SibWorks - Peer Support Training

About SibWorks

SibWorks is a peer support program for children aged 8-12, who have a brother or sister with disability. Created by Siblings Australia founder, Kate Strohm, in conjunction with psychologist, Monique Nesa, the program is designed to support siblings by building their emotional wellbeing and resilience, and connect them with others who share similar experiences.

SibWorks is a nationally recognised program delivered by accredited SibWorks facilitators, creating a safe, supportive and engaging space where sibling children can connect with others who truly understand their experiences.

Being a sibling of a child with disability can come with a unique mix of pride, love, worry and responsibility. SibWorks recognises these experiences and provides sibling children with the opportunity to feel seen, heard and valued – often for the first time in a space designed just for them.

Delivered both in person and online across Australia, SibWorks workshops are carefully structured to support emotional wellbeing, build resilience and foster genuine connection. Through age-appropriate activities, group discussions and creative exercises, siblings are supported to explore their feelings, strengthen coping strategies and build confidence in their sibling role.

By the end of the program, participants will:

develop a clearer understanding of disability and functional challenges
feel less alone through connection with other siblings who “get it”
learn healthy, practical ways to express and manage tricky emotions
build coping skills they can use in everyday life
feel more positive, confident and empowered in their sibling role

At its heart, SibWorks is about connection, capability and care. The program gives sibling children the chance to build friendships, develop new skills and simply have fun, within a nurturing environment that celebrates their strengths and acknowledges their challenges.

Click the buttons below to view upcoming workshops, or get in touch with us at info@siblingsaustralia.org.au or on 08 8253 4936 to find out where SibWorks is being delivered by our national partner organisations across Australia.

You can also read testimonials below from accredited facilitators and families, including sibling parents, who share the impact SibWorks has had on their children and communities.

Do you work in the health, education or disability sectors, as a social worker, occupational therapist, psychologist, teacher, counsellor, or in another role supporting children and families?

Does your work bring you into contact with siblings of children with disability, and do you want to do more to support these children through your professional practice?

If so, becoming a SibWorks facilitator could be the perfect fit.

Growing up as the sibling of a child with disability can be complex and challenging. Feelings of isolation, responsibility and being overlooked are common, and the benefits of early, targeted support cannot be underestimated.

Our SibWorks facilitator training equips professionals with the knowledge, tools and confidence to support sibling children in meaningful and practical ways. The training includes engaging e-learning modules and optional hard-copy resources and, upon completion, provides accreditation to deliver the SibWorks program within your own professional role.

For service providers and clinicians, SibWorks is a valuable addition to practice – strengthening a holistic, family-centred approach and expanding your professional skillset in a way that can make a lasting difference to sibling children and their families.

SibWorks facilitator training is delivered online and can be completed at your own pace. It begins with SibWise, an introductory course, followed by SibWorks facilitator training, delivered across five modules. Once completed, you will be accredited to deliver SibWorks in your professional capacity and can claim 4–6 hours of professional development points (SibWise and SibWorks combined).

Read testimonials from our accredited facilitators below, or scroll down for pricing information.

SibWorks is an amazing program for Siblings. While each child was nervous and wasn’t sure how it would relate to them, by the end of the first session they all spoke so highly of it. Watching them interact and share their stories in a safe environment, knowing and understanding that they were not alone was such an honour to watch. Their feedback was highly positive, and every single child said they were so glad that they participated. Being a part of providing this much needed service to children and their families is a great privilege.

I could often see and hear that my child was struggling with the things in our family that didn't seem fair, but I didn't have much in my toolkit to do anything meaningful about it. The SibWorks program has given her some tools to work through those feelings, including ways that she can prompt me to see things from her perspective. We are both much better equipped to notice our challenges and support each other.

A complex area of endeavor conveniently simplified into a efficient and effective slice of facilitator training.

Having delivered other group work programs before, SibWorks looks amazing and I can't wait to run my first group. I feel that reflecting on why and how we do things is so valuable. A great program that will benefit every sibling child who participates!

My daughter has just attended a SibWorks workshop and really enjoyed herself. She appreciated all the skills she has learnt and has already started to put them into practice. We've also had some important open discussions about how she feels - even today she asked to be taken to an open space with no people just so she could yell out some frustration. Now we've made the connection, my daughter would love to continue to learn from Siblings Australia. Just knowing that she isn’t the only one experiencing and feeling these things brings comfort and confidence.

We understand that every organisation is at a different stage in their SibWorks journey. Whether you’re just getting started, building on existing capability, or ready to deliver workshops straight away, we offer flexible pricing options to suit your needs.

Our packages are designed to be practical, accessible and scalable, so you can choose what works best for your team, with the ability to add resources as you grow.

Explore the options below to find the right fit for your organisation.

Facilitator Pack: $550
Includes the physical resources required to run the program:
- Facilitator Handbook
- 10 Activity Books
- Postage & GST
This option is suitable for organisations that have completed the online training and are ready to begin delivering workshops.
Activity Book Restock $220
Includes the physical resources required to run the program:
- 10 Activity Books
- Postage & GST
For organisations with an existing Facilitator Handbook and requiring additional participant materials. Additional Activity Books are required for each participant.
SibWorks Package: $750
Includes both the Online Learning and the Facilitator Pack, providing all training and physical resources needed to deliver the program.

If you would like to customise your facilitator training package i.e. include additional workbooks, please contact us at info@siblingsaustralia.org.au or via telephone on 08 8253 4936.

If you have previously completed SibWise and wish to gain accreditation as a SibWorks facilitator, please get in touch.