Families thrive with Now & Next
Families thrive with Now & Next
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The Now & Next program is robust and evidence-based. Our research analysis and an external evaluation shows that the program works and children achieve positive outcomes.
We all want our children to thrive, and you make the biggest difference as parents and carers. By building on our children’s strengths, we can help them to lead a good life. Now & Next is an award-winning program that makes that happen.
Launched in 2015
Launched in 2015
Now & Next is an award-winning program for parents and carers to achieve positive learning and relationship outcomes for their child and the entire family. Starting in 2015 in New South Wales, it was then launched in New Zealand, Finland, Canada, Singapore Albania, Croatia and Ireland.
Demand from the parents who graduated inspired us to create a program for youth. Scroll down or click here to read about Now & Next Youth.
Lasting positive change for your child and family
Lasting positive change for your child and family
Now & Next is facilitated by trained parent peer workers with lived experience in raising a child with a disability or developmental delay. By learning through shared experience and connecting with other families, the program complements the therapists and professionals you work with, to deliver great outcomes.
Now & Next starts with a Pictability session for parents and carers to design their inspiring vision and work on their goals.
Over eight online or face to face sessions, you will learn how to:
Achieve more positive outcomes with less effort
Create a vision, and build on your child and family’s strengths to make a big impact
Increase family well-being and resilience
Use strategies that have worked for other families
Work better with professionals and other supports to achieve your goals
Spend your disability funding wisely
What families say about Now & Next
What families say about Now & Next
Now & Next has changed the way I view and interact with my son and my husband. I feel like we now have a bit more structure, and I have the hold to tackle issues I felt overwhelmed by before. It has also reminded me that it’s okay to be ‘selfish’ sometimes. My mum always says, “You can’t pour out of an empty cup”, and I think it finally makes sense to me. Mother
I have been working with these guys for years now! With lots of hard work and timely communication, they made sure they delivered the best to me. Highly recommended!Now & Next has given me a very clear template to look at what’s working/not working – how to change plans – how to set and achieve goals. It all makes sense in my head now with a clear path. Mother
I have been working with these guys for years now! With lots of hard work and timely communication, they made sure they delivered the best to me. Highly recommended!Now & Next has given me a very clear template to look at what’s working/not working – how to change plans – how to set and achieve goals. It all makes sense in my head now with a clear path. Father
A decade of experience!
A decade of experience!
A Growing Social Movement
A Growing Social Movement
In 2015, there were few—if any—programs in the disability sector specifically designed to build family leadership and capacity. Both families and professionals overlooked the importance of strengthening family capacity, mistakenly believing that it was primarily the professionals’ expertise that determined a child’s outcomes. Now & Next flipped this model, aiming to empower parents to take the primary action in their child’s care. Emerging leaders learn to take ownership of their own growth and success, which in turn strengthens their ability to empower other families to build greater agency. By harnessing the diverse strengths of its participants, the program cultivates a network of peer leaders who champion and sustain increased family participation within the disability sector. These leaders also model how families can effectively navigate support while avoiding long-term dependence on government systems.
Over the past decade, Now & Next has grown beyond a suite of programs into a growing social movement. Families have created peer networks, founded organisations, run parent-led conferences, and conducted research, multiplying impact through self-sustaining initiatives. Parents move from isolation to finding a village of people, learning to work together, advocate, and share lived experiences.
Read the article by Kern and Janson on the Citizen Network website.
Want to talk to a parent peer worker about the program or have any other questions? Contact Dr. Annick Janson.
Want to talk to a parent peer worker about the program or have any other questions? Contact Dr. Annick Janson.
For more information and impact studies, click here.
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