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Down syndrome support · Western Sydney
Down syndrome support that assumes competence
Respectful support for young people and adults with Down syndrome to learn, work, connect with friends and live more independently across Western Sydney.
An estimated 13,000 to 15,000 people in Australia have Down syndrome (2019 estimate).
Source: Down Syndrome Australia
Around 1 in every 1,158 babies born in Australia has Down syndrome.
Source: Down Syndrome Australia
The average life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome in Australia is 60 years.
Source: Down Syndrome Australia
Understanding Down syndrome
Understanding Down syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic condition, not an illness or disease. It happens when a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21, which is why it is also called trisomy 21.
Everyone with Down syndrome has some level of intellectual disability, and every person has different skills and support needs. Many people with Down syndrome understand a lot more than they can say in words, so patience, clear language and time to respond make a big difference.
Most young people with Down syndrome today go to school and get a job, just like everyone else. Low expectations are one of the biggest barriers people face, so we start from what each person can do and build from there.
Everyday life
Everyday life with Down syndrome, one step at a time
Every person with Down syndrome has their own skills, interests and goals. These are common everyday areas where practical support helps people do more for themselves.
Planning the week
A week-to-a-page planner or picture timetable shows activities, outings and chores. In a shared home, each housemate can keep their own, so everyone knows what is coming up.
Cooking and healthy meals
Practise cooking with step-by-step pictures or a homemade cookbook of favourite family recipes. A weekly cooking day, with meals frozen for later in the week, can make dinners easier.
Shopping and money
Use a picture shopping list, practise getting money out with an ATM card and keep receipts together to track spending. We practise in real shops until each step feels easy.
Keeping the house
A chore list in each room, written or with photos, shows what to do and how. We work through chores together and step back as each job becomes part of the routine.
Health appointments
Adults with an intellectual disability can get an annual health assessment funded by Medicare. We can help book appointments, travel there and note questions or changes to share with the GP.
Work and friendships
People with Down syndrome want to work for the same reasons as everyone else, including to earn their own money. We help with the trip to work, learning new tasks and joining social groups.
How we help
How Skillwise can help
Every support is planned around your goals and what your NDIS plan funds. Start with what you need now, and change it as your plan grows.
Getting and keeping a job
Help to find work that suits your interests, learn the route and the tasks, and settle in with your team, using task lists and visual schedules. Employment support →
Everyday living skills
Practise cooking, shopping, managing money and using public transport, one step at a time, so you can do more for yourself. Daily living & life skills →
Friends and community
Join sport, dance, drama, social groups or local events with a worker who helps you take part and make your own connections. Community participation →
A home of your own
Supported Independent Living in a shared home, with help for daily tasks and someone there overnight, while you keep building your independence. Supported Independent Living →
Living at home
A home of your own, with support
Down Syndrome Australia describes Supported Independent Living (SIL) as funding for help with, or supervision of, daily tasks, so people can develop skills to live as independently as possible. Support can range from someone there most of the time to drop in visits. SIL can suit adults who want to move out of the family home and need help through the day.
Down Syndrome Australia also says there is no right decision about where to live, or who to live with. Some adults live with family, friends or housemates, and some live on their own. SIL funds support workers, not rent, groceries or bills, and the NDIA decides whether SIL is in a plan. We can talk through options and help practise the skills needed before a move.
Families and carers
For families and carers
Leaving home is a big change for parents too. Down Syndrome Australia notes it is normal to feel worried, sad, excited or even guilty, and that early, gradual planning helps everyone adjust. The teenage years are a good time to start talking about it, but it is never too late.
Many families live in multigenerational households, where adults can still live quite independently. We respect your family’s culture and values, while remembering the decision belongs to the adult with Down syndrome. Our team speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Dari and Pashto.
Tip 1
Start talking about living independently early, and plan any move in small, practical steps.
Tip 2
Make a homemade cookbook of family favourites with photos, so cooking skills travel with them.
Tip 3
Keep a weekly planner at home so activities, outings and changes are easy to see.
Tip 4
Ask the GP about the yearly Medicare-funded health assessment for people with intellectual disability.
Good to know
What good support looks like
What we don’t provide. We do not provide nursing, therapy, early childhood support or high intensity care such as mealtime management for severe swallowing difficulties. We work alongside the person’s GP, specialists, therapists and family, and can help people get to their health appointments.
