS website: https://ndis.gov.au/about-us/policies/…#NDIS #NIDSUpdate #SupportedDecisionMaking #DownSyndrome #DSA ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago
ℹ️ Have you seen the new NDIS Supported Decision Making Policy? This policy is about helping everyone understand what supported decision making is, and how people with disability can be better supported to make decisions in the NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme. This includes things like applying, setting goals and how to use the supports in participants’ plans. Down Syndrome Australias CEO Darryl Steff said We welcome the release of this policy and are pleased that it has been co-designed with people with disability. We often hear from people with Down syndrome that they are not appropriately supported to exercise choice and control in relation to their NDIS plans and we will be working with the NDIA to ensure that the implementation of this policy goes towards closing this gap. To read and learn more about this policy, visit the NDIS website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policies/supported-decision-making-policy #NDIS #NIDSUpdate #SupportedDecisionMaking #DownSyndrome #DSA
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This is great news

This is much needed. The NDIA is totally geared for people with disabilities who have full capacity to exercise choice and control. There is not enough support for the intellectually disabled in group homes or for therapists in their plans.

Get In Touch

Down Syndrome Australia

552 Victoria Street, Melbourne, VIC 3051

1300 344 954

info@downsyndrome.org.au

Media inquiries: media@downsyndrome.org.au

Pre-natal and New Families

1300 881 935

Contact your state or territory Down Syndrome Association to speak to a parent of a child with Down syndrome.

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