The Right Support

12/08/2025

A new Positive Behaviour Support training package from the NDIS Commission and the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is now available for disability support workers.

Complete all three courses to build your skills in:
✔️ Positive Behaviour Support
✔️ Human Rights and You
✔️ Trauma-Informed Support

These short courses are aligned with the NDIS Practice Standards and Code of Conduct. They’re designed to empower workers to provide safe, respectful, and person-centred supports.

👉 15,000 free places are available. Register here: https://bit.ly/4ovyDxg.

10/08/2025

We’re thrilled to announce: Art Therapy is returning to Acacia Ridge Community Centre! 🎨✨

Join us for Open Studio sessions:

Tuesdays: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Thursdays: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Prefer a one-on-one experience? Individual sessions are available Monday to Wednesday - limited spots, so bookings required.

Come explore creativity, calm the mind, and connect with your community in a supportive space. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, you’re welcome to join. 🖌️

To book a session, give us a call on 3277 4893 or email us on belong@communify.org.au

Tag someone who’d love this! 💛

01/08/2025

08/07/2025

Virgin Australia and Adelaide Airport have launched an Australian-first accessibility program. ✈️

The 'Try Before You Buy' program is the first of its kind in Australia, offering a fully simulated travel experience.

Participants can book, check-in, board and sit on an aircraft - without the plane ever leaving the gate.

The initiative is designed to reduce anxiety and build confidence for individuals who may find flying challenging, including those with disabilities or sensory sensitivities.

Read more at 💻 https://ow.ly/LiSU50WkOkY

📷 Image: Virgin Australia

30/05/2025

We’re introducing changes to help participants more easily manage their budgets.

If you’re starting a new NDIS plan or going through a reassessment, your plan will now usually have three-month funding periods.

Funding periods define when your plan’s funds will become available to use. These new three-month funding periods will help:

✔️ reduce the risk of running out of funds early

✔️ ensure supports are available when they are needed.

This approach is similar to the way people receive salaries or other government payments.

The change will be rolled out gradually, with participants only impacted when they receive a new or reassessed plan.

Funding periods will generally be spread evenly across the plan.

This change will not affect the total amount of funding in a participant’s plan, only when the funding becomes available.

Learn more at 💻 https://ow.ly/AR4m50VVmEi

22/05/2025

We’re introducing changes gradually from this week to help participants more easily manage their budgets.

We had feedback from participants, who have told us that receiving all their funding at the start of their plan can make budgeting hard – increasing the risk of overspending or running out of funds.

So, what is changing? Well, from 19 May 2025, different funding periods will be slowly introduced to all new or reassessed plans.

Funding periods will now usually be set at three-months – rather than 12-months – to give participants flexibility and to help participants manage their budgets.

If a participant’s situation changes and they need more or different supports, they can request a change to their plan. They won't be left without the supports needed but it’s important for participants to ask for help early, before funds run out.

This change doesn’t change the total amount of funding in a participant’s plan, only when the funding becomes available.

The NDIA will have a discussion with participants about their circumstances. We will do this as part of getting their new or reassessed plan. If they don't need a new plan, there are no changes right now.

We’ll also be providing support and information during this transition.

Learn more at 💻 https://ow.ly/AR4m50VVmEi

10/04/2025

05/04/2025

Human beings originally developed fight or flight mechanisms to deal with predators in the wild, but the brain and body were never designed to handle the chronic stress now wreaking havoc on our system. Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a Harvard physician, offers 4 key strategies to help.

01/04/2025

April is Autism Awareness Month.

It’s a time to learn about autism and support people who have it. Autism makes people see and experience the world in different and unique ways. Every person with autism is special, and understanding them helps us be better friends and neighbors.

This month is important because it reminds us to be kind, patient, and accepting of differences. It also brings people together and helps create a world where everyone feels welcome.

Take some time this April to learn something new about autism. A little kindness and understanding can make a big difference in someone’s life!

01/03/2025

Members have contacted us in increasing numbers over the last 6 months, particularly since the new NDIS legislation was introduced, with concerns about participant funding for psychology being reduced. As part of our advocacy for our members and their clients, we approached leaders within the NDIS to discuss member concerns and ask for clarity around the role of psychologists within the NDIS. Today, we received written advice from the agency to clarify the ongoing role of psychologists within the scheme. They have agreed to this written advice being released to our members in full - members can access this document on our website via the link below. This document can be shared if you are told by those associated with the NDIS, such as support coordinators, LACs, Plan Managers, Early Childhood Partners, etc, who incorrectly state that “psychology is not funded by the NDIS” as reported by our members.

Our advice to members working in the NDIS is to please be aware of the limits of what the NDIS can provide. We have extensive resources on our website to help you with this. If you are providing diagnostic services, it is unlikely this will be funded by the NDIS, and if you are providing clinical treatment of a mental health condition (e.g. doing a CBT program with someone to reduce their depression) this will not be funded by the NDIS. The agency has been very clear about that. All recommended therapies need to be reasonable and necessary as well as effective regarding the person’s disability that enabled them to access the NDIS, and it needs to be in line with the goals the participant has set for their current plan. It also needs to be focused on increasing the person’s skills and improving their daily life and independence.

AAPi remains steadfast in our commitment to advocating for fair and continued access to the NDIS for psychologists and their clients. Please read this full member update, and access the document from the agency, here: https://ow.ly/F0QJ50V84i9