Alyv

05/09/2025

Last month we ran a little competition for our existing clients.

We asked them for feedback, the good and the bad, so that we can make sure we are heading in the right direction with services, training and continuously improving the way we do things.

Everyone who submitted the feedback form to us by August 31st went into the draw for a family pass to this years Perth Royal Show! And the winner is..........

Jayden and Family!! Congrats the team will be in touch to organise your tickets!!

27/08/2025

22/08/2025

Disability Representative Organisations stand united in our reiteration to government of nothing about us without us.

While Minister Mark Butler noted nothing about us without us in his speech at the National Press Club yesterday, the announcements made by the Minister came as a surprise to the disability community and representative organisations. This has created further uncertainty for our community.

We are heartened by the Government’s continued commitment to the NDIS, which has changed the lives of people with disability around Australia. However, we are collectively disappointed that the government chose not to engage with the disability community about their announcement.

Read the full statement: https://buff.ly/jA8bADa

22/08/2025

PWDWA nailing it! Thanks for having our backs, the neurodivergent community thanks you!✨📣💛

AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNMENT: Although we know new governments and ministers sometimes pick up the narrative of their predecessors, it’s still disappointing new Minister Mark Butler MP is seeing forecasted growth in much needed spending on the National Disability Insurance scheme as “unsustainable”. Like our colleagues over at AFDO - Australian Federation Of Disability Organisations, we’re disappointed at Minister Butler’s National Press Club of Australia declaration the second Anthony Albanese Government will target 4–5% growth in the NDIS, rather than the catch-up 22% we’ve seen in recent times after historical massive underspending and under-enrolling on .

Real people with disability will miss out on coverage if these so-called reforms get traction, not stereotypes of barely affected people the wider community are pressured to judge.

Like our counterparts, we believe it’s likely “the move to a lower target (of NDIS participant number growth) can only be achieved by shifting a significant number of current participants off the scheme.” Kicking people off the NDIS is not the way to go. Closing doors to coverage will perpetuate inequality and reduce our standards of living even further.

We note the new $2 billion program that’s being introduced to us has some potential but where are the in states and territories that we were promised. What will they actually look like and when will we get them way over here in . We are encouraged that our new Disability Minister Beazley is so willing to work with the Commonwealth on co-funded foundational supports and step up for our but we also hope our state and federal governments’ dual commitment also extends to adults with disability.

We call on our governments to implement foundational supports now, and benefit our whole community.

• We ask, when will the cash be spent that the federal government is giving back to WA as a after years of underspending on our ?
• We ask, when will our kids get better in WA?
• We ask, where’s the with WA people with disability on this surprise program Thriving Kids?

How about thanks!

Like our peers at AFDO, we’re worried people with disability and our young people will be forced off the and be in a situation where they don’t know if they will get access to the supports they and their families and supporters need in this new regime.

Yes, some charge too much or be sure to maximise returns. But it’s not common. Widespread fraud is another demon-trope. It doesn’t exist. Should more providers be registered? Perhaps.

What we want more than anything is the the federal government barely talks about anymore.

Small unregistered providers support us where we are, out here in the community, and in the isolated regions where mean the big-guy moneymakers ignore us. Don’t lock out the small guys that see us where we’re at and don’t get put off by smaller takings or slimmer margins. Choice and control gives us all value-for-money. If a pricing-and-value judge is to be appointed, please listen to us and truly make them independent of government and the big guys to ensure true value for money and not even more oligopolistic pricing in the future.

We welcome the concept of a new NDIS Reform Advisory Committee to advise on changes, including real responses to the and the . But let’s make sure the committee members are really genuinely independent and representative of our disability community all across the country.

Like AFDO, we:
• Fully support the NDIS and the life-changing impact it has had for many people with disability.
• Call for foundational supports to be implemented urgently to provide equity for all people with disability.
• Urge government to guarantee that no child or adult loses support during any transition to new programs.
• Insist on genuine co-design with people with disability and their representative organisations in all reforms.

Like our members, we will join other members of the disability community in raising our voices to both our federal NDIS ministers – Minister Butler and Senator Jenny McAllister and the newly added to . Please do not ignore our views.

Nothing About Us Without Us.

Sincerely,
People with Disabilities Western Australia

21/08/2025

Our community deserves support, not cuts.

There is no such thing as “mild autism.”
Autism is not negotiable. And autistic children should never be abandoned for the sake of budget savings.

We stand with Hope in Colour Advocacy and all autistic families fighting back.
Read their open letter here 👇

OPEN LETTER: Minister Butler — Autism Is Not Mild, Temporary or Negotiable. Yesterday, you betrayed our children.

Dear Minister Butler,

Yesterday at the National Press Club, you told the nation that too many autistic children are on the NDIS. You called their supports “overservicing.” You spoke about “mild to moderate autism.” And you suggested autism is “not a permanent disability.”

These words were not just wrong they were discriminatory, harmful, and a betrayal of every autistic child and family.

