Holistic Lifestyle Services Disability & Mental Health Services

21/08/2025

🙏

Family of four-year-old Queensland boy who can count to 10,000 takes NDIS to tribunal

The family of an autistic Queensland boy who can count to 10,000 has taken the NDIS to a tribunal after he was denied funding for further supports for his “enormous challenges”.

The family of a Queensland boy who can count to 10,000 and memorise the complex scientific names of dinosaurs using their full binomial nomenclature in Latin has taken the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to a tribunal.

The four-year-old, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder level 3 and Global Development Delay, had been denied funding for further supports in his National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) package.

His parents appealed the decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal which heard the youngster, who was not identified in the decision, was equipped with breathtaking gifts for his age.

“While this decision will inevitably focus on (his) limitations, deficits and challenges, the tribunal acknowledges… his innate abilities and strengths such as, his ability to read multi-syllable words, memorise the complex scientific names of dinosaurs using their full binomial nomenclature, counting to 10,000 and undertaking complex addition and subtraction,” general member Deborah Heron said in Friday’s decision.

While the child’s intelligence is extraordinary, everyday tasks such as breakfast and dinner and getting him to preschool involved “extensive negotiations and … refusal behaviours” the tribunal heard.

“(He) is an irreplaceable member of our family. He is sweet, loving, animated, excitable, and a bright little boy,” the parents said in a statement to the tribunal.

“However, (his) disabilities still remain an enormous challenge for [him] and for us as a family.

“Behaviours of crying, screaming, dropping to the floor, thrashing around, no safety awareness, and low impulse control exclude (him) and our family from experiencing the world as any other family would expect.”

It comes after plans to block children with mild to moderate autism from the NDIS and divert them to community programs were met with anger by families who say they will boycott the move.

Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing Mark Butler on Wednesday revealed that kids with moderate autism or a developmental delay will receive help via a number of programs under the banner of Thriving Kids, set to roll out from July 1 next year.
During the tribunal hearing the father directed a heartwarming message to his son.

“We promised to advocate relentlessly for whatever assistance you require.

“We hope one day you will learn there is no obstacle or limit in life once you learn how to put your mind into a bulldozer mode and simply keep pushing forward no matter how daunting the challenge is.

“We hope one day in the future you may even be able to comprehend the efforts involved and the love we have for you.”
The child attends a behavioural program through the NDIS that involves among other things enhancing his daily living skills.

His NDIS funding totalled about $149,700 a year on the current program however his parents wanted to increase the program supports in areas like therapy, supervision, planning and capacity building.

Ultimately the tribunal’s General Member Deborah Heron rejected many of the supports increases that had been sought by the child’ parents.

However in Friday’s decision she did order an increase in hours for some areas such as dietitian support.

04/08/2025

🐑 🐐💕🙏

02/08/2025

Read for later

Shock as advert for new NDIS chief quietly posted online

The $52.3b a year NDIS is being marred by more contention, this time it’s a job advertisement for its CEO which has ‘sent shockwaves’ through the sector.

An advert for a new CEO for the beleaguered $52.3 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been quietly posted online, with applications closing in just over a week.

It is unclear whether the current CEO, Rebecca Falkingham – who on a package of $800,000 a year earns more than the Prime Minister – has resigned.

Earlier this month the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), in charge of the scheme looking after 730,000 Australians with a disability, was forced to issue a statement saying Ms Falkingham was on sick leave, battling Stage 3 breast cancer.

The agency also confirmed that the NDIA Board, headed by Paralympian Kurt Fearnley, had appointed Scott McNaughton as acting CEO.

It followed rising anger about who was in charge when a controversial decision was made in June to freeze or cut pay for NDIS providers. The move has forced businesses to close and participants to lose supports.

A 60,000 strong petition calling for a reversal of the changes is expected to be tabled in the federal senate.

Now the job ad, which was posted earlier this week and closes on August 8, is also causing controversy.

