FAQs

Enjoy delicious meals and accessible, comfortable accommodation in stunning NSW locations. Our children’s camps and young adult retreats include specialised staff to support participants throughout their stay.

Programs offer a range of tailored activities. Kids can enjoy discos, movie nights, craft, archery, abseiling, powerchair football and more. Adult retreats may feature game nights, gourmet dinners and local sightseeing.

NDIS Core Supports funding may cover camp costs including meals, accommodation and equipment hire. A $120 non-refundable administration fee applies.

Our team partner with a range of accessible accommodation venues that are tried and tested, to ensure its practicality, safety and convenience. All our retreats are mostly New South Wales-based; however location varies for each camp and retreat. For the latest information, visit our Upcoming Events page.  

Accommodation is shared at our camps and retreats for kids and young adults. 

Accommodation is not shared at any of our adult retreats. If you require a carer or your partner attends, they will share your room with you. 

Transport is not included as part of your stay at camp or retreat. 

All meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided at kids camps. Most meals are provided at adult retreats. Spending money can be brought for you to purchase additional drinks and smaller meals. 

If this is the case, please contact our team on (02) 9888 5711 or at info@mdnsw.org.au and we can discuss your individual circumstance. 

We try our best to be as flexible as possible for new families thinking about sending their children to one of our camps. Contact our camp team upon registration to discuss the possibility of a short visit. 

Absolutely. In some cases, our events and programs fill up quickly so be sure to sign up as soon as possible.

Not at all. We welcome everyone with connections to people living with an NMC. You could be a mother, a carer, an uncle or a cousin to someone living with a NMC. You are welcome to join our community! 

At MDNSW, we aim to provide the latest knowledge and updates that affect our community. Some topics include NDIS updates, carer support, assistive technology, accessible travel and so much more. Some events are for people living with specific neuromuscular conditions. If there’s a topic you’re particularly interested in, contact our team on (02) 9888 5711 or on info@mdnsw.org.au to see how we can help. 

Yes! NIRD is an accessible event that can be accessed by anyone in Australia. 

The topics vary every year. We liaise with specialist presenters such as medical researchers, doctors and other academics to provide you with the latest information and practical tips for you and your loved ones. In the past, some topics have included sleep, education, life transitions, navigating the NDIS and medical trials. 

Great! Simply contact our team on info@mdnsw.org.au or phone us on (02) 9888 5711 and we can see what’s possible. 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for supports and services directly to eligible participants. People with disability have more control and choice over how, when and where their supports are provided. 

The focus of the NDIS is to support participants to become more independent and achieve their goals, including developing skills for day-to-day living. 

Firstly, thank you for joining our community hero program and helping to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those living with neuromuscular conditions. To get started, register yourself here. Once you’re registered, our fundraising team will reach out and help you get started.   

You have access to a whole range of resources to help you on your fundraising journey. We have posters to promote your fundraiser, social media tiles to help your announcements stand out on social media, and more! Check them out here.

If you have a particular idea in mind, you can contact our fundraising team directly at fundraising@mdnsw.org.au and they can help you bring your fundraising event to life.  

Anyone can be a community hero, however, fundraisers under the age of 15 require parental permission prior to registering for a fundraiser for MDNSW.  

• Muscular Dystrophy NSW will not provide a child with an authority to fundraise, without parent consent. MDNSW must also be able to communicate with the parent/guardian throughout the fundraiser. 

• If a child under the age of 15  is interested in fundraising for MDNSW, they must be accompanied by at least one other child participant. They must also be accompanied by a parent/guardian when carrying out any sort of physical fundraising activity. This includes travelling to and from the event or activity. 

If your child would like to become a Community Hero, please feel free to contact the fundraising team at MDNSW on (02) 9054 0953 or fundraising@mdnsw.org.au and we’ll be happy to answer any questions that you may have. 

Our fundraising team will be there every step of the way to assist wherever possible. We can provide you with marketing materials, social media content and handy tips and tricks on organising your event. 

Your donation will go towards supporting the programs and services of MDNSW, which includes providing crucial support and advocacy for individuals with neuromuscular conditions and their families.  

Of course, we’ll keep in touch by sending you regular updates, so you can be sure that your generosity is truly making a difference!    

We use a secure payment processing system to ensure your donation is safe and secure. 

We will be sorry to see you go but, of course, we understand people’s circumstances change. You can pause or cancel your donations at any time. To cancel your donations, contact fundraising@mdnsw.org.au.

Any donations to MDNSW over $2 are tax deductible. 

A bequest is a gift made through a Will or estate plan, where you designate a portion of your assets to be given to a charity or organization after your passing. 

You can include a bequest by adding a specific clause to your Will that states the amount or percentage of your estate you wish to donate. It’s often helpful to work with an estate planning attorney to ensure that your bequest is properly documented. You can contact us if you would like to speak to someone about leaving a gift in your Will by emailing fundraising@mdnsw.org.au.

Leaving a gift in your Will for MDNSW is a generous gesture that will help provide essential resources, education, and opportunities to our neuromuscular community. 

There is no minimum amount required to leave a legacy. Even a small gift can have a significant impact.  

You will need to pass a series of checks before becoming a volunteer with MDNSW. This is a requirement for all volunteers in all capacities. You will need to complete: 

• Police Check  

• NDIS Worker Screening Check  

• Working With Children Check 

Depending on your volunteer role, there may be additional checks that may need to be completed. Any costs associated with these checks will be reimbursed by MDNSW. 

We understand that our volunteers have other commitments and priorities. The time commitment required for volunteering with MDNSW is completely up to you! Upon registration, our team will chat to you to discuss your interests, your availability and commitments, and we can let you know what your options are and what’s possible. 

The skills needed depend on the specific volunteer role, but for general volunteering all we ask for is teamwork and a can-do attitude! 

Definitely! If you’re unable to travel or if you live regionally, you can still volunteer with MDNSW. Our administration volunteers can work from any part of NSW and often join us online.  

Most of our volunteer opportunities are suitable for those aged 18 and above. But teens can get involved too! Our events volunteers have a minimum age requirement of 15 and have parental consent. 

Certainly, we understand that you may have other commitments which is why we’re happy to chat with you around the timeline and expectations of your volunteering opportunity. 

General volunteers don’t require any formal qualifications and/or experience. Some roles such as camp carers have specific requirements which we can share with you should this be an area of interest.  

Volunteering can enhance your skills and expand your networks. Volunteering is a great way to build your resume with hands on experience that can support future job applications. 

We understand that not everyone has the capacity to donate their skills and time – if you would prefer to make a financial donation, head to our donation page.

Volunteering is a great way to gain on the job experience. We have partnerships with many universities where it is possible to complete a volunteering opportunity as part of our placement, however you do not need to be on a student placement to volunteer and gain experience. If you are a university student and are wanting to earn academic credits through volunteering, please contact us at info@mdnsw.org.au