This year, we celebrate three decades of milestones, memories and community spirit. Throughout September and October, we’ll be sharing 30 stories for 30 years.
Image: Parry St Day Centre celebrated its annual Open Day in 2011.
30 Years Then, Now, Next
This September marks 30 years since Life Without Barriers began with a conversation in a Newcastle pub on the coast of New South Wales. That conversation, shared by a group of people, some with lived experience, all deeply committed to change, set the foundations for what would become a national organisation dedicated to partnering with people and communities to create opportunities, remove barriers and champion social justice.
From those beginnings, Life Without Barriers has grown to support more than 25,000 people across Australia each year. Together, we’ve fostered bold conversations, built strong partnerships, and worked for lasting reform that helps shape a fairer, more inclusive society.
Image: Life Without Barriers Chairman Terry Lawler (previous) and Chief Executive Claire Robbs opened at the opening of the Charleston, NSW office. They are holding up an Aboriginal circle painting.
As we celebrate 30 Years: Then, Now, Next, we’re sharing 30 inspiring stories that capture the spirit, milestones and memories of our journey. These stories spotlight the moments and people who have made the past three decades unforgettable and they remind us that for every story we share, there are hundreds more woven into our history.
Follow along as we revisit the past, celebrate the present and look ahead with excitement to what comes next. Because every story matters, and every one of you carries this legacy forward.
Watch the video from Claire Robbs, Life Without Barriers Chief Executive, here.
Image: Life Without Barriers Albury office celebrating DisabiliTEA in 2011.
Then: Our Beginnings | 1995 - 2009
The concept of Life Without Barriers was first discussed in 1992 by a group of Newcastle business people, as a way for people with disability to make the decisions affecting their lives.
Two community leaders from Newcastle who shared a passion for improving the lives of people living with a disability proposed to create a new non-government, secular organisation for people living with a disability. A Board was formed and Life Without Barriers commenced operation, with regular meetings upstairs in Newcastle's Delany Hotel - Life Without Barriers was born.
The Board lobbied local businesses for funding and the Newcastle City Council for the use of a run down, old bowling club at Parry Street. $500,000 was raised to refurbish the old club and fund what was needed to start new Life Without Barriers services.
In May Life Without Barriers moved into the Life Without Barriers Centre - established to see more opportunities for people with a disability living in the Hunter region.
Then: The people who shape us | 2010 - 2019
During this decade, we partnered with support thousands of people across Australia, expanded availability of refugee and asylum seeker services, deepened our reconciliation commitments through our first RAP, became a loyal participant in Mardi Gras supporting our LGBTQIA+ community and carers and cofounded Alliance20.
Every achievement was possible because of people, their courage, generosity, and belief in each other.
Our story has never been about buildings or systems. It has always been about people.
Image: Life Without Barriers staff and carers at our first Mardi Gras in 2017.
Now: Moments of Change | 2020 – 2025
The last five years have been a time of profound change. We navigated the pandemic together, showing resilience, kindness and courage. We launched Strategy 2025, setting bold ambitions for services and systemic reform.
We also launched our Elevate RAP, committing to step back from providing out-of-home care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and supporting their transition to community control. We’ve seen lived experience guide our work more than ever, reminding us that change is possible when we listen deeply and act together.
These moments of change have strengthened who we are. They remind us that when we believe in possibility, we can create lasting impact.
Image: 'Carnival of Fun’ event in Darwin, Northern Territory, 2020.
Next: Looking Ahead | 2025 onwards
As we celebrate 30 years, we also turn to the future. We close our final chapter on our Strategy 2025 and will set our new aspirations to support communities across Australia. We bring our current Elevate RAP to an end and prepare our next major transformation commitments towards reconciliation. We are setting our sights on greater contributions to advance fairness and equity This is just one example of how we’ll continue to invest in people and strengthen communities to create new possibilities.
The next 30 years will bring opportunity and challenge in equal measure. Our future will be defined by how well we listen, learn and act together.
Image: An Aboriginal woman is performing a dance at the Reconciliation in the West annual event at Tauondi Aboriginal College.
