Footprints Advocacy

25/09/2025

Big NDIS news today: the government is moving toward assessment interviews and possibly a greater use of AI-enabled tools to determine supports. While that could improve consistency, we won’t know the real impact on access or funding levels until we see the assessments in practice. This is only relevant for 16 years and above.

Our advice for now: keep building strong evidence—clear baselines, progress data, and participation logs from School/home/therapies—so you’re ready no matter what format the assessment takes. If you’re unsure what to collect, we can help you set up a simple evidence checklist.

We’ll keep watching this closely and share updates as they land. 💬

24/09/2025

Another Successful ART Case completed. We fought hard, stayed respectful, and focused on the evidence. 💙
If you or your client is looking for support with the NDIS, reach out to Footprints Advocacy for support.

18/09/2025

📢 Important Update – NDIS Price Change for Music & Art Therapy 🎶🎨
From 24 November 2025, the NDIS will be reducing the hourly rate for Music and Art Therapy.
👉 Previously: $193.99 per hour
👉 New rate: $156.16 per hour
This change comes after a national review. While the pricing is shifting, the value of these therapies remains the same.
Music and Art Therapy are not “extras” – they are evidence-based supports that play a vital role in building communication, emotional regulation, self-expression, and social skills. For many participants, they open doors to connection and learning that traditional therapies cannot. 💙
At Footprints Advocacy, we know how important it is that these therapies remain accessible and recognised as part of a holistic approach to participant wellbeing.
✨ If you’re concerned about how this change might affect your NDIS plan or future reviews, please reach out – we can help you navigate it.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-10/ndis-pricing-review-evidence-music-art-therapy/105457844

Music and art therapists will be able to bill NDIS participants at the same rate as counsellors after a review found the therapies could be effective in the right circumstances.

17/09/2025

I never watch the TV in the morning, but this was on sunrise this morning- interesting article about Autism.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1KBJB2oY2s/?mibextid=wwXIfr

15/09/2025

NSW is rolling out Foundational Supports for children 0–8 years—designed to get help earlier, without needing a diagnosis first, for children with Developmental Delay and ASD. The thought process is to work alongside the NDIS and focuses on low–to–moderate support needs with family-centred, community-based services.
Other states may call it something else; federally, you’ll hear “Thriving Kids.”
I was at yesterday's Community Consultation session—drop your questions below or DM and I’ll include them in my next update. 💙

15/09/2025

A big milestone for this little legend last week 💕 Already diagnoised with ASD Level 3 and GDD, he had his ADHD assessment at Concepts Psychology, Ramsgate. I was able to step in the day before and organise the session quickly through my Footprints Advocacy contacts 🙌
The report will be ready in 4–6 weeks, just in time to support his NDIS Review in December 2025. So proud to be walking alongside this family—mum, child and Support Coordinator working together to make sure his needs are recognised and supported 💙✨

15/09/2025

I joined a consultation to ensure children get consistent early health reviews and fully funded allied health in schools starting 2026.

12/09/2025

31/08/2025

✨ Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Annual CMT Conference in Sydney!
It was such a joy to connect with fellow CMTers and hear from an incredible lineup of speakers in the medical field. Highlights included:
🔬 Professor Marina Kennerson on the “dark genome” (grateful my family’s CMT1A isn’t directly affected).
😴 Dr Moya Vandeleur and Kathleen Whipp sharing their fascinating CMT sleep study, with some insights into ASD that really sparked my interest.
🧬 Dr Matt Burgess exploring genetics.
👶 Dr Nicole Sides discussing IVF and the unique challenges it presents.
We also enjoyed a refreshing chair movement session with the lovely Larissa McKinnon 💃, a presentation from the Pathway Nurse about connecting with Allied Health, and some inspiring personal stories about living with CMT and the vital role of support coordinators.
Another highlight for me was meeting Tia Wedge from NeuroMuscular Orthotics and trialling the Carbon Hand Glove 🖐️. The technology is incredible—I was able to grip a cup naturally and release it with ease. A game-changer, and something I may well need in the near future.
A huge thank you to everyone involved for making the day so informative, supportive, and inspiring. Already looking forward to next year’s conference! 💙

28/08/2025

Thriving Kids- I haven’t made any comments about this new program, because we simply don’t know anything yet. What we do know is that the states and territories are meant to be running it and it appears to be for ages birth to 8 years, with mild to moderate developmental delay and ASD.
But what is mild to moderate?
Pretty much all of my clients are ASD level 3 with DD or GDD. Some could be Level 2…but even these children are typically non- verbal with many compounding behaviours.

I’ve had a few people reach out to me recently about eligibility assessments. I’m now having to really think about whether the NDIS will be looking at this child as one for Thriving Kids or NDIS. Without more guidance, we cannot comment.

Right now, we just continue to fight for our children!

If you need support with access request, preparing for a review or ART (external review), please reach out to me. I support families Australia wide and have done for over 5 years.

Here is tge government’s update on Thriving Kids.



https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-08/thriving-kids-fact-sheet.pdf?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMdHgpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHn2p0pyC8oRqP329Ftp6Ec07Dsq-rWuqoVuuwnubF17S7G8L9WQ-AC5nAgzb_aem_ppY42GEXai4VgVIC5PGkbw

21/08/2025

Eligibility Assessments and the NDIS. Who out there feels like they are hitting their heads against a brick wall and then being rejected?
Here are some of my thoughts:

🌟If you have a diagnosis of ASD, make sure you have a multi disciplinary assessment completed against the DSM-V and preferably completed well before your child turns 7 yrs
🌟If you have a rare genetic condition, you need to prove that it’s life long and severely impacting your life.

🌟Evidence evidence evidence 🌟
FCA
Specialists reports (remember, if there is any suggestion that medical support could work or reduce severity, then tgat could be your ‘undoing ‘)
Family impact statements
Therapy reports

Footprints Advocacy is here to help, so reach out and start with a 1:1 free consultation with me. More information is available on my website.

Www.footprintsadvocacy.com.au

21/08/2025

🌟 Exciting news! After a long journey, I’m thrilled to share that we’ve finalised an AAT case in Western Australia.
It’s been a challenging process, but the outcome is a fair and reasonable plan that provides the supports needed for a 10.5-year-old boy who is non-verbal and currently not attending school.

This is why I do what I do – to make sure children and families receive the supports that are both reasonable and necessary for their unique needs. 💙

If you, or someone you know, are navigating an AAT case and need guidance, please reach out to Footprints Advocacy. I’d love to support more families in achieving the right outcomes for their children.