Welcome to the Families in Partnership Co-operative Website

Mission Statement

To create, develop and maintain a network of support and services for people who have a disability in the Macarthur Region through partnerships between families and professionals using a whole of life approach.

News

Important announcements from FIP will appear here...More news here.

Feedback

Your feedback on our web site is welcome to ensure we include the information you need. Please send us an email with your comments and suggestions.

Welcome to the Families in Partnership Co-operative Ltd Website.

Working in Partnership

Are you a parent or carer of a family member who has a disability? Then Families In Partnership can assist you. Families, carers and professionals working together to:

Support each other
Learn and grow together
Create networks of local support and services
Develop a positive awareness within the wider community

The Co-operative

The Families in Partnership Co-operative was formed in 1995 by a group of parents who wanted to do more for their family member who had a disability.
Together with local professionals working in the Macarthur region, they forged a partnership to provide better outcomes for their family and others in similar situations.
Over the years, Co-operative members have provided a vital knowledge base in developing programs and better access to services for people who have a disability and their carers.

Our Focus

Families in Partnership focuses on:

Advocacy
Both by families and carers, and to government agencies and community services. The Co-operative seeks to empower families to self advocate for the needs and resources that their family requires to lead a quality lifestyle. The Co-operative can provide information on how and where to advocate and provide support during the advocacy process.
The Co-operative seeks avenues to inform governments and services on the expressed needs of families and people who have a disability and uses the local media to make the community aware of disability issues and the positive contribution people who have a disability and their families make to their community.
Information and Resources
That give families and carers the support and knowledge they need to participate within their communities. Through linkages formed with all local services and many general community agencies and groups, families can contact the Co-operative to seek the information they require or be quickly directed to the most appropriate place to find it.
MDS Ltd has an Information and Referral Service and can be contacted on 1800 683 232 or on their web site www.mdservices.com.au. Check out our Links page for web sites of many services and government agencies.
Creating linkages
Within the community to improve access and inclusion by families and carers. As our name says, we are about working in partnerships with others to achieve results for people who have a disability and their families and carers.
Co-operative members are active participants in a number of local and regional forums and networks to advocate improvements to services.
Through its promotional activities, the Co-operative links families to a range of community events and activities to improve their inclusion within the community.
Training and Education
Improving family and carer's capacity and skills, through increasing the awareness of programs available within the Macarthur area and the greater Sydney region. The Co-operative supports carers and families to attend presentations by various guest speakers, conferences and seminars and training courses conducted by services.
Education of services and the general community is equally important with in-services training supported through involvement in local Networks, presentations at TAFE and University, and facilitating discussion of family and disability issues by general community services.
Creating opportunities
For families and carers to actively participate in planning and delivery of services in the local region - both at the local level and with the State and Federal Governments.
Through the development of support groups, the Co-operative creates opportunities for families to make contact with other families and share experiences. The Co-operative also supports the development of groups by other services and within the general community through the expertise of its members and Co-operative resources.
Community Development
To promote the well-being of people who have a disability and their carers through activities and events. The Co-operative regularly holds seminars and Expos on issues of importance to people who have a disability and their families to improve their well-being and access to information and resources.
The Co-operative works with its members on issues and projects of importance to them and develop ways for them to be expressed. Displays at local shopping centres and community events increases the awareness of disability issues and services available within the local region.

Our Coordinator

Our Community Development Coordinator is employed to resource families, take up issues with families and service providers, and develop projects and programs that promote the aims of the Co-operative. He is able to work across all areas of the Macarthur region and on all types of disabilities.
Working from our office at Harrington Park, the Coordinator can provide support information and advice to families and people working in disability services. Please feel free to make contact to see how the Coordinator is able to assist you. See our Contact Page for further information.

Membership

Why not become a member and be involved in the work undertaken by the Co-operative? Information about becoming a member is available on our Membership Page.