“The quiet recruitment for the role of NDIS CEO has sent shockwaves through our sector,” Angela Harvey, Managing Director of Supporting Potential, said.

“Not because of the individual who was in the role, but the lack of communication and transparency around the process.

“As one of Australia’s highest paid public servants, the taxpayer still does not know if she has officially resigned.”

Ms Harvey said it has led to disquiet within the disability sector and among participants.

“Decisions are being made without clear communication,” she said. “And the people whose lives are shaped by the NDIA are still in the dark about their own futures.”

Ms Harvey said the NDIS affects millions of Australians and it’s not unreasonable that they know who is responsible for the life changing decisions that are being made.
Earlier this month Shadow Assistant Minister for the NDIS, Phil Thompson said there was “a clear and concerning culture of silence in the NDIS portfolio at the moment, which is completely at odds with what is in the best interest of Australians living with a disability”.
The job, being advertised by recruitment agency Beaumont & Beaumont, states that the candidate must be able to “guide a national, digitally enabled scheme; strengthen participant trust; and enhance market sustainability.”
On LinkedIn, where the job advert is also being advertised, it showed that 21 people had clicked on ‘apply’ so far.
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The 1000 providers receiving the most NDIS payments
INTERACTIVE TABLE
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Provider Name Total Agency and Plan Managed Payments
1 HOME@SCOPE PTY LTD / SCOPE (AUST) LTD / DISABILITY SERVICES AUSTRALIA LIMITED $420.2m
2 LIFE WITHOUT BARRIERS $393.4m
3 ARUMA SERVICES, ARUMA SERVICES VICTORIA, ARUMA FOUNDATION $343.9m
4 ENDEAVOUR FOUNDATION $169.5m
5 CEREBRAL PALSY ALLIANCE $163.2m
6 THE NORTHCOTT SOCIETY $162.3m
7 HIREUP PTY. LTD. $149.7m
8 CPL -CHOICE, PASSION, LIFE $139.5m
9 THE DISABILITY TRUST $121.2m
10 YOORALLA $117.2m
11 KARINGAL ST LAURENCE LIMITED $116.3m
12 MULTICAP LIMITED $113.4m
13 AUSTRALIAN FOUNDATION FOR DISABILITY $111.5m
14 MINDA INCORPORATED, MINDA HOUSING $106.4m
15 SUNNYFIELD $104.2m
16 ACHIEVE AUSTRALIA LIMITED $94.9m
17 ACTIV FOUNDATION LIMITED $88.5m
18 LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS (AUST) LTD $88.2m
19 MY PLACE WA LTD $81.9m
20 NEW HORIZONS ENTERPRISES LIMITED $79.9m
21 KIRINARI COMMUNITY SERVICES LTD. $76.5m
22 ABILITY CENTRE AUSTRALASIA LTD $75.0m
23 PU-FAM PTY LTD $74.9m
24 EVERYDAY INDEPENDENCE PTY LTD $71.9m
25 THE CORPORATION OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF BRISBANE $71.8m
26 INDEPENDENCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED $71.5m
27 AIDACARE PTY LTD $70.2m
28 COMMUNITY ACCOMMODATION & RESPITE AGENCY INC $68.5m
29 OPTIA LIMITED $68.0m
30 ABILITY OPTIONS LTD $67.5m
31 AUTISM ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INC $67.3m
32 CHALLENGE COMMUNITY SERVICES $65.8m
