What is the need for Livewire?
Livewire.org.au was established to support the needs of families in distress as a result of dealing with the impact of a serious
illness, chronic health condition or disability.
• An estimated 450,000 children and young people aged over 10 and under 21 years are living with the impact of a
serious illness, chronic health condition or a disability in Australia.1
• Serious illness or disability can profoundly affect the everyday lives of children and young people by increasing their
risk of social isolation, disconnection, lower peer acceptance and lower emotional well-being. These problems are
compounded by long hospital stays.
• The brothers and sisters of people living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability face their own
unique teenage challenges. These siblings often suffer from social and emotional isolation and can experience
feelings of guilt, confusion and anger. There are 585,000 siblings, aged over 10 and under 21, who have a brother or
sister living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability.²
• 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 500,000 parents
and primary carers of people living with a serious illness, chronic health condition or disability.³
What is Livewire?
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. Optus is the exclusive telecommunications sponsor of Livewire.
Livewire (livewire.org.au) provides free, safe and supportive online communities for families affected by a serious illness,
chronic health condition or disability.
Livewire.org.au has created an online community platform that is leveraged by other not-for-profit organisations. Livewire
has over 45 agreements in place with leading state and national NFP’s.
What is Livewire’s Mission?
To improve the emotional and social wellbeing of young people living with a serious illness, chronic health condition
or disability and their families.
How does Livewire deliver on this mission?
Livewire facilitates connection, empathy and understanding between people who are experiencing similar situations by
offering three customised, safe and secure online communities featuring social networking tools and relevant content.
What are the three Livewire communities?
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Livewire Members (http://members.livewire.org.au) – For young people, aged over 10 and under 21, living with a
serious illness, chronic health condition or disability. It’s a place for them to hang out, meet new friends, share
experiences, creatively express themselves and know that they are not alone in their situation.
Livewire Siblings (http://siblings.livewire.org.au) – 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. It’s a place for them to meet other siblings,
share experiences with people who understand what they are going through, and gain the skills and knowledge to
help them feel more in control of their situation.
Livewire Parents (http://parents.livewire.org.au) – For parents and carers of people living with a serious illness,
chronic health condition or disability. It’s a place for them to connect with one another in an understanding
environment.
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, “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.
3: ABS, “Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers 2003”
How can young people access Livewire?
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Livewire.org.au - From any internet-connected PC, at home or in the community, in urban, regional or remote areas.
Livewire Mobile (m.livewire.org.au) – Enabling access to the Livewire Members and Livewire Siblings community via
an internet connected mobile.
Livewire on Wheels Hospital program – A bedside access program to bring Livewire to young people in hospital.
Livewire on Wheels trolleys with a secured laptop and Livewire Loaner Laptops to be used at bedside are being rolled
out into paediatric hospitals, paediatric wards in adult hospitals and respite centres across Australia.
What are the product features of Livewire?
Safe & secure moderated communities tailored especially for each group where members can:
• Chat online and meet other people who understand what they are going through.
• Create a blog about themselves and share their thoughts
• Enter competitions and win awesome prizes
• Play games and listen to the latest music
• Read articles created just for them
• Post in forums and have their say!
What are the outcomes Livewire aims to deliver?
The program outcomes of Livewire are members who:
• Feel less isolated
• Receive more social support
• Are empowered
• Are more resilient
• Experience less bullying and predation
• Can better overcome anxiety and stress
• Are alleviated from boredom
• Can creatively express themselves, and
• Feel an increased sense of belong to a community.
How is Livewire different from other social networking sites?
Livewire provides safe, secure and moderated communities tailored to the needs of its members. Livewire chat hosts and
moderators trained in adolescent health are online seven days a week to ensure that Livewire remains a supportive and fun
place.
How is Livewire kept safe and secure?
Ensuring that Livewire remains safe and secure is a top priority.
• We are working with the Australian Federal Police to ensure that our website, comprehensive sign up processes, chat
host and volunteer training are optimised to keep our members safe.
• We have partnered with SIFT Pty Ltd, who are leading specialists in providing a broad range of information security
services, on ensuring the security of the web application, hosting environment and sign-up process.
• For more detailed information on how Livewire is kept safe and secure, go to http://www.livewire.org.au/aboutlivewire/faq/.