This year marks a special milestone — Tom has been part of the BestLife family for 10 years.

Tom, who is turning 16, first joined BestLife as a bright-eyed six-year-old, longing for connection. While he loved going to school, weekends were tough. His parents, Natalie and Gordon, could see their son’s sparkle starting to fade.

Dear Friends of BestLife,

It’s been far too long since our last update—proof of just how much has been happening. We’re delighted to launch our quarterly newsletter to keep you better informed. Here’s a brief snapshot of what we’ve been up to.

“When Lara comes home from her three-night stays at BestLife she immediately starts putting her ‘housemates’ skills to use! Making toast, putting her clothes in the laundry and asking ‘see BestLife friends, Dad?’. Our wish for Lara is that one day she may live...

BestLife began when our founder Kath Coory began looking for out of home activities for her eleven year old daughter Lara. Playdates, sleepovers without her parents being there weren’t possible, and that troubled her mum, Kath. Where would Lara make friends and have...

Tom is a happy, healthy and outgoing kid, but he needs more support than most kids his age. Fourteen-year-old Tom has Down Syndrome, while his twin brother Lachie doesn’t. Although they’re the best of mates, it wasn’t possible for Tom to take part in many of the...