ENVISAGE-Families (ENVISAGE-F: Enabling Visions and Growing Expectations for Families) is a unique, evidence-based program that supports and empowers caregivers raising children with developmental concerns and disabilities.
Parenting children with disabilities is challenging and can take a significant toll on caregivers, impacting their wellbeing, their family, and the outcomes for child, family, and community.
The ENVISAGE-F program was co-created by Australian and Canadian researchers in partnership with parents and clinicians and offers five integrated workshops that can be delivered online or in person.
ENVISAGE-F provides families with evidence-based information, family-focused strategies, and a community of support through peer connections. Workshops are co-facilitated by a trained caregiver with lived experience, and a qualified early childhood professional.
ENVISAGE-F’s uniqueness lies in its demonstrated ability to positively change caregiver, family, community, and societal attitudes towards people with disabilities. Through rigorous evaluation the program has been shown to increase caregivers' confidence in parenting children with disabilities, empowering them to take strengths-based, future-focused approaches to their child, family, and community.
ENVISAGE-F provides caregivers with tools to support connection, collaboration, and wellbeing. Empathy and evidence are equally prioritised to ensure that caregivers finish the program embedded within an informed community of support.
ENVISAGE has now been upscaled for far-reaching impact across Australia and includes ENVISAGE-First Peoples, specifically codesigned with/for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities; ENVISAGE-International, a cross-cultural translation of ENVISAGE to different languages and cultural groups; and ENVISAGE-Service Providers for health professionals working in early child development and disability.

Associate Professor Laura Miller
Associate Prof in Occupational Therapy, Chief Investigator ENVISAGE
School of Allied Health Faculty of Health Sciences,  Australian Catholic University



Professor Christine Imms
Professor of Neurodevelopment and Disability, Occupational Therapist Chief Investigator ENVISAGE
Department of Paediatrics; Healthy Trajectories Child and Youth Disability Research Hub,  The University of Melbourne



Professor Peter Rosenbaum
Professor of Paediatrics Chief Investigator ENVISAGE
CanChild, School of Rehabilitation Science ,  McMaster University



Ms Rose Babic
Parent-partner
Healthy Trajectories Child and Youth Disability Research Hub,  Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Australia)



Ms Vicki Cavalerios
Parent-partner
Healthy Trajectories Child and Youth Disability Research Hub,  Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Australia)



Ms Rachel Martens
Family Engagement Advisor and parent-partner
CanChild, School of Rehabilitation Science ,  McMaster University



Dr Andrea Cross
Post-Doctoral researcher
CanChild, School of Rehabilitation Science ,  McMaster University



Dr Bridget O‘Connor
Post-Doctoral researcher
Healthy Trajectories Child and Youth Disability Research Hub,  The University of Melbourne



Ms Kerry Britt
Doctoral Candidate
Healthy Trajectories Child and Youth Disability Research Hub,  The University of Melbourne



Ms Jacky Lipson
ENVISAGE National Project Officer
School of Allied Health Faculty of Health Sciences,  Australian Catholic University



Ms Debra Hughes
Research Assistant
CanChild, School of Rehabilitation Science ,  McMaster University



Ms Rebecca Tamaariki
Parent-partner
School of Allied Health Faculty of Health Sciences,  Australian Catholic University



Ms Sandy Boyd
Research Assistant
School of Allied Health Faculty of Health Sciences,  Australian Catholic University



Dr Alison Nelson
Director, Organisational Development and Acting Chief Operations Officer
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH)



Ms Chrisdell McLaren
Deputy Chief Operations Officer
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH)



Ms Monika Novak-Pavlic
Post-Doctoral researcher
CanChild, School of Rehabilitation Science ,  McMaster University



Ms Kinga Pozniak
Post-Doctoral researcher
CanChild, School of Rehabilitation Science ,  McMaster University

Development of the ENVISAGE program was made possible by research grants from the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine; the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR); the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation; The University of Melbourne; and Kids Brain Health Network. Australia-wide delivery of ENVISAGE-Families is generously supported through funding from the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

The program is led by Australian Catholic University, University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and McMaster University, with support from many partners and collaborators including Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, Perth Children’s Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital, Children’s Health Queensland, Kids +, Canadian partners at CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research. Most importantly, we want to acknowledge the 140+ families who have contributed their time, knowledge, and expertise to ensure ENVISAGE has families’ fingerprints all over it!