- Speak directly to the person, not the person with them
- Give time to respond and check what has been understood
- Use visual aids, written notes and key word signing if the person uses it
- Treat self-talk as a helpful coping tool, not a problem
NDIS funding
Using your NDIS plan for Down syndrome support
NDIS plans can include Core, Capacity Building and Capital budgets. Core supports cover everyday activities, such as help with daily life, social and community participation and transport. Capacity Building supports focus on building independence and skills, such as improving living arrangements and finding and keeping a job. People with Down syndrome may use these budgets for the kinds of support Skillwise delivers, depending on their plan.
Down Syndrome Australia notes that people with Down syndrome aged 9 and over need to apply to the NDIS and give evidence of their age, residency and disability, including how it affects everyday life. The NDIA decides access and what each plan funds, so we cannot promise any funding. If you disagree with a decision in your plan, you can ask for a review.
How it works
Getting started with Skillwise
Four simple steps. Bring a family member, carer or support coordinator along if you like.
1. Call or send a referral
Ring 0474 151 264 or make a referral online. We usually reply within one business day.
2. A friendly first chat
We talk about your goals, your daily routine and any health, behaviour support or mealtime plans you already have.
3. Your plan, explained
We go through your NDIS plan and service agreement in plain words, in the language that suits you.
4. Support that fits you
We match you with support workers who suit you, and keep checking in as your needs change.
Kind words
What participants and families tell us
Skillwise made our NDIS experience simple and stress-free. Their team truly listens and supports us every step of the way. I always feel my daughter is in safe and caring hands.
The Skillwise team helps me live more independently and with confidence. They are patient, respectful and always ready to assist. I’ve grown so much since joining their support program.
Skillwise staff treat me like family. They’re kind, reliable and genuinely care about my goals. Their support has made a real difference in my daily life.
Questions
Down syndrome NDIS support: common questions
Can’t see your question? Call us on 0474 151 264 and talk to a real person.
Can people with Down syndrome get NDIS support?
The NDIS decides who can access the scheme and what each plan funds, based on how disability affects daily life. If you already have a plan, we can go through it with you and explain which supports Skillwise can deliver, such as life skills, community access, work support and SIL.
Can you support someone with Down syndrome at work?
Yes. We help people prepare for work, practise the trip, learn new tasks with checklists and pictures, and settle in with their team. Support is planned to step back as the person becomes more confident in the job.
Do you offer Supported Independent Living?
Yes. SIL is for people who need some help at home all the time, including overnight. We support people in shared homes to cook, clean, manage routines and build skills. SIL funding does not cover rent or groceries, and the NDIS decides if it goes in a plan.
Can we speak to your team in our own language?
Yes. Our team speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Dari and Pashto, so families can share needs and goals in the language they are most comfortable with.
How do we get started with Skillwise?
Call 0474 151 264 or send us a message. We will talk about goals, interests and the NDIS plan, then meet at home or somewhere comfortable. Family, carers and support coordinators are welcome to join.
How can we prepare for moving out of the family home?
Start early and practise skills at home, like cooking, paying bills, cleaning up, using keys and getting money out with an ATM card. A timetable of weekly tasks helps. We can support life skills sessions and plan short visits and clear steps before a move.
Can you help with health appointments?
Yes. We can help book appointments, travel there and back, and note questions to share with the GP. Adults with an intellectual disability can get an annual health assessment funded by Medicare. We do not provide nursing or medical care.
Do you support young people leaving school?
Yes. Life stage transition support can help with the move from school to work, further study or community activities. We plan the change in clear steps with the young person and their family, and work alongside school staff and the support coordinator.
More help
Organisations that can help
Down Syndrome Australia: The national voice for people with Down syndrome and their families, with Easy Read guides and an NDIS hub.
Down Syndrome NSW: NSW association started by parents over 40 years ago, with programs for adults and employment connections.
Inclusion Australia: The national voice of people with an intellectual disability and their families.
Other conditions
We also support
Skillwise supports people with a range of disabilities across Western Sydney. See all conditions we support.
Supports we provide
Ten ways we can help
From daily living at home to work, community and life changes, find the support that fits your NDIS plan.
Get started
Let's build on what you can do
Call us, send a referral or drop into our Rooty Hill office. We’re open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, and our team speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Dari and Pashto.