Autism is lifelong. There is no such thing as “mild autism.” These labels are political inventions, designed to justify stripping children from the NDIS. Children do not stop needing therapy because the government needs to save money. To suggest otherwise is not policy, it is cruelty.

You announced Thriving Kids as the alternative, backed by $2 billion and built on behaviour programs like Inklings programs already rejected by the autistic community as unsafe, compliance-based, and damaging. Families are being told to trust an untested scheme, with no detail, no transparency, and no guarantee that their children will have access to therapies, trusted providers, or meaningful supports.

Let’s be clear: this has been done without input from autistic people, parents, or disability-led organisations. Once again, decisions are being made about our lives, without us. That is not co-design, it is exclusion.

Minister, Australia has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This commits you to:
• Closely consult with and actively involve disabled people in policy decisions (Article 4.3).
• Ensure disabled children enjoy all human rights equally (Article 7).
• Protect children from medical or scientific experimentation without free consent (Article 15).
• Guarantee respect for physical and mental integrity (Article 17).
• Ensure health interventions are based on free and informed consent (Article 25).

You have ignored these obligations. Thriving Kids is being built behind closed doors, without consent, without transparency, and without autistic leadership. That is a direct breach of international law and a direct assault on the rights of children.

Here is what your cuts mean in reality:
• Children will lose speech therapy, OT, and psychology.
• Families will lose choice and control, forced back into broken state systems that already fail.
• Mothers will be driven from the workforce into poverty, forced to homeschool and care without support.
• Autistic children will regress, mask, burn out, and suffer long-term harm all to balance a budget.

Minister Butler, you are dismantling the NDIS. You are punishing children and parents for your government’s failure to properly fund mainstream services. And you are doing it with language that demeans and dismisses us.

Autism is not temporary. Autism is not mild. Our children are not “overserviced.” They are human beings with dignity, rights, and futures worth investing in.

Hope in Colour Advocacy will not stay silent while you trample those rights. We will fight, we will organise, and we will hold you accountable.

History will not remember you for $46 billion in “savings.” It will remember that under your watch, autistic children were abandoned, silenced, and stripped of the supports they were promised for life.

We call on these leaders and organisations to stand with us and demand answers:
Mark Butler MP
Anthony Albanese
Amanda Rishworth MP
Senator Jordon Steele-John
Dr Monique Ryan
Lauren Kathage MP
Rob Mitchell MP - Federal Labor Member for McEwen
Australian Labor Party
Gerard Rennick People First Party
The Australian Greens
Children and Young People with Disability Australia
Every Australian Counts
Yellow Ladybugs
Regional Autistic Engagement Network
Australian Neurodivergent Parents Association - ANPA
People with Disability Australia
People First Victoria
Aspect - Autism Spectrum Australia
Autism Goals ASD School Advocates
Autism Awareness Australia
Reframing Autism
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)

ABC Australia
The Guardian
Herald Sun
Women's Agenda
A Current Affair
7NEWS Australia
9 News
Guardian Australia
The Australian
The Age

Sincerely,
Shanntelle Marks
Founder | Hope in Colour Advocacy

20/08/2025

🚨 Big changes are being talked about for the NDIS

The government is proposing that children with what they call “mild autism” or "moderate autism" may no longer be eligible for NDIS supports. They would be directed to Thriving Kids, which is scheduled to be rolled out in mid 2027.

For many families, this raises real concerns about access to the help that builds independence, confidence, and connection. At this stage they have said children on the NDIS before the roll out won't be booted off but may have their eligibility reassessed...

At Alyv, we believe every neurodivergent person deserves to have their strengths recognised and their needs respected no matter the “level” of their diagnosis. Labels don’t tell the whole story. We are hoping that this program will be developed with extensive consultation and collaboration from Autistic voices and the voices of those who support us.

This is a conversation that impacts so many in our community, and we’ll be watching closely as it unfolds. 💙

👉 Read more here:

Young children with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism will be excluded from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in a significant move designed to reduce the growth of one of the budget’s biggest spending pressures.

20/06/2025

🧠 NDIS Changes & Therapy Supports; Let’s Check In 💬

Hey everyone 👋

There have been a lot of changes recently to the NDIS, especially around therapy supports, and we know it’s left many people feeling confused, overwhelmed, or unsure about what comes next.

We want to check in with you.

💭 Have these changes affected your supports or services?
😕 Are you finding it hard to make sense of what’s changed?
🤝 Would it help to chat to someone or get a bit of extra guidance?

You're not alone, and there’s support available.

Here are some great places to start:

📞 Developmental Disability WA (DDWA)
Phone: (08) 9420 7203
Website: www.ddwa.org.au

📞 Carers WA
Phone: 1300 227 377
Website: www.carerswa.asn.au

📚 The Growing Space – Resources & Advocacy
Website: www.thegrowingspace.com.au

📰 Team DSC – NDIS News & Updates
Website: www.teamdsc.com.au

And of course, if we can help connect you with someone or if you just want a friendly chat to make sense of it all, feel free to message us 💛

Let’s keep looking out for each other, always.

