Sandy Liddell

06/06/2025

To our clients in SA and Tasmania: Monday 9th of June is the King’s Birthday.

Our South Australian and Tasmanian offices will be closed for the day due to the public holidays in these states.

Our office in Queensland will be open as usual, however due to the reduced number of staff available we request that you only call for emergencies or urgent issues if possible.

30/05/2025

Today is World Multiple Sclerosis Day!

This year’s theme is “My MS Diagnosis”, with an emphasis on navigating MS together.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition where the immune system attacks the protective layer around nerves, making it harder for messages to travel between the brain and body. Symptoms can vary a lot between people, from fatigue and pain to vision changes or trouble with balance.

It also varies in severity. Some people have mild symptoms and flare-ups that come and go, while others experience a steady progression.

There are over 33,000 Australians living with MS, and every day another 1 or 2 people receive a diagnosis. It’s most often diagnosed between ages 20 and 40, and 3 out of every 4 people to receive a diagnosis are women.

There’s no cure yet, but treatments have come a long way in helping manage symptoms and slow the progression. The earlier MS is diagnosed, the more options people have. Recognising the signs and understanding the condition makes a real difference.

You can learn about Multiple Sclerosis at https://www.msaustralia.org.au/. You can also show your support on this day, and during the month of March, by wearing orange.

If you or a loved one lives with disability as a result of MS, we have support options available at Total Support Services to assist with daily living. Call 1800 800 877 or email info@totalsupportservices.com.au for more information on how we can help.

13/05/2025

In case you missed it, here's the May edition of our monthly newsletter.

Catch up on changes to the NDIS, check out our new monthly word puzzle, discover this month’s recipe, and more!

Subscribe for the latest news and keep up to date on what’s happening across our organisation.

If you have any feedback, then please get in touch and let us know your thoughts at marketing@totalsupportservices.com.au.

April was a quieter month overall, although the team enjoyed a visit from the Easter bunny! The Adelaide office celebrated the occasion with a small lunch at our head office, while some of the Tasmanian team joined in an easter egg hunt with clients.

12/05/2025

A big thank you to Jason Cousins and George Koutsoubis from Datacord for the invitation to attend the Foodbank SA & Central Australia Women of Influence Luncheon last Friday. A fantastic afternoon bringing together local businesses and raising awareness and funds for an important cause.

It was great to meet and connect with other community-minded leaders and support the incredible work Foodbank is doing across South Australia and the Northern Territory.

24/04/2025

On Anzac Day, the 25th of April, we pay our respects to the sacrifices of Australian armed forces personnel.

It has been 110 years since Australians landed at Gallipoli on an infamous date in Australian history. Technology has advanced, and militaries and wars have modernised. Battles are now fought with more sophisticated weapons and over greater distances.

One thing that continues however, is that combat and military service have long lasting impacts on soldiers both psychologically and physically.

The 2021 Census reported that more than 581,000 Australians had served in the armed forces for some amount of time. Around 500,000 (or 85%) of those were veterans no longer in active service.

Nearly 37% of veterans (around 185,00) reported living with a disability with limitations, compared to 17% for Australians with no military experience living with a similar level of disability.

A 2022 report found that 13% of veterans needed assistance with core activities because of long-term disability or health related difficulties (including trauma). Despite this, many veterans live with strong feelings of stigma, and struggle to access services that could help them.

We offer our support and our gratitude to our clients, staff, and supporters who have served for Australia or New Zealand.

24/04/2025

Tomorrow is Anzac Day, and our offices will be closed for the public holiday.

If you need assistance, you may still call us on 1800 800 877 over the long weekend and your calls will be diverted to any on-call staff. We kindly ask you to only make calls for emergencies.

23/04/2025

https://www.seek.com.au/job/83711934?tracking=SHR-WEB-SharedJob-anz-1

Total Support Services is looking for a experienced and energetic registered nurse to join our team

20/04/2025

Wishing all our clients, staff, and supporters a safe, relaxing, and joy-filled Easter. Whether you're spending it with friends and loved ones, enjoying some chocolate, or just taking a well-earned break (or doing all three!), we hope you all have a great weekend!

17/04/2025

To those who celebrate it, Happy Easter! 🧺🐇

We hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend, whether you're spending it with friends, family, or enjoying some time to yourself.

Our offices will be closed for the public holidays, but you can still call for any urgent issues and reach our on-call staff, and our client services team will be available for any emergencies.

13/04/2025

🧏‍♀️ Today is Auslan Day! 🧏‍♂

Auslan is short for Australian Sign Language, which is used by Australia’s Deaf community nationwide.

It’s a rich, visual language that’s been used in Australia since the 1800s although it was only recognised officially in 1987. It was officially given its name, Auslan, in 1989 when the first Auslan dictionary was published on the 13th of April, and this date is now observed annually in recognition.

Despite only being recognised and named in the 1980s, Auslan has its origins in British and Irish sign languages which were brought to Australia and adapted. It is part of the BANZL family of sign languages and much like English dialects it shares similarities between Australia, England, and New Zealand.

Did you know?
👉 Over 16,000 people in Australia use Auslan at home as their primary language.
👉 It's a distinct language with its own grammar and syntax — not a visual version of English.
👉 Auslan is not universal (and it is not ASL). Most countries have their own sign language, just like spoken languages!
👉 Auslan has regional dialects and continues to grow through education, interpreting services, and community use. It’s an essential part of Deaf culture and identity in Australia.

On Auslan Day we celebrate the language, the community that uses it, and the push for greater access and inclusion. You can search the hashtag to see the positive impact it has for Australia's deaf community.

You can also show your support by learning some basic signs, learning about the history, or watching videos about the experiences of Auslan users.

11/04/2025

Today is World Parkinson’s Day!

Observed every year on April 11, this date was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Dr. James Parkinson who was the first to identify, describe, and diagnose the disease in 1817.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disease which occurs when the brain loses the ability to produce dopamine. While the exact cause for this happening remains unknown, both genetic and environmental factors are believed to play a role.

It is a degenerative disorder of the body’s central nervous system that primarily affects motor function. There are over 40 symptoms, which vary by person and can include tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowness of movement.

Here are some of the key facts about Parkinson's in Australia:

🔵 Prevalence: Over 150,000 Australians are currently living with Parkinson's disease, making it the second most common neurological condition in the country after dementia.

🔵 Daily Diagnoses: Approximately 50 Australians are diagnosed with PD every day, highlighting the significant impact of this disease nationwide.

🔵 Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD): More than 1,100 Australians under the age of 65 are diagnosed with YOPD each year.

You can get involved by supporting a local organisation, wearing something blue to show solidarity, or talking to your friends and family about the importance of prevention and health checks.

If you’re out and about, you can also help spread awareness by taking and sharing photos of the major landmarks around Australia that will be lit up blue tonight!

https://www.parkinsons.org.au/spark-the-night-world-parkinsons-day/

04/04/2025

This shouldn’t be happening in 2025. All NDIS providers need to be accountable and held to the same standards for care AND reporting.

Regardless of the cause of an injury or death, failing to report ANY incident involving a client –especially a death – is a huge failure in meeting the standards we should all expect of the NDIS. It is also a failure to respect the families and loved ones of the very people we are supposed to be supporting as NDIS providers.

Total Support Services fully supports registration of all NDIS providers in the system.

The death of a man with disability in NDIS-supported housing last month sparks a police investigation and renewed calls for mandatory provider registration.