Down Syndrome NSW

27/08/2026

Last week, we hosted the Cooking for Independence workshop at our office!

The amazing Sean, Marley, and Fuzz hosted us through the day, bringing plenty of laughs, energy and fun as they cooked their way through a savoury recipe and a delicious dessert.

The workshop is all about helping teens and adults with Down syndrome build confidence and independence through cooking – learning practical skills that can be used at home every day.

🎥 And there’s more to come!

In October we’re excited to release our Cooking for Independence videos showcasing step-by-step guides to cooking 2 x delicious recipes. Creating an easy, accessible resource for people with Down syndrome or intellectual disability to follow along and cook more independently.

We can’t wait to share it with you!

Fuzz Ali Get Down with Sean and Marley

27/08/2026

Have you checked out these great health apps yet?

26/08/2026

What’s On Wednesday!

August is wrapping up, but there’s plenty more to come! 🎉

We’ve got lots of exciting events planned for September and October, with more being added along the way.

Check out what’s coming up below and keep an eye out for even more events to be announced!

Register for these and many more events through our Events Page: https://www.downsyndromensw.org.au/get-involved/events

26/08/2026

Important changes to note starting from tomorrow.

25/08/2026

A huge thank you to our amazing City2Surf legends!

A massive shoutout to Raylene, Ariel and Chris for taking on the City2Surf and raising funds for Down Syndrome NSW!

Image shows Raylene and Ariel completing City2Surf - all smiles!!! What an incredible achievement.

Thank you for getting involved, challenging yourselves and helping raise vital funds to support people with Down syndrome and their families across NSW. Every kilometre and every dollar makes a difference!

Want to get involved?
If you’re interested in running, walking or taking part in an event to support Down Syndrome NSW, send us a message and we’ll be in touch with events happening in your local area.
Who knows… you could be our next fundraising superstar!

24/08/2026

A summary of info and the timeline of next steps with the NDIS legislation that passed last week.

24/08/2026

Join Us for UP! For Fun: Celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

We’re excited to invite you to UP! For Fun our annual community celebration held in the beautiful Royal Botanic Garden Sydney this October, as part of Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

This inclusive and heartwarming day brings together families, friends, and supporters to celebrate people with Down syndrome through joy, connection, and fun.

- Enjoy games and activities for all ages and abilities
- Live performances and entertainment
- Special visits from a magical princess and a superhero
- Delicious food and drinks available, or bring your own picnic hamper

FREE event: everyone is welcome!

📅 Sunday 18 October 2026
🕚 11am–2pm
📍 Crescent Precinct, The Domain
Corner of Art Gallery Road & St Marys Road

Register: https://events.humanitix.com/up-for-fun-in-celebration-of-down-syndrome-awareness-month

24/08/2026

Olivia has found a job that brings together three things she loves – acting, speaking up and helping people learn.

She works as a role-play actor at the 's Simulation Lab. Olivia acts out different scenarios so occupational therapy students can practise their communication and clinical skills before going on placement.

She also gives guest lectures, sharing her own experiences and helping future health professionals learn directly from someone with lived experience.

The opportunity came through Down Syndrome NSW Employment Connections program. Olivia received support to update her resume, practise for her interview and prepare for her guest lecture.

“That made me feel more confident and ready for the interview,” Olivia says.

Now she's doing work she really enjoys while helping students become better health professionals.

“I love acting, and I love speaking up and sharing my experiences. I also like seeing the different perspectives that the students have and helping them learn.”

It's a wonderful example of what can happen when people have the opportunity to use their strengths and get the right support at work.

If you or someone in your family is looking for work, visit the Right to Work website for employment information, resources and support: https://buff.ly/9NShZWR

19/08/2026

We are disappointed by the passing of the NDIS Amendment Bill in its current form.

While this news is difficult, we want to thank the incredible work of our community and fellow advocacy organisations. Your voices directly shaped critical amendments.

The advocacy does not stop here.

We will continue our work with the Down Syndrome Consortium, under the leadership of Down Syndrome Australia (DSA), to support our members through every single stage of these changes, including information and understanding of the impact of:

- Scheme eligibility & access
- Impairment notices
- Support determinations and what they mean for you.
- Changes to funding levels within your plans.
- Support needs assessments and understanding their impact.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲

We remain concerned about the impact of the Bill but recognise that a number of last-minute amendments respond to our significant advocacy efforts.

These include:
✅ Improvements to the definitions and application of parental responsibility.
✅ The application of unscheduled plan reassessments.
✅ Safeguarding of people who require 24/7 supports.

The DSA Consortium will continue to work with the Government on the safe implementation of this Bill.

We know many in our community are anxious about what comes next. We will keep you updated as we work through what this means.