At Feros Care, we’re big on collaboration.
Our lived experience allows our team members to work in co-design with people in disability alongside peak bodies and organisations, influencing social policy and building capacity in communities, and working for further accessibility and inclusivity.
This approach works towards ensuring people with disability have full rights to access the services and supports available to other Australians.
Want to be a voice for your community?
Co-design Framework
Feros Care is focused on empowering people to lead the change that they want to
see and believe that people with disability are the experts in their own life.
This framework sets out the ways our team will engage in co-design with people with disability.
Co-design Guiding Principles
Guiding principle one
Accountability and transparency
Feros Care will seek feedback and work together with participants and communities on creative and outcome-focused solutions.
Guiding principle two
Inclusive and accessible design
Feros Care will be a leader in building all-inclusive practices alongside people of all abilities.
Guiding principle three
Collaboration
Feros Care will embed in community to establish ongoing partnerships and develop strong opportunities to work together.
Guiding principle four
Safe spaces and safe people
Feros Care will learn from our communities and educate staff to nurture safe spaces.
Guiding principle five
Circle of Support
Feros Care will work with people with disability, families, friends and supporters to empower each to live their best life.
Guiding principle six
Changing the Narrative
Feros Care will work on true visibility of disability to break down stigma and stereotypes.
Guiding principle seven
Investing Time
Feros Care will provide diverse models of engagement to ensure you have a platform to feel heard.
Co-design in action
What we’ve done
Our Local Working Groups and National Advisory Groups have 2 main objectives.
- Shape Feros Care’s practices and initiatives
- Identity opportunities and guide Co-design initiatives for their local community Â
In 2023 the Local Working group co-designed Inclusive Employment Resources.
Learn more about the insights each working group generated below
ACT Local Working Group – Report   |  SA Local Working Group – Report
Mackay Local Working Group – Report   |  Townsville Local Working Group – Report
Co-designed Inclusive Employment Resources
Want to be a voice for your community?
How we came to the Co-Design model
In 2021, we began reviewing and refining our existing consultation process to formalise our Co-design Guiding Principles.
This process included forming national advisory groups and intensive focus groups with a wide range of people with disability from diverse groups.
We collated all the feedback and themes and convened a national workshop that united people with disability, professionals from the community and Feros Care staff to understand the top themes that came out of the national focus groups.
This has since formed our seven Co-design Guiding Principles, which ensure we continue to hear everyone’s voice to create projects with the people they are meant for.
It’s all part of our ‘Nothing About Me, Without Me’ approach, which ensures that a person with disability takes part in every conversation about their life, their services and support.
Photos from co-design focus groups
Co-design stories
At Feros Care, we are promoting the co-design movement within the disability services sector. Through intentional engagements Feros Care is continually working with our community to help us better identify, design, and implement projects that are driven by people with disability for people with disability. 
Welcome to Community in Makay is a network of government departments and local organisations like Feros Care working together to help recently released from custody individuals transition back into the community. Â Â
At Feros Care, we believe that when people work together, amazing things can happen. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing in our Disability Employment Workshops in the Australian Capital Territory.  With the third series done and dusted, we’re super excited about the progress we’ve made with peer-supporting people with disability to find meaningful work. Over 78 professionals from different fields – such as employment, education, and advocacy – have joined forces at the workshops to tackle disability employment issues. In our latest workshop, 26 experts brainstormed strategies to make a real difference, and the passion in the room was incredible.Â
Our recent Mental Illness Resilience Project Art Competition aimed to smash these stigmas by sharing and honouring stories through the expressive medium of art. The competition drew a diverse range of participants, each with a unique journey and perspective. Their artworks, ranging from dark and sombre to hopeful and triumphant, provide a window into their experiences.  Here are some of the powerful, real stories of people who navigate the challenges of mental illness every day.Â
“Try Before You Ride” has set a precedent for future initiatives, proving that with proper support and information, apprehensions about public transport can turn into confidence and enthusiasm. This event was a significant step towards empowering individuals and enriching their lives with the freedom and independence that confident travel brings.Â
Raffy Sgroi’s life has been one driven by an unwavering passion for community engagement and the pursuit of meaningful change in our world.
