Mind Matters Cairns

31/08/2025

Monday Musings on Sensitivity
“I want to know how to be less sensitive.”
If I had a dollar for every time a client has said this, I’d be sitting on a Greek island sipping frappes all summer.
Sensitivity is one of the most misunderstood qualities. Our culture often treats it as a weakness—something to apologise for or suppress. Children are told to “toughen up.” Adults are told they’re “too emotional.” But the truth is that sensitivity is not a flaw—it’s a profound strength.
Sensitive people notice what others miss. A small shift in tone, a fleeting facial expression, the subtle change in the energy of a room—these cues are often invisible to most, but obvious to someone who is finely attuned. This awareness allows for insight and thoughtful responses in relationships, work, and life.
When you feel deeply, you often care deeply. Sensitive people are the first to notice when someone is struggling, the ones who quietly offer support, or extend kindness where others might overlook. Sensitivity nurtures empathy, which in turn creates stronger, more meaningful connections.
The richness of sensitivity often translates into creativity. Sensitive individuals perceive colours, sounds, and ideas with nuance, which fuels artistry, innovation, and meaning-making. They can weave beauty or healing from life’s raw experiences.
For sensitive people, it’s hard to “just go along” when something feels wrong. Their internal system sounds the alarm. This discomfort may be inconvenient, but it often acts as a compass, pointing them back to their values and truth.
The goal isn’t to become less sensitive—it’s to learn how to live with sensitivity wisely. That means setting boundaries to protect yourself from overwhelm, practicing grounding strategies, and cultivating self-compassion so you stop apologising for who you are.

Sensitivity is not fragility. It is perceptiveness, humanity, and depth. And if more people embraced it, I’ve no doubt that our world would be a kinder, fairer, more compassionate place. May your September be sensitive 💙💛

29/08/2025

Lulu knows that starting your day by watching the sunrise is one of the simplest ways to boost wellbeing. Exposure to natural light helps set your body’s circadian rhythm, improves sleep quality, and lifts mood. Just a few minutes of quiet presence at dawn can lower stress and spark a sense of calm focus for the day ahead.
Clever kitty.
Happy Caturday 🐾☀️

23/08/2025

We train our muscles, fuel our bodies, and protect our hearts — but the brain, the command center of it all, is often overlooked. Neurofeedback is a way of caring for the organ that quietly powers your focus, sleep, resilience, and creativity every single day.
🐾💙💛

19/08/2025

Beyond the curriculum…a free online course by Zac Bakker to fill the gaps in our outdated school curriculum.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BJAp714gs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

16/08/2025

This year will be my fourth time attending the Pacifica Congress, where more than 200 family law professionals—lawyers, psychologists, and social workers—come together with a shared commitment to lessening the harm experienced by children and families navigating the legal system.

Attending Pacific over the past 4 years has been an opportunity for me not only to expand my knowledge as a single expert witness, but also to face my fear of giving evidence in court. Each year has brought me closer to feeling equipped to contribute with clarity and courage to the complex decisions before our courts.
I am ready.

15/08/2025

We have so much to learn from our pets
Lulu (front and centre) never tries to be anything but her big beautiful self and Daisy in the background doesn’t ever seem to care if she’s ‘too much’ (the reason she can’t come to work). Our pets don’t grip an identity. They don’t rehearse a role or polish a mask. They don’t measure their worth by likes, praise, or approval.
What identity are you gripping so tightly that your knuckles ache?
The one you’ve polished for years — the role, the mask, the “acceptable” version of you.
And what might soften if you stopped chasing approval?
If you let go, even a little, maybe your shoulders would drop. Your breath would deepen. Your laughter would sound more like you.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is become more of who you already are.

Happy Caturday 🐾

02/08/2025

We believe the heart of work lies in the people behind it. That’s why we’re starting a new series of posts to introduce the incredible humans who make up our team - not just their titles but their values, passions and what keeps them showing up with care and enthusiasm.
First up: Laura Phillips
Laura has been with Mind Matters for 11 years. She has completed her Bachelor of Psychological Science degree and is a registered counsellor with Australian Counselling Association. She works with children, adolescents and adults.

30/07/2025

Damn straight we are!

“All psychologists with general registration are qualified to assess, diagnose, and provide clinical opinions on mental health conditions. This includes the ability to support recommendations for educational accommodations, functional assessments, disability supports, and employment-related”

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BufAWkKkc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The AAPi Professional Guidance Team frequently receives requests from members seeking a clear resource that outlines the diagnostic capabilities of registered psychologists in Australia.

AAPi strongly advocates for recognition of the full scope of practice of all registered psychologists.

To assist our members, we have developed the following resource which outlines that all psychologists with general registration are qualified to assess, diagnose, and provide clinical opinions on mental health conditions. This includes the ability to support recommendations for educational accommodations, functional assessments, disability supports, and employment-related considerations.

https://ow.ly/7FWN50Wx4Q5

17/07/2025

3 spots have become available for this fantastic program. Designed for children who struggle with emotional regulation and hate sitting in an office trying to learn skills. Call Trisha now to secure one of the spots 40310438.

05/07/2025

Life Lessons with Lulu
I gave Lulu a new enrichment toy this morning and I watched as she checked it out. It was filled with her favourite treats, but it wasn’t easy—she had to paw it this way and that to get to the goodies inside. The little scene reminded me of those tricky situations when we’re faced with something new or challenging, a new task at work, a parenting challenge, a new relationship phase, and we have to stretch ourselves a bit to figure it out.

I found myself a little jealous of my cat. She doesn’t have the inner battles that humans do—no overthinking, no self-doubt, no perfectionism getting in the way. Just a simple goal: get to the salmon biscuits inside the silicone strawberry.