(Image is exactly what we looked like earlier this week!)

18/06/2025

🌈✨ Autistic Pride Day ✨🌈
June 18 is not just a date – it’s a declaration. A reminder that autistic people don’t need fixing, masking, or moulding to fit into a world that was never built with us in mind.

At Alyv, we work with incredible neurodivergent humans every day, and let us tell you, the magic doesn’t come from pretending to be “typical.” It comes from unmasking, from being seen, and from being supported to show up as you are.

💬 One of our team members shared:

“For the longest time, I thought I had to be quiet, neat, agreeable – someone else entirely. Turns out, I’m actually brilliant when I’m just being me.”

Autistic Pride Day is a celebration of neurology, not pathology. It’s not about tolerating difference, it’s about embracing it. Loudly. Proudly. Colourfully.

Whether you’re unmasking for the first time, still figuring out what that means, or supporting someone else on their journey, we see you. You belong here. You don’t have to perform your worth.

💖 Pride in your neurotype is powerful. Let’s keep building a world where it’s safe to show up unmasked.

17/06/2025

🌿 We’re Hiring Experienced Support Workers | Mandurah and Rockingham 🌿

Are you an experienced support worker looking for a workplace that truly values and supports you? Join Alyv, a neurodivergent-owned and led organisation providing personalised, holistic supports for the neurodivergent community.

We are currently welcoming compassionate, committed support workers in the Mandurah and Rockingham areas who want to make a meaningful impact while being part of a values-driven team.

💚 At Alyv, we live our values every day:
Respect – for you, our clients and our community
Integrity – being honest, upfront and dependable in all we do
Courage – to speak up, try new things and meet challenges with strength
Collaboration – working together and learning from each other
Innovation – growing and finding better ways forward
Affirmation – celebrating each person for who they are

💚 Why Work With Alyv?
✨ You choose your clients and meet them before your first shift, with a full understanding of their support needs
✨ Regular check-ins, mentoring and ongoing support
✨ Online and in-person training and career progression through upskilling
✨ Supportive team culture, team building and fun staff events
✨ Drop-in staff office, Nintendo Switch competitions and a festive Christmas party
✨ Weekly and monthly awards and recognition to celebrate your efforts
✨ Access to Employee Assistance Program and tech that keeps you connected and confident on shift

At Alyv, you’re not just part of a team, you’re part of a community that honours your strengths and supports your growth every step of the way.

📩 Ready to join a workplace that truly gets it? Apply now or tag someone who should.

Apply Here: https://forms.clickup.com/9016744010/f/8cq162a-19896/14LKJNNOHEA8MFC2NS

Alyv offers bespoke support packages led by neurodivergent experts. With autism-specific training, trauma-informed approaches, and neuroaffirming practices, we’re revolutionizing disability support while being an employer of choice for the ND community.

16/06/2025

It's here, the new price guide has dropped. If the APR and the Independent Comittee Pricing Report were confusing, dont worry you aren't alone.

The new PAPL is now live and represents the recomendations from these reports that can be implemented in such a short time frame.

The PAPL also outlines additional emphasis on providers avoiding conflicts of interest and where they can't be avoided guides them on how to manage these.

These changes take effect across the nation on July 1st 2025

09/06/2025

🎭 Behind the Mask – Men’s Health Week Edition 👨‍🦱
This Men’s Health Week (June 9th - 15th), we’re lifting the lid on something rarely talked about — masking in men.

We know the pressures. Be stoic. Be capable. Be fine. Be strong.
And if you’re neurodivergent, there’s often an extra layer: blend in, keep it together, don’t stand out.

💬 As one of our support workers shared:

“I spent years pretending I didn’t need support, just so I could feel like a ‘real man’. But behind the mask, I was exhausted.”

Masking isn’t just about fitting in socially. It’s about hiding how you’re really doing. Holding in stims, scripting conversations, pushing through overwhelm, or pretending things are easy when they’re not. It’s not a flaw — it’s adaptation. But it takes a toll.

And unmasking? That takes guts.

At Alyv, we support men to show up as themselves. Not a version shaped by expectations, but their genuine, whole selves. No masks required.

💡 Men’s Health Week is a great time to check in. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.
This year, maybe it’s time to check in on the parts of you that are still masked, and ask if they feel safe to be seen.

👉 Follow along with our campaign as we share real stories, honest reflections, and safe ways to start unmasking.

You’re not the problem. And you’re not alone.

07/06/2025

💬 Men’s mental health, masking, and why it’s time we talked about it.
We just dropped a new blog unpacking how societal pressure to “man up” can leave some men hiding behind masks.

Our team (neurodivergent and neurotypical across the spectrum) shared real words, real feelings, and real insight about how masking shows up for men and what support actually looks like.

✨ If you’ve ever thought “he’s fine” without asking deeper, this one’s worth a read.

👉 Read it here: https://www.alyv.au/blog-posts/mens-mental-health-and-neurodiversity

Men's mental health matters. Unmasking isn’t weakness. Support should meet men where they are, not where society expects them to be.