33 NOVITA SERVICES $65.6m
34 ROCKY BAY LIMITED $65.5m
35 MELBA SUPPORT SERVICES AUSTRALIA LTD $62.3m
36 BETTER REHABILITATION PTY. LTD. $60.8m
37 SOUTHERN CROSS SUPPORT SERVICES PTY LTD $60.0m
38 THE TRUSTEE FOR THE NEXTT HEALTH TRUST $58.8m
39 MEDHEALTH PTY LIMITED $57.8m
40 ABLE AUSTRALIA SERVICES $57.4m
41 LIVEBETTER SERVICES LIMITED $57.2m
42 THE ORS GROUP PTY LTD $56.3m
43 LORNA HODGKINSON FOUNDATION $56.2m
44 CIVIC DISABILITY SERVICES LIMITED $56.0m
45 SYLVANVALE LIMITED $55.0m
46 UNITINGCARE COMMUNITY $53.3m
47 CLARO DISABILITY SERVICES PTY LTD $53.3m
48 NULSEN GROUP LTD. $52.7m
49 INLIFE INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD $52.5m
50 AVIVO: LIVE LIFE INC. $51.4m
51 HORIZON SOLSOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD. $51.2m
52 COMMUNITY LIVING OPTIONS INC $49.7m
53 ST JOHN OF GOD OUTREACH SERVICES $48.7m
54 HOME CARING PTY LTD $46.3m
55 WESLEY MISSION QUEENSLAND $44.1m
56 THE PARAPLEGIC & QUADRIPLEGIC ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA LTD $43.9m
57 UNITED DISABILITY CARE PTY LTD $43.0m
58 SAC (SA) PTY. LTD. $42.8m
59 INDEPENDENT LIVING SPECIALISTS PTY LIMITED $42.8m
60 GOOD DIRECTIONS PTY LTD $42.4m
61 IDENTITYWA $41.5m
62 THE TRUSTEE FOR LEMA FAMILY TRUST $41.2m
63 BRIGHTER ACCESS LTD $40.8m
64 ENABLE WA INC $40.3m
65 PLAN MANAGEMENT PARTNERS PTY LTD $40.0m
66 WESTHAVEN LIMITED $39.6m
67 MELBA SUPPORT SERVICES INC $39.3m
68 THE TRUSTEE FOR CARECHOICE BUSINESS TRUST $39.3m
69 KURRAJONG WARATAH $38.4m
70 OAK TASMANIA $38.2m
71 ONCALL GROUP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD $38.1m
72 VILLA MARIA CATHOLIC HOMES LIMITED $38.0m
73 GATEWAYS SUPPORT SERVICES INC $37.5m
74 COMMUNITY LIVING AUSTRALIA LTD $37.5m
75 THE PARAPLEGIC & QUADRIPLEGIC ASSOCIATION OF N S W $37.4m
76 MOSAIC SUPPORT SERVICES (TAS) INC $37.3m
77 SELECTABILITY LTD. $36.8m
78 RICHMONDPRA LIMITED $35.7m
79 TENDER LOVING CARE DISABILITY SERVICES PTY LTD $35.6m
80 MSWA LIMITED $34.5m
81 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH $34.2m
82 MULTICAP TASMANIA INC. $33.8m
83 ROYAL REHAB $33.4m
84 ANNECTO INC $33.2m
85 BEDFORD SERVICES AND ADVISORY LTD $33.2m
86 PARTNER IN YOUR CARE PTY LTD $32.5m
87 THE TRUSTEE FOR THE HENDERCARE TRUST $32.5m
88 ASTRIS PME PTY LTD $32.3m
89 SPINAL LIFE AUSTRALIA LTD $32.3m
90 DISABILITY SERVICES COMMISSION $32.1m
91 ANGLICARE SA LTD. $31.7m
92 SUNRISE2SUNRISE PTY LTD $31.7m
93 HOME CARE CHOICES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD $31.4m
94 CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (AUST) PTY LTD & WAPDAS PTY LTD $30.9m
95 PHYSIO INQ PTY LTD $30.9m
96 OPEN MINDS AUSTRALIA LIMITED $30.6m
97 VALLEY INDUSTRIES LIMITED $30.3m
98 ERMHA LIMITED $30.0m
99 THIRD SECTOR AUSTRALIA LTD $29.7m
100 MIND AUSTRALIA LIMITED $29.7m
FOI team, National Disability Insurance Agency

Dr George Taleporos, an advocate with lived experience, is being urged to apply. Louise Glanville, who is currently head of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is another name receiving support online.

