Communication Extra

01/07/2025

📣 IMPORTANT! The NDIS In and Out list Rules are being changed!

🗨️ You can tell the government what you think and how to make them better from now until Sunday 27 July 2025.

🧑‍🦽 The Department of Social Services (DSS) wants to hear from people with disability, families, and supporters.

💻 There’s a free online session on Tuesday 24 June to explain the NDIS Supports rule.

🧠 The session will explain how to join the consultation.

🔗 Read more and tell them what you think here: https://engage.dss.gov.au/ndis-supports-rule/

🛎️ You can click the “Subscribe” button at https://notify.dss.gov.au/subscription-ndis-reforms to get updates.

👥 Please share this with EVERYONE!

Pic desc: An image from the DSS website that says “HAVE YOUR SAY ON NDIS RULES”.

29/06/2025

We're Hiring – Social Worker | Lead Support Coordinator

Are you passionate about breaking down barriers and creating real change for people with disabilities that impact communication?

Communication eXtra is a Deaf-led, award-winning national provider on the lookout for a qualified Social Worker or similar Allied Health Professional to join our team in Adelaide or Melbourne. You'll support participants with sensory, cognitive, and complex communication needs—guiding them to exercise choice, achieve goals, and connect to the supports they deserve.

✌ Based in Adelaide or Melbourne, flexible/hybrid options available
✌ Lead with purpose, supporting both clients and our support coordination team
✌ Ideal for someone with social work experience and a strong sense of ethical practice
✌ Willingness to learn Auslan and engage deeply with the Deaf community is a must to align with our Mission and Vision.

Join a values-driven organisation making a meaningful difference every day.

To apply - please contact us at support@communicationextra.com.au and we will send you a Position Description.

🔗 Apply now or tag someone who’d be perfect for this role.

28/06/2025

Daisy is an app for people affected by domestic, family and sexual violence, that provides information on how you can connect with relevant support services in your local area.

It was developed by 1800RESPECT and is free to use and download.

Daisy includes safety features to help protect the privacy of people using it.

If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of domestic, family and sexual violence you can call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.

06/06/2025

This is an excellent video made in London using BSL. But the scenarios are familiar to deaf people around the world..

Audio described filmSilent Buttons is a brand new campaign film from the 2024 Adam Reynolds Awardee Chris Laing. Over the last year, 2024 ARA Winner Chris La...

05/06/2025

Who are Communication eXtra Support Coordinators?
⁠
❌ Not contractors
❌ Not subcontractors
⁠
So, who are we?
✔ A team of dedicated, resourceful professionals
✔ 100% focused on Support Coordination — it’s all we do
✔ Proudly Disability-led and Deaf-led
✔ Many of us are NDIS participants ourselves — we live it, and we get it
⁠
Our Support Coordinators bring lived, personal and professional experience from all over Australia. We know how hard it can be to access the things most people take for granted — because we live it too.
⁠
What connects us all?
We’re driven by a shared passion to support people with disability.
We don’t stop until we’ve found the right supports and services for each individual — because we understand the system from the inside out.
⁠
Looking for someone who truly gets it — and gets results?

Refer to Communication eXtra today.

https://communicationextra.com.au/contact-us/

02/06/2025

🌏🤝 As we wrap up - today marks the last day of National Reconciliation Week 2025!

🗓️ Running from 27 May to 3 June each year, NRW is a time to reflect, to listen, to learn — and most importantly, to act.

🌟 The 2025 theme is ‘Bridging Now to Next’, a powerful reminder of how our past, present and future are connected — and how each of us has a role in walking the path toward genuine reconciliation.

🌄 At Communication eXtra, we begin meetings with an Acknowledgement of Country, and we acknowledge there's so much more to do.

📸 Pic description:
Some 2025 events this week around Australia.

01/06/2025

26/05/2025

I am writing to congratulate Communication Extra and in particular Isobel Quinlin who in my experience in dealings with your company has always gone out of her way for her clients. She has always done the 1% that a lot of companies that I have dealt with do not do.

She always puts the client first, ensures that all of their personal needs and requirements are met. Further she genuinely cares about the outcomes and always ensures the outcomes are what the client actually require and in particular actually need. She has always gone above and beyond and for this I congratulate her.

This experience with Isobel has made my collaboration with Communication Extra a really smooth and enjoyable one and I highly recommend this company from both an internal and external customer prospective.

Thank you
Simon Dewar
DIPBUS (HONS)
Mentor and Support worker

20/05/2025

Changes to NDIS from May 19th, 2025

Transcript:

🟡 Hello

We have something new to tell you about how NDIS plans work from May 19th, if you get a NEW plan.

🧩 What’s changing?
If you get a new plan (not just an extension), your support hours or money will come in smaller parts over time, not all at once.
These parts are called funding periods.

Imagine you have a big box of 40 hours of support. You used to get the whole box at once. Now, you get your hours in smaller boxes—bit by bit.

🗓 What are funding periods?
Think of it like this:
You have 40 hours of support for the year.
Instead of getting all 40 hours on Day 1, NDIS gives you:
➡️ 10 hours for the first 3 months
➡️ 10 hours for the next 3 months
➡️ 10 hours for the next 3 months
➡️ And 10 hours for the last 3 months
That still adds up to 40 hours – you just get them in smaller boxes throughout the year.

🕒 What if you don’t use all your hours?
Good news! If you don’t use all your hours in one box, they roll over into the next one.
Let’s say in the first 3 months, you only used 8 hours.
You still have 2 hours left.
In the next 3 months, you’ll have 12 hours to use!
But be careful—you can't carry hours into a new plan once the old one ends.

👀 Who can see these periods?
In your NDIS online account (called the NDIS portal), these smaller boxes (funding periods) can be seen by:
- You and your family
- Your Plan Manager
- Your Support Coordinator

🧾 What about claiming support?
You can only claim support from the current funding box.
So, if a support crosses into two boxes, it might need to be split into two claims.
And if you try to claim more than what’s in the box, the NDIS will say “No!” until the next box opens.

🚫 Can we move hours from one box to another?
Nope! You can’t shuffle hours between the boxes.
But if your needs change (like you need more help), you can ask NDIS for a plan reassessment.
You can also ask them to change how often you get your boxes (like monthly instead of every 3 months).

06/05/2025

We love this review from a client -

"I want to acknowledge the incredible work you’re doing. You bring such passion and dedication, and I mentioned to the NDIS in a recent phone call that I believe you are a real asset for the Deaf community."

27/03/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/191aM5HKKb/

08/03/2025