About Us
Chosen Family embodies community, inclusion, diversity, equity, excellence and joy in the NDIS and Mental Health space. Chosen Family was a dream of seeing individuals who fall within the gaps be involved in co-designing their future. Chosen Family are not here to create unhealthy dependencies on our services. Instead, our goal is to foster self-determination and set participants up for success. Feel the connection; let’s co-design your future.
- Traidy Bugeja-Naidoo
Vision
We envision dismantling oppressive technologies, systems, and moral frameworks, fostering a future grounded in true family and community values. Dismantling technologies, systems, and moral frameworks of oppression.
Mission
Our mission is to replenish imagination, co-design the future, and disrupt the disability sector with authentic family and community values. Replenishing imagination, co-designing the future, disrupting the disability sector with true family and community values. Providing refreshing disability and psychosocial services to all participants.
Values
Flexibility, Tenderness, Equity and Belonging
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Tell us how Chosen Family is different to other Disability Providers?As a team, our lived experience coupled with our trauma informed & intersectional framework makes us different and a delight in the sector. Chosen Family provides a community-centric ecosystem with services that are: multicultural, flexible and enriching to all. Our community continues to reimagine how our services will create platforms of equality, inclusion and belonging. Our services are projects of our co-laboured efforts that have trauma informed practice and person-centred values weaved into them. We are different because we support those who fall within the gaps.
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What are the gaps Chosen Family are trying to fill?We are bringing joy back to the sector. Sadly, the sector has become way too commercialised and void of empathy, compassion and ensuring our participants have their rights to self-determination fostered. Chosen Family specialises in participants and are not limited to those who have: Behaviours of concern, Psychosocial disability, LGBTQ+ individuals, drug and alcohol interventions and forensic (justice) participants.
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What is your grand plan vision for Chosen Family?Our grand vision for Chosen Family is that we become so agile and flexible that it becomes whatever it needs to be for any individual. Our logo as Chosen Family is a table and a platform. The table displays our values and practice of family and community. We come & break bread together, gain insight from various cultural and gender experiences. You will notice our logo also has a gap at the table, which signifies that eventually, they will use the table as a platform to share their passions and advocate for others like themselves. We hope to empower them to go and start their own table and platform to ensure their rights to choice and control & to self-determination & agency are honoured. We encourage individuals to come & share their stories, and when you’re ready, we commission you to go and create communities of equity & belonging.
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Where is Chosen Family located?Our Head Office is based in Western Sydney. However our support services extend to New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
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How do you work out Meet And Greets with support workers?Meet and Greets are scheduled at a 2 hour minimum and you can decide if you connect with your new potential worker.
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What are your Focus Areas and Goals?Expand our division providing LGBTQIA+ services to ensure those who are part of the community. Increase awareness through networks and training. Develop an inclusive ecosystem attracting lived experience workers. Deliver joyful core and respite services. Raise spiritual awareness and equity. Provide inclusive education on disability, sexual health, LGBTQIA+, and spiritual practices. Support young LGBTQIA+ individuals in fostering healthy relationships. Co-design services with the community.
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How did it all begin?The Inception of Chosen Family: Chosen Family emerged when Traidy worked as a support worker and saw the parallels and barriers to inclusive care to those who have a disability and the lgbtqia+ community. Many individuals, disowned by their families, found support in Chosen Family, becoming their "chosen family.” Chosen Family does not only cater to the community but have a division providing support to the minority within a minority. Chosen Family bridges the gap between the LGBTQIA+ community and the disability sector, providing support for individuals who often fall within the gaps.