Submission declined on 3 March 2026 by SocDoneLeft (talk). This draft is not adequately supported by reliable sources. Wikipedia's verifiability policy requires that all content be supported by reliable sources. Reliable sources include: reputable newspapers, magazines, academic journals, and books from respected publishers. Unacceptable sources include: personal blogs, social media, predatory publishers, most tabloids, and websites where anyone can contribute. Replace any unreliable sources with high-quality sources. If you cannot find a reliable source for the material, it should be removed. If you would like to continue working on the submission, click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window. If you have not resolved the issues listed above, your draft will be declined again and potentially deleted. If you need extra help, please ask us a question at the AfC Help Desk or get live help from experienced editors. Please do not remove reviewer comments or this notice until the submission is accepted. Where to get help If you need help editing or submitting your draft, please ask us a question at the AfC Help Desk or get live help from experienced editors. These venues are only for help with editing and the submission process, not to get reviews. If you need feedback on your draft, or if the review is taking a lot of time, you can try asking for help on the talk page of a relevant WikiProject. Some WikiProjects are more active than others so a speedy reply is not guaranteed. How to improve a draft Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia – a basic overview on how to edit Wikipedia. Help:Wikitext – how to use the markup Help:Referencing for beginners – how to include references Wikipedia:Article development – how to develop your article Wikipedia:Writing better articles – how to improve your article Wikipedia:Verifiability – make sure your article includes reliable third-party sources You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Add tags to your draft Editor resources Easy tools: Citation bot (help) | Advanced: Fix bare URLs Declined by SocDoneLeft 3 months ago. Last edited by CopyleftEverything 3 months ago. Reviewer: Inform author. Resubmit Please note that if the issues are not fixed, the draft will be declined again.

Submission declined on 21 December 2025 by MelbourneIdentity (talk). This draft is not written from a neutral point of view. Wikipedia articles must be written neutrally in a formal, impersonal, and dispassionate way. They should not read like a blog post, advertisement, or fan page. Rewrite the draft to remove: promotional language: see Words to watch; personal commentary: opinions or direct addresses to the reader; informal language. Instead, only summarize in your own words a range of independent, reliable, published sources that discuss the subject. Declined by MelbourneIdentity 5 months ago.

Submission declined on 6 December 2025 by MCE89 (talk). This draft's references do not show that the subject meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion for organizations and companies. The draft requires multiple published secondary sources that: provide significant coverage: discuss the subject in detail, excluding routine coverage like product launches, staff appointments, or financial reports and listings in databases or listicles; are reliable: from reputable outlets with editorial oversight; are independent: not connected to the subject, such as press releases, the subject's own website, or sponsored content. Please add references that meet all three of these criteria. If none exist, the subject is not yet suitable for Wikipedia. Declined by MCE89 6 months ago.

Submission declined on 3 December 2025 by HitroMilanese (talk). This draft's references do not show that the subject meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion for organizations and companies. The draft requires multiple published secondary sources that: provide significant coverage: discuss the subject in detail, excluding routine coverage like product launches, staff appointments, or financial reports and listings in databases or listicles; are reliable: from reputable outlets with editorial oversight; are independent: not connected to the subject, such as press releases, the subject's own website, or sponsored content. Please add references that meet all three of these criteria. If none exist, the subject is not yet suitable for Wikipedia. Declined by HitroMilanese 6 months ago.

• Comment: 1. Article still relies far too much on primary sourcing, either from LWB or from LWB partner organizations. Please cut the article content down to that supported by reliable, secondary sources and resubmit. 2. Most of the "history" section is unsourced. 3. The "key people" section should be removed. SocDoneLeft (talk) 15:53, 3 March 2026 (UTC)

• 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)

Life Without Barriers (sometimes referred to as LWB) is an Australian non-government, not-for-profit organisation that provides community-based support services. Established in 1995, it operates across all Australian states and territories, delivering services in areas including disability support, out-of-home care, mental health, aged care, homelessness, and migration support.^[1][2] The organisation works primarily under government-funded service delivery arrangements and is governed by an independent Board of Directors.

The concept for Life Without Barriers emerged in 1992, when a group of businesspeople in Newcastle, New South Wales, first discussed establishing an organisation that would support people with disability to make decisions about their own lives.

In 1995, the organisation was formally established as a non-government, secular service provider. A Board of Directors was appointed, and operations commenced in Newcastle, with early meetings held at the Delany Hotel. In 1997, the organisation raised AUD $500,000 to fund services and refurbish a former bowling club in Newcastle, which became the first Life Without Barriers Centre.

By 1999, under the leadership of General Manager Ray Dunn, Life Without Barriers expanded its disability services, secured government funding, and employed paid staff. The organisation also established its first youth group during this period.

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

Between 2001 and 2009, the organisation expanded operations 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), outlining commitments to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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

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

In 2011, Claire Robbs was appointed Chief Executive Officer. That year, the organisation began serving veterans via the Department of Veterans' Affairs and expanded its immigration support services.^[3]

In 2014, Life Without Barriers expanded immigration support services nationally, providing assistance to over 5,200 children, families and individuals from more than 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, the organisation implemented the Children and Residential Experiences (CARE) program, an evidence-based program developed by researchers at Cornell University.^[4] The organisation also released its Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan, endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.

In 2017, the first MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Constellation was formed.^[5] The organisation also launched an Access Inclusion and Employment Plan.^[6]

In 2018, Life Without Barriers co-founded Alliance20, Alliance20 was launched, a collaboration between disability service providers on issues relating to the NDIS.^[7]

In 2022, the organisation released its Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan (2022–2025),^[8] outlining commitments relating to the transition of out-of-home care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to community control.^[9] This included a partnership with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children.^[10] The same year, the organisation released it's next Access Inclusion and Employment Plan.^[11][12]

In 2023, Life Without Barriers several national advocacy networks including the #RaiseTheAge campaign, the Home Stretch campaign, the Allies for Children CEO collective,^[13][14][15] and the First Nations NGO Alliance.

In 2025, Life Without Barriers expanded through the integration of Myhorizon, incorporating a registered training organisation, disability employment services and social enterprises.

Life Without Barriers is governed by a Board of Directors responsible for organisational strategy, oversight, and compliance. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for day-to-day operations and oversees national and regional leadership teams that manage service delivery across Australia.

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. As a not-for-profit organisation, surplus funds are reinvested into service delivery and organisational operations.^[16]

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

• Greg Ridder AM (Chair of the Board)^[17]
• 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)

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

• Claire Robbs (Chief Executive)^[17]
• 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)

Life Without Barriers delivers community-based social services across multiple sectors in Australia. Its primary service areas include disability support, out-of-home care, mental health, aged care, homelessness, and migration support.

Disability services include supported independent living, assistance with daily living, social participation, psychosocial support, and programs under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).^[18]

Foster care, out-of-home care and child, youth, and family services encompass foster, kinship, and residential care, as well as aftercare services for young people transitioning from care. Early intervention,^[19] family support, and youth justice programs are also delivered^[20].^[21] Services for foster carers include carer training, financial assistance, respite arrangements and specialist support.^[20][22]

Aged care services assist older Australians to remain living in their communities, providing personal care, domestic support, social participation opportunities, and respite.^[23]

Mental health and alcohol and other drug services focus on community-based support, counselling, rehabilitation, and crisis intervention.^[24][25][26]

Asylum seeker support includes assistance with accommodation, case management, healthcare, and education. The organisation also delivers specialist support for individuals at risk of, or affected by, forced marriage.^[27][28][29]

Homelessness services in select regions aim to address housing instability through support and coordination with broader service networks.^[30]