Beyond the Therapy Room: Standing Up for Children, Families and Early Support
At All Together Therapy, our work doesn't stop at the therapy room door.
Every day we see the difference that early, timely and appropriate support can make in the lives of children and families. We also see the challenges families face when systems become difficult to navigate, support is delayed, or essential services become harder to access.
Over the past year, our team has been actively involved in advocacy at local, state and national levels to ensure that the voices of children, families and allied health professionals are heard during significant reforms to the disability, health and early intervention sectors.
Why Advocacy Matters
We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to access the support they need, when they need it.
Research consistently demonstrates that early intervention and family-centred support can have a profound impact on a child's development, participation, wellbeing and long-term outcomes. However, these outcomes are only possible when services remain accessible, sustainable and responsive to the needs of families.
Advocacy is about ensuring that decisions made by governments and policymakers reflect the realities experienced by children, families and communities.
It is about protecting choice, preserving access to experienced clinicians and ensuring that future systems are designed around people rather than processes.
Our Advocacy Journey
Over the past 12 months, our Director, Pip Cullen, alongside many dedicated families, clinicians and advocates across Australia, has contributed to numerous initiatives focused on protecting and improving supports for children and families.
This work has included:
Appearing before the NDIS Select Committee Senate Inquiry to provide evidence regarding the impacts of proposed changes on children, families and service providers.
Developing the Harm Tracker, a national project designed to capture the real-world impacts of NDIS reforms on children, families and allied health services.
Participating in consultations and submissions relating to NDIS reforms, foundational supports and the proposed Thriving Kids framework.
Contributing feedback to government consultations, working groups and sector discussions.
Speaking at advocacy events and community forums.
Participating in the Canberra protest and rally alongside families, disabled people and professionals concerned about the impact of proposed changes.
Working collaboratively with organisations, families and providers across Australia to ensure lived experience remains at the centre of reform.
Working Together Through the Nobody Worse Off Coalition
All Together Therapy is proud to be a member of the Nobody Worse Off Coalition.
The coalition brings together disabled people, families, advocacy organisations, allied health professionals and community providers who share a common goal: ensuring that reforms do not leave people with disability worse off.
Through collaboration, evidence gathering and community engagement, the coalition seeks to ensure that future systems strengthen support rather than create additional barriers for those who rely on them.
Looking Ahead
While systems may change, our commitment remains the same.
We will continue to advocate for:
Earlier access to support for children and families.
Neuro-affirming, family-centred and evidence-informed services.
Genuine choice and control for families.
Sustainable community-based allied health services.
Strong collaboration between health, education, disability and community sectors.
Policies that recognise the long-term value of investing in children early.
Every child deserves the opportunity to grow into a happy, healthy and authentic version of themselves.
Every family deserves access to support without unnecessary barriers.
And every community benefits when children are given the opportunity to participate, belong and thrive.
Thank You
Advocacy is never the work of one person.
We would like to acknowledge the families, disabled people, community organisations, fellow clinicians and advocacy groups who continue to share their stories, experiences and expertise.
Your voices matter.
Together, we will continue working towards a future where children and families receive the support they need, when they need it, and where no one is left behind.
