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Down Syndrome NSW

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Parramatta, NSW
Down Syndrome NSW

Down Syndrome NSW works with passion to support people with Down Syndrome and their families
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Down Syndrome NSW champions the right of people with Down syndrome to have the same access to society as everyone else. This means the right to health, education, work, family and being part of the community.

30/12/2025

Spring Your Confidence – Self-Advocacy Workshop and Dance Party

In November, our UP! Club community came together for Spring Your Confidence, a free event for UP! Club Spring Camp participants and our Blue Mountains members.

The evening began with a self-advocacy workshop facilitated by Me Plus More, where participants explored practical ways to speak up for themselves using role play, visual supports and group activities.

Following the workshop, everyone enjoyed a relaxed dinner, sharing conversations, laughs and good food. The night finished on a high with a spring-themed disco, and our Blue Mountains crew well and truly filled the dance floor with energy.

After UP! Club’s recent Self-Advocacy Workshop and Dance Party, Spring Your Step, we are excited to be hosting more self-advocacy-focused events in the new year.

To find out more about UP! Club, visit:
https://www.downsyndromensw.org.au/programs/upclub

24/12/2025

Happy Holidays from all of us at Down Syndrome NSW!

We wish you a safe, and joyful holiday season, spent with friends, family and loved ones in ways that are meaningful to you.

Here’s to rest, reflection and connection, and to another year of community, inclusion and belonging ahead.

As the year comes to a close, we’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to our incredible community, our members, families, volunteers, partners and supporters. Your support, kindness and commitment mean so much to us.

24/12/2025

What a truly magical End of Year Party shared with our Down Syndrome NSW community.

We kicked off the celebrations at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, gathering in Meers Hall before enjoying a special tour of the Mike Hewson Gallery. The space felt like a creative playground for adults and children alike, filled with interactive artworks, moments of discovery, and a wonderful buzz of excitement.

After the tour, everyone came back together in Meers Hall to enjoy delicious food and drinks. A heartfelt thank you to Margot Elliffe, and Deborah Begg for their beautiful speeches, which truly touched our hearts.

The photo booth was a highlight throughout the day, capturing laughter, playful poses and so many smiling faces. We sincerely thank Exclusive Photo Booths Sydney for their generosity and support.

Our younger members were especially thrilled when Santa made a surprise visit, spreading festive cheer and bringing big smiles all around.

We wrapped up the celebration with disco vibes in full swing, dancing, laughing and celebrating together as one connected community.

We also extend our sincere thanks to our sponsors and supporters. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continued support.
• The End of Year Party is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
• The festive disco is proudly sponsored by Eleah

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this celebration so special. It was a beautiful way to close out the year and welcome the festive season together.

21/12/2025

Office Closure Notice

Down Syndrome NSW will be closed from Monday 22 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.

During this time, our office and phone lines will be closed.

Urgent support during this period:

- Parent Line: 13 22 89
- 1800RESPECT: 1800 015 188
- Safe Steps: 1800 015 188
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Disability Advocacy Support Line: 1300 365 085

We wish all our members, families and community a safe and happy holiday season, and a fantastic start to 2026.

18/12/2025

Introducing Our New Mother’s & Father’s Day Booklets!

We are so excited to share our newly created Mother’s and Father’s Day booklets, designed specially for parents welcoming a new baby with Down syndrome. These booklets will be included in our New Baby Packs to help families feel supported, connected, and part of a beautiful, thriving community from day one.

This project has been a true collaboration, and we’re incredibly grateful to our wonderful ambassadors:
Jez Smith – for capturing heartfelt images that celebrate family, love, and belonging.
Fuzz Ali – for his thoughtful and uplifting interviews that shine a light on the real experiences of parents in our community.
Lyndal Frollano – Designing these booklets

Together, we’ve created something truly special resources that wrap new parents in warmth, reassurance, and the knowledge that they’re never alone.

We can’t wait for these booklets to make their way into New Baby Packs across NSW, offering comfort and connection during one of life’s most precious moments.

17/12/2025

In light of the recent tragic incident in Bondi, we are sharing a factsheet to support people with Down syndrome, their families and carers to navigate distressing events.

This resource is designed to help with understanding what has happened, managing emotions, and having supportive conversations together.
The factsheet is split into two sections:

• Section 1 is for families and carers, with guidance on how to support a person with Down syndrome to process distressing news and events.
• Section 2 is for people with Down syndrome to work through together with a trusted person. The language is aimed at adolescents and can be adapted to suit individual needs.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and all those affected by the tragic events at Bondi Beach, and we stand together in solidarity, with the Jewish community offering our support, care and compassion during this time of grief.

Please remember that support is available if you or someone you care for is feeling overwhelmed.

Support services available in Australia:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Black Dog Institute blackdoginstitute.org.au
If someone is in immediate danger, call 000.

