Families across Australia raising children with disabilities face extraordinary daily challenges—emotionally, physically, and financially. Many parents are forced to leave the workforce entirely to provide full-time care for their children, yet the support provided by the Australian Government is often inadequate to meet the realities these families face.

While financial strain is a major issue, the lack of support extends far beyond income assistance. Families are struggling to survive on insufficient Centrelink payments while also fighting for appropriate educational support, respite, and understanding for their children within schools and the broader community.

Caring for a child with a disability is essential, full-time work. Parents provide unpaid care that saves the Australian Government significant costs in healthcare, disability services, and institutional care. Despite this, many families are left financially strained, emotionally exhausted, and unsupported.

Recent tragic events—including the devastating murder-suicide involving a family with two autistic teenage boys—have highlighted the extreme consequences of systemic failure and prolonged caregiver burnout. These tragedies are not isolated incidents; they are a reflection of families crying out for help while navigating overwhelming care demands with insufficient support.

Many families are living in a constant state of burnout, exhaustion, and isolation. Without adequate financial assistance, school support, respite options, and mental health services, families are being pushed beyond their limits. This is not just a disability issue—it is a public safety, mental health, and human rights issue.

Schools across Australia remain under-resourced when it comes to supporting students with disabilities. There is insufficient funding for Student Learning Support Officers (SLSOs), limited individual support, and a lack of flexibility for children who require frequent breaks, reduced stimulation, or alternative learning approaches due to their disabilities.

Current government systems fail to reflect the true cost—financial, emotional, and psychological—of raising and caring for children with disabilities.

We call on the Australian Government to:

• Increase financial support delivered through Centrelink for families caring for children with disabilities
• Ensure payments reflect the real cost of full-time caregiving and the inability of many parents to work
• Recognise unpaid caregiving as essential work
• Increase funding for schools to employ more Student Learning Support Officers (SLSOs)
• Ensure students with disabilities receive appropriate learning adjustments, including flexibility for frequent breaks and wellbeing needs
• Expand access to respite, mental health, and family support services to prevent caregiver burnout
• Act urgently to prevent families from reaching crisis point due to lack of support
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  Families caring for children with disabilities deserve dignity, stability, and meaningful support. No family should be left to struggle alone until tragedy occurs. Proper support saves lives.

By signing this petition, you are calling on the Australian Government to act now—to support families, protect children, and prevent further heartbreaking outcomes.