Draft:Life Without Barriers

• File:Symbol opinion vote.svg Comment: Largely sourced to WP:PRIMARY. Additional references in independent and reliable sources are needed to meet WP:ORGCRIT. Hitro talk 10:33, 3 December 2025 (UTC)

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Life Without Barriers

Founded	1995
Type	Not-for-profit organisation
Headquarters	Newcastle, Australia
Area served	Australia
Services	Disability support, foster care, child youth and family services, aged care, mental health, homelessness support, asylum seeker services, alcohol and other drugs counselling.
Website	www.lwb.org.au

Life Without Barriers, sometimes referred to as LWB, is an Australian non-government, not-for-profit organisation that delivers community-based support services across sectors including disability, child, youth and family services, foster care, mental health, aged care, homelessness, alcohol and other drugs counselling, and support for asylum seekers. Established in 1995, the organisation works alongside government agencies, community partners, and service users to provide programs across all Australian states and territories.

History

Life Without Barriers traces its origins to 1992, when a group of businesspeople in Newcastle, New South Wales, first discussed the idea of an organisation that would allow people with disability to make decisions about their own lives.

In 1995, two community leaders formally established the organisation as a non-government, secular service provider. The Board was formed and Life Without Barriers commenced operation the same year, meeting initially in the Delany Hotel in Newcastle. In 1997 they raised $500,000 AUD to fund services and refurbish a disused bowling club in Newcastle, turning it into the first Life Without Barriers Centre.

By 1999, under the leadership of General Manager Ray Dunn, the organisation expanded its core disability programs, secured government funding, and recruited paid staff. That year also saw the formation of its first youth group.

In 2000, Life Without Barriers introduced new programs including recreation, sport, and education services for people with mental illness and began care and protection (foster care) services in New South Wales.

Between 2001 and 2009, the organisation expanded into Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia, and began delivering aged care services.

In 2008, Life Without Barriers released its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), focusing on reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

By 2009, the organisation had expanded into New Zealand, launched youth justice and homelessness programs, and registered as a Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) network partner.

In 2010, Life Without Barriers reported over 1,700 staff, more than 4,400 clients, and more than 2,200 carers, operating from more than 85 service centres across Australia and New Zealand.

In 2011, Claire Robbs became Chief Executive Officer; that same year, the organisation began serving veterans via the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and expanded its immigration support services.

In 2014, Life Without Barriers expanded immigration support services nationally, providing support to over 5,200 children, families and individuals from over 72 nationalities in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Life Without Barriers Alcohol and other drug services also commenced in South Australia.

In 2016, Children and Residential Experiences (CARE) rolled out across Life Without Barriers, an evidence-based program developed by researchers at Cornell University. The organisation also released its Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan, endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.

In 2017, the first MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Constellation was also formed. Life Without Barriers also participated in Sydney Mardi Gras for the first time and launched an Access Inclusion and Employment Plan.

In 2018, Alliance20 was launched, a partnership between Life Without Barriers and 15 of the largest disability service providers in Australia to promote the NDIS and lobby for changes needed to ensure the best outcomes for participants.

In 2022, the organisation released its Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan (2022–2025), committing to a long-term transition of out-of-home care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children into community control. The organisation also announced a partnership with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children as part of this commitment. The same year, the organisation released it's next Access Inclusion and Employment Plan. Life Without Barriers shared a commitment to employing people with disabilities within the Access Inclusion and Employment Plan. As of 2024, 12.4% of its leadership roles were held by people with disabilities.

In 2023, Life Without Barriers continued advocacy and community-building, joining networks such as the #RaiseTheAge campaign calling for governments to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years, the Home Stretch campaign to extend support for care-leavers, the Allies for Children CEO collective, and the First Nations NGO Alliance.

In 2025, Life Without Barriers expanded further with Myhorizon joining the organisation. This merger included a Registered Training Organisation, Disability Employment Services, and Social Enterprises.

Governance and funding

Life Without Barriers is governed by a Board of Directors responsible for organisational strategy, oversight, and compliance. The Chief Executive Officer leads day-to-day operations and oversees national and regional leadership teams that manage service delivery across Australia. Governance structures align with regulatory requirements for Australian not-for-profit organisations, with oversight mechanisms in place for quality, risk management, and financial accountability.

The organisation is primarily funded through Australian Government and state and territory government contracts for service delivery. Additional funding sources include philanthropic grants, fee-for-service programs, and community partnerships that support specific initiatives. As a not-for-profit entity, surplus funds are reinvested into service improvements, program development, and organisational capacity.

