https://connectingfamilies.com.au/

Connecting Families, 30 Atchison Street, St Leonards, New South Wales, AU, Sydney (2026)

14/04/2026

A Place to Settle, Right in Ingle Farm. 🏡

Searching for a peaceful home in Ingle Farm, South Australia? This well-maintained, single-level property offers three bedrooms, a light-filled living area, an updated kitchen, and a secure backyard. Available for Medium Term (MTA), or Short Term Accommodation (STA). A quiet, accessible home close to local shops and transport.

If this feels like the right fit, we'd love to hear from you.

14/04/2026

A Place to Settle, Right in Ingle Farm. 🏡

Searching for a peaceful home in Ingle Farm, South Australia? This well-maintained, single-level property offers three bedrooms, a light-filled living area, an updated kitchen, and a secure backyard. Available for Medium Term (MTA), or Short Term Accommodation (STA). A quiet, accessible home close to local shops and transport.

If this feels like the right fit, we'd love to hear from you.

10/04/2026

Smart Homes, Wearables & Voice Control: How Tech Is Changing NDIS Support....

Assistive Technology is one of the fastest-growing areas in the NDIS. From voice-activated lighting to wearable health monitors, digital tools are helping participants live more independently and safely.

What's new in 2025-26?
Smart home devices are now mainstream. Voice-controlled lighting, smart plugs, automated blinds, and video doorbells can reduce reliance on support workers. Many fall under low-cost AT (under $1,500), meaning participants can purchase them without quotes using Core or AT budgets.

Wearable devices are also growing fast. Fall detection watches, GPS trackers, stress monitors, and sleep trackers provide real-time health insights for participants and therapists.

For participants with cognitive or psychosocial disabilities, new digital tools help with planning, reminders, emotional regulation, and navigation.

In 2024-25 Q4, 36% of NDIS participants received AT. The highest use was in the 45-64 age group (50%), while spinal cord injury participants had the highest take-up at 87%. However, access has declined from 49% in 2021-22.

Smart home devices, kitchen and bathroom safety tools, mobility aids, vision aids, and communication devices (AAC apps on tablets) may be funded if reasonable and necessary. Items over $1,500 generally require a quote or OT assessment.

Since October 2024, tablets are not standard supports but may be funded as replacement supports for participants with complex communication needs who require an AAC app as their primary device. This requires a formal application and speech pathologist documentation.

Talk to your Support Coordinator or OT. Check your plan for Consumables (Core) or Assistive Technology (Capital Supports) funding. Many low-cost items are easier to access than you think.

08/04/2026

Real Moments.
Real Lives.
Real Belonging. 💙

Look at these moments.

☕ Someone enjoying a quiet coffee with his support team at a local cafe.
🐾 Someone sharing a gentle moment with a furry friend.
🛍️ Someone out and about at the shopping centre, living her day her way.
🐰 Someone soaking up the joy of the Easter Show.
🍟 Someone enjoying a Maccas run. Because sometimes, the best moments are the simple ones.

Every smile. Every ordinary outing. Every quiet connection. This is what genuine disability support looks like.

At Connecting Families, we believe support should never feel like a transaction. It should feel like life. Real, everyday, beautiful life.

We don't just provide accommodation or services. We walk alongside people as they live their lives. We celebrate the small wins, the everyday joys, and the independence that grows one moment at a time.

To every participant who lets us be part of your story, thank you. You are why we do what we do.

To families who trust us with your loved ones, we never take that for granted.

And to the support workers showing up with kindness every day, we see you.

This is community. This is belonging. This is Connecting Families.

02/04/2026

New NDIS Support Needs Assessments: What You Need to Know 📌

From mid‑2026, the NDIS is rolling out a new planning approach called Support Needs Assessments. This is a guided conversation with a trained NDIS assessor to understand your daily life and the support you need. No more paying for expensive specialist reports. Fairer budgets, simpler plans, and more flexibility.

The assessment uses the I‑CAN v6 tool, an Australian‑developed, strengths‑based framework refined over 20 years. It’s designed to focus on your support needs, not just your diagnosis.

The first participants begin mid‑2026, with a phased rollout over five years. Children under 18 will not be part of the initial changes.

If you’ve been wondering how this affects your NDIS plan, you’re not alone. We’re following the updates closely and will keep sharing what matters for participants and families.

Save this post to refer back to, and share it with someone who needs to know. 💙

01/04/2026

A Gentle Question for Today 💙

When did you last pause and ask yourself how you're really doing?

We know the weight you carry, the sleepless nights, the quiet exhaustion, the love that keeps you going even when you have nothing left to give.

You give so much of yourself to the people you care for. Today, we want to give something back to you.

A moment.
A pause.
A space where you don't have to be strong for anyone else.

So here it is. A question just for you.

How are you, really?

Drop a ❤️ if today feels heavy. Drop a 🌱 if you're holding onto hope. Or simply sit with the question for a moment.

You are seen.
You are valued.
And... You are not alone.

27/03/2026

🌿 Some moments don’t look extraordinary to the world, but to us, they mean everything.

We’ve seen what it feels like to finally move freely again, even if it’s just on a bike at the gym.

We’ve seen the quiet joy in a simple coffee under the sun, where nothing else matters but being present.

