Facing Forward Australia:
Education that changes how we respond to difference.
Evidence-informed education and practical resources supporting children and families, educators, healthcare professionals and organisations to better understand visible difference, appearance-related stigma, inclusion and belonging.
Families • Education • Healthcare & Partnerships
Meet Ella.
This little superhero is the reason Facing Forward Australia exists. She has taught me more about courage, kindness and resilience than I ever imagined possible.
EDUCATION
Beyond the Classroom
Professional learning and practical tools that help educators respond confidently to visible difference, appearance-related stigma and bullying.
HEALTHCARE
Beyond the Diagnosis
Professional education for healthcare and university settings, strengthening whole-person, person-centred care beyond the clinical diagnosis.
FAMILIES
Practical support
Accessible information, diagnosis resources and tools developed with lived experience at the centre.
Why Facing Forward Australia exists
Visible difference can shape experiences far beyond a diagnosis: at school, in healthcare, in social settings and within families. Facing Forward Australia was created from lived experience of navigating these systems and recognising how much difference informed, confident responses can make.
We translate lived experience, professional input and evidence into practical education and resources that people can use in real settings.
FOR SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS AND UNIVERSITIES
Beyond the Classroom
Evidence-informed professional learning for Australian schools, educators and universities.
90-minute professional self-paced learning
12-month Teacher Hub access
Curriculum-aligned lesson plans
Scenario cards
Visible Difference School Support Plan
Return-to-School After Treatment Toolkit
First 48 Hours guidance
Assembly and student-support resources
Early-childhood resources where applicable
FOR HEALTHCARE AND UNIVERSITIES
Beyond the Diagnosis
Professional education for healthcare professionals, clinical workforces and university health programs.
90-minute professional self-paced learning
Whole-Person Lens
Clinical practice tools
Implementation resources
Curriculum integration
Reflective practice
Whole-person conversations
Developed through lived experience, evidence-informed practice and professional review.
First Nations-owned, Supply Nation Registered Indigenous Business
NSWICC Assured Member
Professionally reviewed professional learning programs
Evidence-informed development, grounded in lived experience
Beyond the Classroom resources mapped to the Australian Curriculum v9.0
Contributed stakeholder feedback to the World Health Organization consultation on the Global Action Plan on Skin Diseases 2026–2035 (August 2026)
Built from lived experience. Designed for practical change.
Facing Forward Australia began with Brooke and her daughter, Ella. Like many parents, Brooke had countless questions, very few answers and no clear direction. That experience revealed a significant gap in support for Australian families navigating visible difference, and in the knowledge and confidence of the schools and health services around them.
Work with Facing Forward Australia
We work with schools, universities, healthcare organisations and social-impact partners to expand access to practical, evidence-informed education around visible difference and whole-person support.
In the News
Facing Forward Australia makes the front page
On 26 August 2026, Facing Forward Australia and Beyond the Classroom were featured on the front page of The Chronicle.
The feature shared the story behind Facing Forward Australia, why Beyond the Classroom was created, and the need for greater understanding and education around visible difference and appearance-related bullying in Australian schools.
At the heart of the story is a simple message: we cannot place the responsibility solely on children to become more resilient. We also need to educate the environment around them.
For children with visible differences, that means ensuring the adults around them have the knowledge and confidence to respond to staring, questions, comments, exclusion and bullying and to create environments where difference is understood and belonging is protected.
The response to the article has been incredibly encouraging, with members of the community describing the work as “long overdue” and expressing support for greater education around visible difference in schools.
This is exactly why Facing Forward Australia exists; to help move the conversation beyond asking children to cope with difference, and towards creating environments that understand and embrace it.
Read the original feature in The Chronicle (subscription may be required).
How We Can Help
-
Helping families understand diagnoses, treatment options and what to expect.
-
Tools, guides and resources designed to make the journey a little easier.
-
Supporting teachers, schools and communities to create understanding and inclusion.
-
Stories and activities that celebrate differences and help children build confidence.
-
Connecting families with trusted information, support and a community that understands.
Our Health Journey
Supporting your child's healthcare journey from diagnosis and beyond.
Receiving a diagnosis for your child can feel overwhelming. Between specialist appointments, hospital visits, referrals, medications and endless paperwork, it's easy to feel like you're constantly trying to keep up.
Our Health Journey was created by a mum who has walked this path herself.
Designed specifically for parents and caregivers, this beautifully organised journal keeps everything in one place, helping you feel more prepared, more confident, and more in control throughout your child's healthcare journey.
Whether your child has a visible difference, a chronic medical condition, or complex healthcare needs, this journal has been thoughtfully designed to support you every step of the way.
Inside you'll find:
• Appointment records
• Medication tracker
• Treatment timeline
• Hospital admission log
• Surgery record
• Laser treatment tracker
• Growth and development tracker
• Symptom diary
• Questions for your specialists
• Healthcare team contacts
• Medicare and referral tracker
• School communication log
• Space for notes and important information
More than just a planner, Our Health Journey becomes a keepsake of your child's strength and resilience. A place to record milestones, celebrate progress, and look back on just how far you've come.
Because no parent should have to navigate their child's healthcare journey alone.
How to Use Your Editable Journal
Thank you for downloading Our Health Journey 💜
To make sure your journal entries save correctly, please follow these simple steps before you begin.
1. Download the Journal First
Please do not complete the journal in your web browser (such as Chrome, Safari, or Edge).
Instead:
Download the PDF to your computer, tablet, or device.
Save it before opening it.
This will ensure all of your entries can be saved correctly.
2. Open It in a PDF App
For the best experience, open your journal using a dedicated PDF application.
Computer (Windows/Mac):
Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free)
iPad or Tablet:
Adobe Acrobat
GoodNotes
Notability
Xodo (Android & iPad)
3. Start Filling It In
Simply click or tap on any text field or blank space to begin typing.
You can:
Type directly into the journal
Save your progress
Close the file and come back later
Print it at any time if you'd prefer a handwritten copy
4. Save Your Progress
Remember to save your journal regularly while you're working on it.
When you're finished, save a copy with a new name (for example, "My Facing Forward Journal") so your completed version is always safe.
Thank you for supporting Facing Forward Australia. I hope this journal becomes a helpful companion throughout your journey. 💜
You're not alone
Whether you're searching for answers after a new diagnosis, preparing for treatment, or simply looking for someone who understands, we're here to support you.
Together, we can help every child feel seen, included and proud of who they are.
Free for families: Our Health Journey
An editable journal created by a mum who has walked this path, to keep appointments, medications, treatments and school communication in one place.