Key people

Board

As of November 2025, the Board members of Life Without Barriers were:

• Greg Ridder AM (Chair of the Board)
• Cathy Taylor (Non-Executive Director)
• Dr Elizabeth McEntyre (Non-Executive Director)
• Dr Helen Szoke AO (Director)
• Karen Knight (Non-Executive Director)
• Natalie Walker (Director)
• Rajiv Viswanathan (Director)
• Shannon Tobolov (Non-Executive Director)

Executive

As of November 2025, the Executive Team of Life Without Barriers were:

• Claire Robbs (Chief Executive)
• Carly Jacobitz (Deputy Chief Executive – Child, Youth and Family)
• Jeevani Korathota (General Counsel)
• Leanne Johnson (Executive Director, Disability and Mental Health)
• Mark Leigh (Chief Operating Officer)
• Mary McKinnon (Executive Director, Group Risk Performance and Impact)
• Michael Robinson (Deputy Chief Executive Emerging Business)
• Paula Head (Chief Strategy and Governance Officer)

Services

Disability

Life Without Barriers delivers disability support services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Its services include health and wellbeing support, support coordination, supported independent living, assistance with daily living skills, social and community participation services, psychosocial disability services, short-term accommodation, and employment pathway programs for people with disabilities.

Foster Care

Life Without Barriers provides foster care services for children and young people unable to live with their families. The organisation offers training for carers, financial assistance, respite options, specialist support, and opportunities for peer networking among carers.

Child, Youth and Family

Life Without Barriers supports children and young people in out-of-home care through foster and kinship care, residential care, and aftercare services for young people transitioning from care. The organisation also delivers various early intervention and family support programs, including Multisystemic Therapy, the Youth Advocate Program, youth justice initiatives, and the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY).

Aged Care

Life Without Barriers provides aged care services designed to support older people to remain living at home and in their communities. These services include personal care, daily living assistance, social and community participation, therapeutic and clinical support, household tasks, home maintenance and repairs, garden maintenance, and respite care.

Mental Health

Life Without Barriers offers mental health services focused on community-based support, counselling, and rehabilitation. Support services include intensive crisis support, psychosocial support, clinical and therapeutic support, Hospital-to-Home transition, drug and alcohol support and group programs.

Asylum Seekers

Life Without Barriers supports asylum seekers living in the Australian community while their immigration status is being assessed. Services include financial support, accommodation, health care, case management and education support.

Forced Marriage

Life Without Barriers provides specialist support for individuals at risk of, or affected by, forced marriage. Services include helping individuals establish immediate safety plans, connecting them with financial, legal and health providers, and supporting pathways to independence through education and employment. The organisation may also work with families to support safer home environments and strengthen healthy connections where appropriate.

Housing and Homelessness

Life Without Barriers operates homelessness support services in Western Australia. These programs focus on linking individuals with broader service networks and addressing factors contributing to homelessness or housing instability.

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Life Without Barriers provides counselling services for people experiencing alcohol or other drug dependency in South Australia. The organisation offers outpatient counselling services and case management.

Recognition and awards

Australian Workplace Equality Index: Life Without Barriers has participated in the AWEI annually since 2018. They achieved Bronze Tier Status in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Disability Confident Recruiter: Life Without Barriers was first awarded Disability Confident Recruiter (DCR) status by the Australian Network on Disability (AND) in 2019. They reaffirmed their commitment to providing a barrier-free and inclusive recruitment process for people with disability through the renewal of their DCR status in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Australian Network on Disability, Disability Confidence Awards: In 2022, Life Without Barriers was awarded the Top Performer in the Premises category of the Access and Inclusion Index for creating accessible spaces for people with disability.

Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards: In 2022 and 2025, Life Without Barriers was awarded the Bronze Tier Employers status at the Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards.

The Department for Child Protection, South Australia's Outstanding Service Award - Non-Government Organisations: In 2022, Life Without Barriers MOCKINGBIRD™ Family Program received the Outstanding Service Award - Non-Government Organisations.

The Department for Child Protection, South Australia's Voice of Children and Young People in Care award: In 2024, Life Without Barriers' Living Arts team received the Voice of the Child and Young Person Award which recognises an individual or organisation supporting the voice of children and young people in care to be heard in the decisions that impact them.

CARE Certification: In 2022, Life Without Barriers was the first organisation to receive the CARE Certification in Australia, developed by the Residential Child Care Project at Cornell University.

Queensland Child Protection Week Child Safe Organisation Award: In 2025, Life Without Barriers was the award recipient of the Child Safe Organisation Award for their demonstrated commitment to the ongoing journey of creating a child-focused culture that keeps children safe and well, in line with implementation of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.