Leader of the group, Toni Hobson said the event was a good opportunity for parents and carers of people with disability and providers to meet with Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Mitch Fifield and Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan.

"It was a very positive meeting, we had a good number of people come along, especially local and Ballarat respite organisations which was really great," she said.

"There were representatives from Pinarc, Pinnacle, Grampians Community Health, Ararat Rural City Council, Villa Maria and of course parents and carers."

Ms Hobson said three families were given the opportunity to demonstrate to Mr Fifield and Mr Tehan via power points the need for extra respite and how it would greatly improve their quality of life, health and wellbeing.

"The parent stories were excellent and it was wonderful to see the message get through to the decision makers," she said.

"I congratulate them for opening up their lives for all to see, as it is a very emotional path to walk on with a child or adult child with a profound disability."

Ms Hobson said the politicians were made aware of the lack of overnight respite in the Grampians region.

"We were putting across the need for another respite home to be available to families to utilise for overnight stays to get that well deserved break from caring for family members who have a disability," she said.

"We were hoping that this new home would be situated in the Stawell area but after hearing that the four bed Ararat respite home only has funding to be used two nights a week, Mr Tehan said that he and Mr Fifield would see what they can do to get the extra funding to have the home opened seven nights a week."

Ms Hobson said she felt some sense of reassurance that Mr Tehan and Mr Fifield would move to act on the current respite concerns.

"This would make a big impact on the waiting list for the overnight stays through Pinnacle. We are all hoping this goes ahead and we as a group will endeavour to receive that extra funding.

"We still hope to have the funding to eventually have a second home for respite in the Grampians region, but we now also have a path to follow with regard to the respite needs."

Ms Hobson has promised to 'keep at it' and continue to lobby on behalf of parents and carers of children and people with disability.

"I'm hoping that as a result of this forum we will get a good response and an expansion of respite services across the Grampians region," she said.

"There is a big need for more funding and respite in this area."

Ms Hobson said there were many people she wanted to thank for helping to organise last week's successful forum.

"I want to thank both Kathryn Clayton (Pinnacle Inc) and Susan Power (Grampians Community Health) for their insight into the wider realm of respite and their help with the agenda and speeches on the day," she said.

"Lisa McDade (McDade Enterprise Inc) for the catering of a very lovely lunch we all enjoyed and Villa Maria for sponsoring our lunch, without your financial help we would have all gone hungry.

"Ararat Rural City Council for allowing us to use the new Alexandra Oval Community Centre and of course Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, his staff and Minister Mitch Fifield for keeping his promise to visit us in Ararat and to hear our stories.

"Lastly I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Ararat Disability Parent Support Group members for their support, without you there wouldn't be a group."

Ararat Disability Support Group meets every second Tuesday of the month.