This will be achieved by:

• Providing support to parents
• Advocating for and enriching the lives of people with Down syndrome
• Educating the community
• Sustaining effective and efficient management and governance of the organisation
• Marketing DSWA

Providing support to parents

We will:

1.  Support - Provide parents with practical and emotional support, especially when in crisis and at key life stages such as:

• Pre-natal
• Following diagnosis
• In early childhood
• At times of transition e.g. to school, to high school, to adult life
• In adulthood

2.  Inform - Inform and empower parents by:

• Providing them with current, positive, relevant, responsive and timely information; and
• Providing opportunities for skill development and networking such as forums, seminars, social events and referral to relevant services.

3.  Connect - Develop and maintain strategic networks in order to effectively advocate for and support parents of people with Down syndrome.

4.  Welcome - Ensure DSWA premises are accessible and welcoming.

Advocating for and enriching the lives of people with Down syndrome

We will:

• Establish and maintain mechanisms to support and enable people with Down syndrome to: 
  • Have their voices and views heard; and
  • Develop their skills and strengths to:  
    • speak up for themselves and their peers; and 
    • enable a richer life as a contributing member of the community 
• Advocate to government and other bodies on behalf of people with Down syndrome via a range of means including: 
  • Submissions; 
  • Speaking at forums, seminars, conferences etc; and
  • DSWA representation at key sector tables

Educating the community  

We will:

• Raise the community's awareness of the rights, needs and abilities of people with Down syndrome, the contribution they can make and the issues affecting them and their families.
• Develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of people who work with people with Down syndrome and their families through various means including:
  • Training
  • Consultancy; and
  • Information & resource provision
• Provide the opportunity for the broader community to make connections to the DSWA Mission e.g. events, forums

Sustaining effective and efficient management and governance of the organisation

We will:

• Review and maintain the Vision Mission and Values of DSWA
• Develop and maintain an organisational culture which values and encourages participation, respect, accountability, openness and integrity in all its operations
• Develop organisational policies and practices that support sound management and good practice
• Develop, implement and maintain strategies and practices that ensure the financial sustainability of DSWA
• Ensure DSWA meets all its legislative and contractual obligations
• Undertake regular and timely strategic, business, budget and operational planning, including quarterly review of the budget and operational plans
• Ensure sound recruitment, induction, training and support practices to facilitate good governance by Board members
• Ensure staff and volunteers are supported in their roles by implementing sound recruitment, induction, HR, OHS and professional development practices
• Develop a resource database of people with skills that can support the Mission of DSWA
• Develop, maintain and increase strategic connections in the disability sector and the wider community
• Implement strategies to increase the paid membership

Marketing DSWA

We will:

• Develop and maintain strategic connections in order to raise awareness of people with Down syndrome and the profile of DSWA
• Develop and maintain strategic connections for the purpose of obtaining funds to support DSWA's Mission
• Develop and market the organisational brand as one which is recognised and respected throughout the community
• Work with and through the national network of Down Syndrome Associations to raise the profile of DSWA
• Review and strengthen the contribution that fundraisers make in raising awareness of DSWA's Mission while increasing the financial position through the Ball, events, donations, long-term sponsorship and merchandise sales.