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Are you in the loop?

NDIS Champions

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Kate Barakis

Kew, VIC

AFDO NDIS Champion Kate Barakis

Kate Barakis lives in Melbourne.  She volunteers at the local Childcare as an assistant Educator three days a week. She has been at this centre for two years now working in the four-year-old and two-year-old rooms. She has a supportive employer who says Kate makes a valuable contribution to the centre, playing with, caring for, and settling the children.

On the other two days Kate is building her literacy and numeracy skills with the help of a tutor and her Transition to Work provider. 

Kate is currently funded by an Individual Support Package by DHHS which has allowed her to acquire the individualised services she needs to build her skills for open employment. Kate aims to study Cert III in Childcare in 2018.  

With training, Kate travels independently on public transport. Her work, the gym and friends are keeping her fit and happy.

Kate is keen to support people with a disability, educators, employers and service providers work together to build more inclusive communities. AFDO and the NDIS can help in achieving this goal.


About the NDIS Champions program

Would your business, organisation or community group benefit from a free information session on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), delivered by a person with disability in your local area?

Do you want to know more about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)? Do you want to understand what it will mean for people with disability?

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) has recently employed and trained 30 people with disabilities from all over Australia to become NDIS Champions - to deliver reliable, fact-checked information about the NDIS in their local communities.

NDIS Champions presentations have answers to the most frequently asked questions, including:

  • What is the NDIS?
  • Who can access it?
  • Why do we need it?
  • How does it work?
  • What do I need to do?
  • NDIS Plans
  • And more

If your business, organisation, or community group would benefit from a free information session on the NDIS, you can fill out an Expression of interest form (online or PDF), or contact your local Champion directly using the contact details on the Champions' page. 

Note: NDIS Champions presentations were free during late 2016, but the project funding for this has ended. The Champions we trained are now working independently as presenters, and are charging modest fees to cover their time, expenses and expertise. Contact your local NDIS Champion to find out more. 


Contact details

If you would like Kate to make a presentation about the NDIS to your organisation, business or group, you can email her at katebarakis@gmail.com.

Download Kate's NDIS Champions flyer (PDF, 1 page, 160kb)