Family Support

Our Family Support Manager Sonia Bonadio is available for home and hospital visits, as well as support over the phone or email. Please contact us on 9486 9600 or email familysupport@dsav.asn.au to get in touch.
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Are you expecting a baby with Down syndrome? Take a look at our prenatal information here.
If you’re a new parent find more information for new parents here.

Welcome to Family Support at DSV. Our Family Support Manager Sonia Bonadio can provide home and hospital visits as well as support you over the phone and email at any stage of your journey. Please contact us on 9486 9600 or email familysupport@dsav.asn.au to get in touch.

Down Syndrome Victoria provides support, encouragement, information and resources to families who have a member with Down syndrome. We are committed to a model of peer support and empowerment to build resilience in people with Down syndrome and their families.

We welcome those that are new to the journey, and those that have walked it for years.

Down Syndrome Victoria believes that families have the right to feel supported in their choices no matter which paths they choose. We aim to provide balanced, researched information so that families can make informed decisions about how to best raise their children within the context of their family unit.

Join us on social media

Our closed groups are open to Victorian parents and carers of children with Down syndrome or those pregnant with a baby with Down syndrome.

We currently have two private groups which you can request to join: 

Down Syndrome Victoria Parents for parents and carers across the lifespan.

Parents of Adults with Down syndrome a group specifically for parents and carers of someone with Down syndrome aged 18 years and over.

Our groups are mediated by DSV staff on weekdays and were specifically created to encourage peer support, information sharing and to empower families and to create positive expectations of our children and adults. Please feel free to share your joys and fears, highs and lows, current information and news.

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A father giving his baby daughter a piggy back.

Family Support

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This page tells you about Down Syndrome Victoria’s Family Support services.

A mother and young child with images of information and support

Down Syndrome Victoria has a support service for families.

We help families with:

• support

• encouragement

• information

• resources.

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We use peer support. This is where people and families help each other.

A family standing together and smiling

Down Syndrome Victoria believes that families have the right to make choices and feel supported.

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We help by making sure that families have good information.

This information can help families to make the best choices about how to raise their children.

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Families and carers in Victoria can join our social media groups.

We have 2 private groups on Facebook.

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Down Syndrome Victoria Parents

This group is for parents and carers of any child or person with Down syndrome.

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Parents of Adults with Down syndrome

This group is for parents and carers of an adult with Down syndrome aged 18 years and older.

A pregnant woman

We have information for parents before their baby with Down syndrome is born.

You can find prenatal information here.

A parent holding a new baby

We have information for new parents of a baby with Down syndrome.

You can find more information for new parents here.

How to find out more about Family Support

Sonia Bonadio

You can contact Sonia Bonadio at Down Syndrome Victoria.

Sonia does home and hospital visits. She also supports families over the phone or by email.

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Email familysupport@dsav.asn.au

Phone 9486 9600