And we’ve witnessed the kind of strength that doesn’t shout, but shows up every single day, even when life is hard.

This is what real support looks like.

Not just care, but connection.
Not just services, but moments that bring dignity
independence
and happiness back into everyday life.

At Connecting Families, it’s never just about providing support, but creating space for people to live, feel, and experience life in their own way.

Because everyone deserves more than just getting by… they deserve to truly live.

26/03/2026

NDIS Funding Periods Under PACE: What You Need to Know 📌

If your NDIS plan was approved after May 2025, you're under the PACE system. Your total funding hasn't changed, but how you access it has. Instead of one lump sum, funding is released in instalments called Funding Periods.

Quarterly (every 3 months): Core Supports (daily activities, transport, social participation) and Capacity Building categories.
Monthly: Home and Living supports like Supported Independent Living (SIL).
Upfront: Assistive Technology and home modifications.

Unused funds roll over within your plan, but any left at the end does not carry over.
If you spend more than your allocated instalment, you pay the difference out of pocket. You cannot borrow from future periods.

View your funding periods in the my NDIS portal. Your Support Coordinator and Plan Manager can also see them. Share dates with your providers so invoices align.

Follow us for more NDIS tips, share this with someone who needs to understand their funding periods, and like if you found this helpful. ❤️

24/03/2026

Some homes just feel right. This one in Dapto is one of them. 🏡

Thoughtfully designed on a single level with wide hallways, step-free access, and a peaceful backyard with escarpment views, it offers comfort and ease for Supported Independent Living, Medium Term, or Short Term Accommodation.

Close to shops, medical services, and transport, it's a place where support meets belonging.

If this feels like home, we'd love to hear from you.

Click link in the comment to learn more!

20/03/2026

What Are the New NDIS Supports Lists (2026 Updates)?

The new NDIS Supports Lists are a major change to how the Scheme operates, defining exactly what participants can and cannot use their NDIS funding for. These lists follow legislative changes from October 2024 and represent a shift toward greater clarity across the Scheme.

The lists were shaped through public consultation in August 2024, with over 7,000 people providing feedback. This included significant input from the disability community, advocacy organizations, and service providers, helping shape the final version.

The NDIS supports list includes items considered reasonable and necessary for pursuing goals and living an ordinary life. However, the exclusions have attracted significant attention. Disability advocates have raised concerns about items removed from funding, including parenting supports, somatic therapy, menstrual products, homeschooling resources, and certain therapies.

The Intellectual Disability Reference Group noted in November 2024 that the changes are creating confusion for participants. Disability advocate Heidi La Paglia Reid expressed concern that the lists fail to uphold rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, particularly the right to respect for home and family.

Importantly, the NDIS has included a replacement support rule. This allows participants to request a substitution for a support not on the list in specific, approved cases, providing some flexibility for individual circumstances.

For participants and families, the new lists mean greater clarity but also potential restrictions on previously available supports. Understanding these changes is essential for navigating the evolving Scheme.

💬 Have you reviewed your NDIS plan since the new supports lists were introduced? Share your experience below.

19/03/2026

👪 Every day, a new family reaches out to us. Some are exhausted. Some are scared. Some have been searching for years, quietly wondering if the right support even exists....

And every day, we are reminded why they choose to stay. 💙

We see the person and not just the plan.
We start with getting to know you.
Get to know what makes you feel safe.
What drains you.
What lights you up.

And from there, we build support that actually fits.

We believe our Supported Independent Living, Medium Term Accommodation, Short Term Accommodation and Short Term Respite should never feel like just a house but, a home where you can thrive and eventually grow.

These are carefully matched communities where housemates genuinely connect.

Complex needs are our specialty.

-Trauma.
-Mental health.
-High medical needs.
-Challenging behaviours.

Where other providers might hesitate, we boldly step in. Our clinical team works alongside your doctors and specialists to create evidence-based plans that change as your needs change.

We also know families deserve a break. You have carried so much for so long. Our respite care gives you time to rest, knowing your loved one is safe and well supported.

We have been doing this for over 10+ years now.
10+ years of walking alongside families across Australia.
10+ years of learning, growing, and proving that no one is too complex for us.

Families choose us because we offer more than services.
We offer partnership.
We offer peace of mind.
We offer a place where you and your loved one can finally breathe.

If you are ready to experience the difference, send us a message or visit our website to learn more.

Check the link in the comment section. 👇

17/03/2026

🏡 Ingle Farm (SA) – Vacant SIL Home Now Taking Applications

Suitable for 1:1 SIL, MTA, or STA

This well-maintained, single-level home offers comfort, accessibility, and a peaceful place to call home. Featuring three generous bedrooms, a light-filled living area, and an updated kitchen with ample storage, it's designed for practical daily living. The secure, fully fenced backyard provides a quiet outdoor space to relax, while paved pathways and a covered carport add convenience and ease.

Set in a quiet, established neighbourhood close to local shops, medical centres, and transport, this home balances simplicity with connection to the community. Ideal for someone seeking stability, comfort, and the right support in a welcoming environment.

Connect with us for more information 👇
0435 958 359
info@connectingfamilies.com.au

Connecting Families

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