Elevate your organisation with SibAware accreditation
SibAware accreditation clearly showcases your organisation’s commitment to whole-of-family support. Designed for busy professionals, SibAware ensures your organisation stays at the forefront of sibling support, making a meaningful impact in the lives of those you support.
The SibAware accreditation program:
- transforms the way organisations work with families
- empowers organisations to build stronger bonds with siblings in need
- makes it much easier for families to connect with organisations committed to specialised, inclusive, sibling support
- enhances the care provided to siblings, whilst continuing to address the needs of every family member
Are you a professional in the health, education or disability space? If you are, it’s almost certain that you and your organisation will come into contact with siblings.
- Improve awareness and understanding of the unique challenges faced by siblings.
- Strengthen your organisation’s ability to connect with and support siblings, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic environment.
- Make an important and unique addition to your Employee Value Proposition (EVP).
- Showcase your organisation’s commitment to excellence by meeting standards in sibling support.
- Enhance your credibility among stakeholders, partners, and the community by aligning with recognised best practice in sibling support.
- Make it easier for families seeking support, to find organisations that are truly committed to a whole-of-family approach.
- Demonstrate a genuine commitment to social responsibility and community impact.
- Align your organisation’s mission and values with a program that makes a tangible difference in the lives of families nationwide.
- Help create a good organisational culture.
- Add value to your organisation for minimal input (financial or time).
- Tailored for busy professionals, SibAware provides a straightforward accreditation process that respects your time constraints.
- Stay ahead in your field by being part of a network that is inclusive of siblings and recognises organisations committed to sibling wellbeing.
Acknowledgements
This guide has been developed through Siblings Australia’s engagement with both families and professionals over more than 25 years, and through available research evidence. The organisation is committed to evidence-based practice, sector-wide collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.
We thank the adult siblings, parents, and service providers who have shared their stories and added to the growing understanding of the needs of siblings at different life stages.
A note on language
The term ‘disability’ in this context is used to refer to any disability, chronic illness, or developmental delay.
In this guide, the term ‘sibling/s’ is used only for the child/adult without disability, or whose disability presents as requiring less interventions or supports. The term ‘brother/sister’ is used for the child/adult with disability, or whose disability presents as requiring more interventions or supports. We also acknowledge the binary nature of the terms ‘brother/sister’ and hope that people who use the document will adjust their language accordingly.
We will refer at times to ‘sibling relationships’. In this context it means the relationship between the child with, and the child without, disability.
Throughout the guide, the term ‘provider’ is used to refer to individuals who provide services, for example, a physiotherapist, as well as organisations that provide services to people with disability and their families.
Safety
It cannot be assumed that all sibling relationships are to be considered safe, appropriate, or that the person with a disability wants to have a relationship with their sibling. Individuals with disability may have valid reasons to exclude one/more siblings in one or more areas of their life.
Respect for the voice and wishes of the individual with disability comes first.