We all wrestle with doubt at some point. I know I’ve faced every version of it in my career, and perfectionism is still something I’m working on 🫣

Overcoming insecurity and self-doubt in professional and personal development often requires deliberate mindset shifts. I hope the following tips help. 💛💙
Happy Caturday 🐾

25/06/2025

Have you ever found yourself at an event, simply observing, when a quiet realisation strikes you: “I’m witnessing something truly special”? That’s exactly how I felt this afternoon at the finale of our Occupational Therapy Creative Minds Program.
Designed around children’s natural love for creating, the program cleverly integrated fine motor skill development and sensory regulation strategies. But it offered so much more than that. Through shared projects and group activities, the children had countless opportunities to practice social interaction, build confidence, and—perhaps most beautifully—learn how to support and encourage one another.
Today’s showcase was the culmination of their hard work, and the OT Pod was transformed into a gallery of joy, imagination, and growth. Every piece on display told a story—not just of creative expression, but of resilience, progress, and the quiet magic that happens when children are given the tools and space to shine.

Few things are more rewarding than seeing a child who faces daily challenges experience the pride of success—it’s a powerful reminder of why we do this work.

Thank you Emily for this wonderful program and hats off to both you and our brilliant OT Masters student Adele for putting on such a great showcase! 💙💛

22/06/2025

One of our OT team has taken some time to write about the impact of the new NDIS price guide. Max often works outside the clinic, in the wider Cairns region and in people’s homes, and would like to raise awareness to the realities of the cost cutting measures the NDIS is implementing. If you have the time to read through, it would be much appreciated!

“A Message to Our Families and Community!

To our wonderful families and community, you deserve honesty and transparency about what’s happening with NDIS. I want to speak from the heart and share the reality of the situation our community and practices are facing.

The Impact of the New NDIS Price Guide:

The recently released NDIS Price Guide for 2025/26 has left our community deeply disappointed. One of the most significant changes is a 50% reduction in the travel time we can charge, capped at just half of the face-to-face time delivered. In real terms, this means our travel costs are now only a quarter of what they once were in some cases.

What This Means for Our Regional Families:

I’ve always been proud to serve families in regions like the Cassowary Coast and Tablelands, people who often miss out on the support and expertise they deserve. My outreach work has never been about convenience or profit. It’s about passion for equity and actively tackling longstanding barriers our community faces in accessing health care and support. While my role has always centred around ensuring access to quality care regardless of where they live, these funding changes now make outreach unsustainable.

The Hardest Part:

It has been a particularly devastating week as I began to face the heartbreaking task of informing many families that we are unable to continue services in their region. Through no fault of their own, but through the actions of NDIS, the people in our community who need support the most are now being left behind.

For many families to continue accessing therapy, this now means embarking on at least a four hour round trip to access essential services. For those living with complex disabilities, the travel may be required multiple time per week. When we consider the realities of living with and caring for someone with a disability, this is far too big of an ask.

What’s at Stake?

The NDIS expects businesses or families to absorb these cuts, but that is neither fair nor sustainable. While these changes might not be felt as significantly in metropolitan areas, they are devastating for regional providers and families. Some therapists who built their business and practice around outreach may be forced to close, making it even harder for vulnerable people to access the help they need.

A great piece that summarises the situation more thoughtfully and eloquently than I ever could is attached here below.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ashbytherapyservices.com.au%2Fblog%2Fwhen-your-government-makes-you-choose-between-dignity-and-survival-an-ndis-reality-check%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR63tGDhEOKfJk9CI7SA2EVW1bbZVPaMoFtzZTpSvVOMxYE_v_CUFzix2PTnsA_aem_-vgDID-tDHOMRFN0T1U7Bw&h=AT0D3yyOo9lZcAKj3ij6__1_oiGWv2p_ipkMEebE57dMQ0xxgwSBaHkX20O58hXyarpN8_-NTyqgjt-Bi7gurAzuSRVuN1C6yQ8tlS5jVBqdARX5v-9RLX4DnHaH&s=1

Standing Together: A Call to Our Community

I want you to know exactly how I feel in this moment. I am angry, hurt, scared, deflated, a whirlwind of complex emotions. Not for myself, but for those that these changes will have the most significant consequences for, our most vulnerable in the community and participants of the NDIS. After dedicating the majority of my career to this industry, I have never felt so profoundly let down by a government and leadership that we placed our trust in to provide the access and systems for those who need it most. The decisions being made have not just let me down, they have let all of us down: the people who rely on these systems for support, dignity, and hope. And I refuse to sit by in silence and watch this happen.

For too long, I have kept my frustrations to myself, but I have reached my limit. I can no longer stay quiet while our community is left to bear the consequences of decisions made by those who see you only as numbers on a page or figures in a budget spreadsheet. To the NDIS, you may be statistics, but to your therapists, you are people with stories, struggles, and dreams. We strive every day to see the world through your eyes, hoping to make even the smallest difference in your lives and to share in the journey with you.

Now more than ever, we need to raise our voices together. We cannot accept this level of negligence from a system that was supposed to protect the vulnerable. I urge you to join me in speaking up, demanding change, and standing up for those who need us most. Together, we can make a difference, because our community deserves better!

Thank you for listening.
Max.”

Share this if you like, send it to your MP, sign every petition you can! Help us take back the system designed to give those living with a disability control of their own lives, their healthcare, and their dignity.

AUTHOR : Giarne is a Multiply Neurodivergent Occupational Therapist, Mother, Wife What happens when the system designed to liberate you becomes the very thing that oppresses you? I wear many hats within the NDIS ecosystem. I’m a provider, an employer, a parent of a participant, and a participan