Siblings in the wild: For siblings of people with disability

Workshop replay and peer conversations for siblings of people with disability

Siblings share a bond that starts at birth and lasts a lifetime. They’ve grown up together, sharing stories, laughter, arguments, and memories.

As life changes, the way siblings support and connect with each other can change. Some become more involved, others stay connected, and some disconnect, not always intentionally. Every family is unique, but there are common threads: Even if it isn’t always spoken about, as parents age, siblings nearly always think about what the future might hold.

Late last year, we hosted a webinar, Siblings in the wild: Navigating life, families, and the NDIS, for siblings of people with disability.

In the webinar, Rhiannon Brodie and Heidi Coleman shared their experiences as sisters to siblings with disability. They discussed:

• what it means to be a supportive sibling without taking on the role of parent or caregiver
• having open and respectful conversations with parents, siblings, extended family, and your sibling with disability, especially when not everyone’s on the same page
• supporting your sibling’s decision-making and making sure they’re involved in planning their own future
• some of the administrative aspects associated with disability, including the NDIS, Services Australia, finances, and future planning
• and much more!

If you missed the workshop, you can now register for immediate on-demand access to the replay and lots of resources. Our password-protected portal contains:

• an on-demand recording of the original workshop
• notes containing key topics of the post-workshop conversation
• various resources mentioned in the workshop
• bonus videos: Past presentations delivered by siblings of people with disability.

We’re also convening two online peer conversations for siblings to get together to discuss navigating life, families, and the NDIS in all their complexities.

Register for this siblings-only event

About the peer conversations

The peer conversations will begin with a short presentation by a guest speaker. There will then be plenty of time for siblings to talk candidly, ask questions, and share experiences.

Based on feedback from the original workshop, the conversations are likely to address topics such as:

• supported decision-making vs. guardianship
• Circles of Support
• Social Role Valorisation (SRV)
• valued social roles
• the dignity of risk
• future planning frameworks.

Meeting 1: Wednesday, 18 February, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm

• Online via Zoom
• Facilitated by Anne Keep and Heidi Coleman
• Our guest speaker will be Sherryn West. Sherryn will share her perspective as a sibling with much older parents. You can learn more about Sherryn here.

Meeting 2: Dates and details to be confirmed

Register for this siblings-only event

Keeping the conversation between siblings only

• The peer group conversations are strictly for siblings only.
• The guest speaker presentations will be recorded and added to your password-protected portal for on-demand access until 5:00 pm on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
• The interactive parts of the meeting, where siblings ask questions and share experiences, will be removed from the recording to protect privacy.
• We will capture the key topics of conversation and add them as notes to the replay hub. All contributions will be deidentified.

Good to know

• Funding from the NDIS through a Peer Support and Capacity Building grant covers all the costs associated with delivering this event, allowing you to attend free of charge.

Register for this siblings-only event