'Lived Experience Guides Us' Life Without Barriers 2023–24 Annual Report

This year, we celebrate how the lived experience of people across our Life Without Barriers community have guided us to live our purpose more fully through our values of respect, responsiveness, courage, imagination and relationships.

Life Without Barriers is proud to have partnered with 21,203 people. We delivered support services to 5,133 people with disability, worked with over 5,936 children, young people, and families, supported 1,147 refugees and asylum seekers and aided over 8,236 older Australians to have independence at home.

Along the way, we shared great stories, connected with communities across the country, increased our accessibility and inclusion practices, and celebrated some great milestones.

Image: Townsville Child, Youth and Family team holding up books over their faces.

Claire Robbs, Chief Executive of Life Without Barriers, said the achievements the organisation has made in 2023-24 are 'a testament to the incredible work and dedication our people and carers have shown over the past year.'

“This year’s theme, and the stories we have curated in the report, show the progress we are making in being led by the lived experience of people all across the country,” Ms Robbs said.

The key three areas Life Without Barriers focused on align with Strategy 2025:

1. Delivering Great

2. Influencing Systemic Barriers

3. Impact for Future Generations

The 2023 – 24 Annual Report outlines great stories and reflections that bring forth examples of how lived experience is improving how we support people across the nation with a real emphasis on relationships, partnership and elevating the importance of the central leadership of lived experience in strategy and decision making. 

Partnering with carers and their families, we provided 5,966 children and young people a safe place to call home this year. We were guided by young voices and carers to keep improving our quality of care, including young people in Youth Advisory Groups, as well as collaborations with carers in Carer Advisory Groups.  

“I feel supported, I am asked what I would like to do, I feel respected.” Young person.  

Image: Two young people stand together with their arms crossed. Their faces are hidden by leaves on a tree.

This year, 6,752 people with lived experience of disability or mental health issues trusted us with their support needs. Their choices and insights have guided our efforts including through groups like the Victorian Disability Accommodation Supports (VDAS) Family and Supporters Group.

Families and supporters help us improve our services.

The relationships built by listening to the members of the VDAS Family and Supporters Group members have shaped and enriched the support we provide. 

“Having the opportunity to share issues and concerns is crucial, and we are also able to give encouragement where things are working well. We just want to ensure our family members and others are living their best lives and receiving the best care.” Catherine, Family and Supporter Group member. 

Image: Debbie and Claire face each other, smiling.

We also welcomed our first CEO intern in partnership with the Disability Leadership Institute, Ms Debbie Heron, and Board Observer Fathia Tayib, and we look forward to continuing these leadership opportunities. 

“Our organisation is 100% committed to employment opportunities for people with disability.  We have clear targets within our Access Inclusion and Employment Plan and this year we recorded 13.8% of our employees with disability holding leadership roles at Life Without Barriers.” 

We strived to influence the systemic barriers and our new policy and advocacy agenda was shaped entirely through progress we can achieve in partnerships. 

Our organisation independently took a strong position in support of the Voice to Parliament – believing, as we still do, it is an important path to true self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

We remain steadfast that our Reconciliation Action Plan, the idea of reconciliation and the partnership we have with Reconciliation Australia are crucial in the courage and commitment we take forward.  

We have worked hard to partner with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) across the country to guide our transition commitments and extended sector reform through partnerships like Allies for Children and the First Nations NGO Alliance.  

We recognised and celebrated culture in many ways during the 2023-2024 financial year, including NAIDOC Week ‘For Our Elders’, Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week ‘Now More Than Ever’. Teams from each state and territory hosted, attended, participated in or assisted people we support in attending a variety of events for each significant date, including marches, breakfasts, community events, webinars, storytelling and cultural walks.  

Image: A young boy wearing white body paint and a red headband, holding a branch from a gum tree, looks at the camera. Image provided by Garma Festival.

The stories shared in this year’s report are only a small number of the tens of thousands we have witnessed over the year, but we do hope you enjoy reading them.

We celebrate and thank our employees and carers who are the driving force of our organisation. They are humble people who believe in a community for all. We thank our partners for the learnings you have shared and for the comradery as we strive together to partner with people and change lives for the better. 

Please read the Life Without Barriers 2023-24 Annual Report in a format that best suits you below:

• Annual Report | PDF2023-24

• Audio Described videos | 2023-24 Annual Report

• Easy English | 2024 Annual Report

• Interactive website | 2023-24 Annual Report

• Year in review | 2023-24 Annual Report