Join Life Without Barriers at a range of events happening across Australia during February.
Image: Suzanne (South East OM) and Eriona (Outer East OM) at Midsumma.
This February, Life Without Barriers is hosting and supporting a number of events across Australia. You can connect with our teams and learn more about our services at the events below.
Australia Wide
Back to School: Drop-in Webinar
It's back-to-school time, and Life Without Barriers is here to help! For some children, going back to school can be a time of excitement and joy. For others, it can be a time of apprehension as they process the feeling of 'what if'? Returning to school is a big change and can bring about a variety of mixed emotions.
In this webinar, we will chat about how we can best prepare children for the return to school and make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone. So, don’t walk this journey alone! Join the team from Learning Without Barriers for our live drop-in information and Q&A session – talking all things back to school.
Date: Wednesday, 1 February
Time: 12pm-12:30pm
Location: Online event
For more information or to register, visit our Eventbrite registration webpage.
New South Wales
Mardi Gras Fair Day
Kick-off Sydney World Pride in true Mardi Gras style at Fair Day!
There is something for everyone at Fair Day. Taking you from day to night, this is one of the community’s most-loved events bringing over 200 retail, information and food stalls, sample giveaways and family-friendly picnic areas, with entertainment featuring Carla Wehbe, Mama de Leche, Penelope Pettigrew and The Buoys.
Life Without Barriers will be one of the 200 stalls at this family-friendly event with lots of food and entertainment, celebrating and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, especially our carers.
Our friendly staff and foster carers will be there to share with you all the information and insights into what it's like to be a foster carer and to answer any questions you might have.
Date: Sunday, 19 February.
Time: 10am-9pm
Location: Victoria Park, Parramatta Road, Broadway, New South Wales.
For more information, visit the Sydney World Pride website.
Life Without Barriers values a diverse community of Foster Carers. We recognise and respect all the ways relationships and families are found and formed and continue to actively seek people to join our growing network of LGBTQIA+ carers.
Image: Staff and carers holding a 'we love our foster carers' rainbow sign.
Mardi Gras Parade
The world-renowned Parade returns to Oxford Street in celebration of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’ 45th anniversary. This dazzling display of LGBTQIA+ excellence showcases the beauty and strength in pride and self-expression as we continue the fight for equality. As the biggest event of the Sydney World Pride festival, all eyes will be on the 12,500 marchers as 200+ floats adorn Oxford Street for the first time since 2020.
Life Without Barriers is excited to be marching alongside the LGBTQIA+ community in the 2023 Mardi Gras Parade. For 28 years, our organisation has worked to break down barriers and support people to realise their dreams. We are proud to amplify the voices of the communities we support and inspire Pride, Without Barriers.
Date: Saturday, 25 February.
Time: 6pm-11pm
Location: Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales.
For more information, visit the Sydney World Pride website.
Life Without Barriers welcomes all those of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics to join our organisation, and we support all LGBTQIA+ employees to bring their whole selves to work.
Image: Life Without Barriers staff marching at Brisbane Pride March
Queensland
Foster Care Information Stall at Westfield North Lakes Shopping Centre
Are you able to open your home and provide a safe and stable home for children and young people in care?
Come down to Westfield North Lakes Shopping Centre and chat with Amy Donnelly, Carer Recruitment & Engagement Officer, about all things foster care!
Amy can talk you through the different types of care, the application and assessment process, the roles and responsibilities of being a foster carer and the support we provide at Life Without Barriers.
Date: Friday, 3 February
Time: 9am - 4pm
Location: Westfield North Lakes Shopping Centre, corner Anzac Avenue & North Lakes Drive, North Lakes, Queensland.
Take our self-assessment quiz today to learn more about how fostering might work for you.
Image: Elizabeth and Louise at a Life Without Barriers stall.
Townsville Strand Night Markets
Looking for a perfect way to unwind after a busy week? Come along to the Strand Night Markets!
The Strand Night Markets is a great family-friendly night out featuring Townsville’s favourite food vendors, local arts and crafts, entertainment for the children and more.
We will have a stall at the market, and our friendly staff will be available to chat about all things foster care and answer any questions you have.
Date: Friday, 3 February
Time: 5pm-9pm
Location: Strand Park, Townsville, Queensland.
For more information, visit the Townsville Rotary Markets website.
Image: Life Without Barriers stall at Logan NAIDOC.
Foster Care Information Stall at Warner Marketplace
Could you be a foster carer and change a child's life? We have an urgent need for more foster carers - nurturing people who are willing and able to provide stable, loving homes for children who are unable to live safely with their family.
Come down to Warner Marketplace and chat with Amy Donnelly, Carer Recruitment & Engagement Officer, about all things foster care!
Amy can talk you through the different types of care, the application and assessment process, the roles and responsibilities of being a foster carer and the support we provide at Life Without Barriers.
Date: Thursday, 23 February
Time: 9am - 4pm
Location: Warner Marketplace, 353-355 Samsonvale Road, Warner, Queensland.
Visit our foster care webpage to learn more about becoming a foster carer.
Victoria
Victoria’s Pride Street Party
Victoria's Pride is an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ Victorians and the wider community to come together as one to celebrate the remarkable journey of equality through inspirational arts, community involvement, food, and culture.
The street party will include live music performances from several artists, and local businesses will serve food and drinks, with many hosting shopfront activations and performances in venues.
Life Without Barriers staff and foster care ambassadors will be at the event, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and answering any questions you might have about foster care.
Date: Sunday, 12 February
Time: 11am - 5pm
Location: Gertrude Street and Smith Street Fitzroy - Collingwood, Victoria.
For more information, visit the Midsumma website.
Image: Issa (Case Manager), Panos (CYF VIC Director) and Abril LaTrene at Life Without Barriers' Midsumma stall.
Australian Capital Territory
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) at the Enliven Housing Open Day
Located in Canberra, these apartments are generous in size, feature high-quality NDIS inclusions, and are ready for Assistive Technology. All of the apartments are also pet-friendly!
Make sure you book an appointment to attend one of the open days and view these spacious two-bedroom apartments. Life Without Barriers will be onsite alongside Enliven Housing on the day to answer any questions you have about the accommodation.
Date: Every Wednesday from 1 February to 22 February.
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: North Braddon, Australian Capital Territory.
For more information or to register, visit the Enliven Housing website.
South Australia
15th Anniversary of the National Apology Day Event
Life Without Barriers is proud to partner with Nunkuwarrin Yunti for a special event acknowledging National Apology Day, taking place on Kaurna Land at Veale Gardens in the Southern Adelaide CBD Parklands.
The event will begin with a peaceful walk from Tarntanyangga (Victoria Square) at 9:30am, followed by the main event at Veale Park featuring a smoking ceremony, live music and entertainment, food and stalls.
Our friendly staff will be at the event running activities, including Ngarrindjeri Weaving workshops with our very wonderful Aboriginal Resident Artist Natasha Sumner.
Date: Monday 13 February.
Time: 9:30am-2pm
Location: Veale Park, South Terrace, South Australia.
For more information, visit the Reconciliation SA Facebook page.
Image: Poster advertising the 15th Anniversary of the National Apology Day event at Veale Park.
