About Us

Livewire is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Starlight Children’s Foundation and is supported by funding from the Australian Government, under the Clever Networks Program, and in-kind contributions from Starlight and Livewire partners.

Together we are working towards providing free and safe online communities for families affected by a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability.

• It's estimated there are over 450,000 children and young people aged over 10 and under 21 years old coping with the impact of living with a serious illness, a chronic health condition or a disability in Australia¹.
• Serious illness or disability can profoundly affect the everyday lives of children and young people by increasing their risk of social isolation, disconnection, lower emotional well-being. These problems are compounded by long hospital stays.
• There are 495,000 primary carers of people living with a disability². Many families struggle to cope with a child living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability. Parents and carers often suffer a heavy emotional burden, physical stress and financial pressure.
• There are over 585,000 young people, aged 10-21 years old, who have a brother or sister living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability³.  These siblings face unique challenges as teenagers - often suffering from social and emotional isolation and experiencing feelings of guilt, confusion and anger.
• Livewire offers a solution for these young people, parents and carers. Livewire facilitates connection, interaction and support between people who are experiencing similar situations.

What is Livewire?

Livewire provides free, safe and fun online communities for families affected by a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability.

There are three communities:

• Livewire Members - for young people, aged over 10 and under 21, living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability; a place where they can hang out, make new friends, share experiences, creatively express themselves and know that they are not alone.
• Livewire Siblings - for young people, aged over 10 and under 21, who have a brother or sister living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability; a place where siblings can meet, be supported and share experiences with people who understand what they are going through.
• Livewire Parents - for parents and carers of people living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability; a place where parents can connect with others who understand what they are going through in a supportive environment created just for them.

If there is anything else you would like to know about Livewire email us at member.services@livewire.org.au


1: Report by Children’s Hospital Education Research Institute (CHERI), The Children's Hospital at Westmead 2008 commissioned by the Starlight Children’' Foundation.
2: ABS, “Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers 2003”.
3: ABS, “Australian Social Trends, 2008” – Families with a young child with a disability – average family size of children with a disability is 2.3 children, compared to 1.8 children in couple families without a child with a disability.


last updated: 28th August 2009