You can also download the full Fact Sheet here:https://dk6f8ezfgkj58.cloudfront.net/7cce89745a592bd285f8270ff512c81f.pdf

17/12/2025

Every year, Taronga Zoo Sydney Dreamnight is an event to remember, and this year was no exception.

Our member, Damien had the best time ever, getting up close with giraffes, gorillas and koalas, and cheering along at the amazing seal show. The night was made even more magical with surprise appearances from Star Wars characters, and Damien even had his Christmas outfit ready to go from early morning!

Little Leo showed absolutely no fear, getting up close to Chewbacca, and it looks like they became instant best friends. Leo was especially thrilled to see seal Diego showing off his famous flips.

Here are a few photos of Leo and Damien enjoying the night alongside Damien’s two incredible Support Workers and sister, Mary. Smiles, laughter and unforgettable memories all around.

Dreamnight is held and run by Taronga Zoo, and each year Down Syndrome NSW has the pleasure of being invited as special guests.

A heartfelt thank you to Taronga Zoo for generously providing tickets and for creating such a magical and inclusive experience for our community.

Tickets are limited, so stay tuned to our monthly newsletter next year or sign up to our Humanitix member list to be the first to know. It is an experience you will not want to miss.

To stay up to date with events and registrations, join our Humanitix mailing list:
👉 https://events.humanitix.com/host/down-syndrome-nsw

Become a free Down Syndrome NSW member and receive updates, events and our monthly newsletter:
👉 https://www.downsyndromensw.org.au/get-involved/become-a-member

16/12/2025

Spring Your Confidence – Self Advocacy Workshop and Dance Party

On Saturday 29 November, UP! Club hosted Spring Your Confidence, a free event for our UP! Club Spring Campers and Blue Mountains members to connect, build self advocacy skills and enjoy a great night out together.

The self advocacy workshop, run by Me Plus More, used role play, visual prompts and teamwork to help participants learn practical ways to speak up for themselves in everyday situations.

After the workshop, everyone came together for a relaxed dinner full of good conversations and delicious food.

The night wrapped up with a Spring themed disco and our Blue Mountains participants definitely brought the energy to the dance floor!

Spring Your Confidence received funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

If you would like to learn more about our programs and services, check out our website www.downsyndromensw.org.au
or email admin@downsyndromensw.org.au
and we will get in touch with you.

15/12/2025

Last week in Dubbo we brought together parents, teachers, specialists and people with Down syndrome to talk honestly about inclusive education, what is working, what is missing and what support is most needed in the local area.

As part of our Growing, Connected program, we asked the community how DSNSW can best support them. One of the strongest messages was the value of educational support that brings everyone into the same space. This helps us learn together and understand what is working well and where more support would make a real difference.

What stood out most was the strength of the Dubbo community. Schools, families and services genuinely support each other and show up for their young people.

We are grateful for the openness, insights and collaboration and we look forward to continuing this journey with you.

If you're interesting in finding out more about our Inclusive Education or Growing Connected Program, please reach out to us via email admin@downsyndromensw.org.au

12/12/2025

Our UP! Club members returned to on 23 November for a fun pizza making party just for our adult community. Everyone enjoyed creating their own pizzas, learning new skills and spending a relaxed afternoon with friends.

It was a great chance to connect, chat and have some hands on fun in a welcoming environment. Thank you to the Enzo’s team for hosting us again and making the afternoon so enjoyable.

If you would like to join future UP! Club activities, you can become a free member of Down Syndrome NSW here:
https://www.downsyndromensw.org.au/get-involved/become-a-member

12/12/2025

Several families in Lithgow joined Melissa, our Congratulations Initiative Lead, for a special community consultation and morning tea as part of our Growing, Connected project. It was a warm and welcoming get together organised by Ingrid Moores, pictured here with her husband Moorsey and their beautiful daughter Pernilla.

Local parents Julie, Michelle and Tanya also attended, and everyone enjoyed reconnecting, sharing experiences and talking about the importance of families staying connected and supported within their community.

Thank you to all the families who joined us for such a meaningful and uplifting morning.

11/12/2025

Early in November, Bec Nethery, our Programs and Engagement Manager, and Olivia Sidhu, our Inclusion Support Officer, visited Dubbo for the Western NSW Local Health District Health Conference.

On the same day, they also hosted a Growing, Connected Community Consultation and Social Evening at the Dubbo RSL. Families came together for open and friendly conversations about local services, supports and community opportunities.

It was a warm evening shared over dinner, and we are grateful to everyone who joined us and contributed their insights.

If you would like to be part of future consultations and community events, we invite you to join as a free member of Down Syndrome NSW:
https://www.downsyndromensw.org.au/get-involved/become-a-member

Address

Parramatta, NSW

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.downsyndromensw.org.au/

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