An NDIA spokesperson responded and said “The current CEO term expires in mid-October. Consistent with common government practice, the Board will undertake an open merit-based process for the appointment of the CEO.”

Ms Falkingham, who was brought on board during a period of huge reform, sparked outrage earlier this year after revealing agency staff didn’t always have time to read medical reports in full.
The agency also received a damning report card in June on how effective it is at detecting dodgy claims. An audit of the NDIA’s processes for checking whether claims are genuine or not, found it to be only “partly effective”, despite the Albanese Government throwing millions of dollars into fraud detection.

01/08/2025

Oh no..nice one, looks like they forgot to tell notified us.

🧻 POSITION VACANT: CEO of the NDIS (Because Apparently We Forgot to Tell Anyone)

Location: Australia-wide panic zone
Salary: More than the PM (but with fewer press conferences)
Contract Type: Until the next scandal

Are you a master of disappearing acts, skilled at tight-lipped leadership, and comfortable with running a $52.3 billion disability scheme like it’s Fight Club? (First rule: Don’t talk about who's in charge.)

Well, congratulations — the NDIA is quietly (and we do mean quietly) hiring a new CEO.

📣 What you'll do:

Manage a massive national scheme with over 730,000 participants... in your spare time.

Maintain public confidence while releasing job ads in stealth mode.

Make life-altering decisions for people with disability — ideally without them noticing.

Steer “reforms” that make consultants rich and providers quit.

Occasionally read the news and realise, “Oh crap, that was us.”

🧠 Essential Criteria:

Proven ability to lead during a “transparent” hiring process that even ASIO would call too secretive

Background in digital transformation, stakeholder management, and ghosting participants

Comfortable earning more than the Prime Minister while ignoring parliamentary petitions

Ability to say “we’re listening” without making eye contact

Can navigate Centrelink menus without swearing

💡 Desirable (but not required) skills:

Lived experience of the NDIS. (Kidding! That’s for other people.)

Familiarity with stage lighting, as this gig includes occasional Senate grillings.

Ability to survive LinkedIn backlash and Change.org petitions without blinking.

📆 Apply by: August 8, 2025 — or whenever the internet finds out this ad exists.

👻 To apply: Whisper your credentials to Beaumont & Beaumont or click the mysterious link that may or may not exist. (We’re not saying where.)

🪙 Bonus points if you're a Paralympian, a policy whisperer, or just someone who can tell us what the hell is going on.



https://www.linkedin.com/posts/beaumont-beaumont_we-are-pleased-to-be-working-with-the-department-activity-7355407110144184320-EBMg

25/07/2025

Little self love helps your body heal and grow 🙌

22/07/2025

The Christmas 🎄 Party. Applications are now open. 👇 if you would like tickets please let us know, 1300 41 4848 The Christmas Party Brisbane

📣𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕟📣

It’s that time of year when we have the absolute pleasure of announcing that applications for invitations to attend The Christmas Party Brisbane on Saturday 22nd of November are now open!

The hundreds of organisations, community and support groups, mainstream and specialist schools, charities and service providers who are registered with the Christmas Party have been issued detailed information inviting them to request invitations on behalf of the children they work with.

⭐️We have rolled out a new system this year, going digital, with entry to the event via a QR code that will be emailed to parents/carers. This new system will streamline our process, eliminating the need for invitations/wristbands to be posted, no longer causing stress if a wristband is misplaced, allowing the application process to stay open a little longer, and the ability to reissue invites quicker should a child no longer be able to attend.

Please get in contact with your child’s / children’s service providers/school and register your interest to attend. In order for the school/service provider to apply on your behalf they will require some basic contact information.

📌A request for invitations must be submitted on your behalf via the official channels and cannot be done directly through our office or Facebook.

15/07/2025

🩼👩‍⚕️

12/07/2025

😢