Lion and Mouse

18/03/2026

Wanting a roaring good old time?

Lion and Mouse will once again be hosting a School Holiday Adventure deep in the wilds of the Werribee Open Range Zoo.

18/03/2026

Harmony Week is a time to recognise that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and included. We live, work and learn alongside people from many cultures, languages and backgrounds. Harmony Week reminds us that belonging is created through kindness, understanding and everyday actions.

12/03/2026

The Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) assists with accessibility and mobility needs by offering subsidised commercial passenger vehicle (CPV) fares to eligible members. Members receive a 50% discount on the total fare, up to $60 per trip. Some restrictions may apply. The program does not cover the full cost of a taxi fare. To be eligible, you must be a permanent resident of Australia and live in Victoria, have a severe and permanent disability (that is not likely to improve with treatment) that prevents you from safely and independently using public transport, and be able to demonstrate financial hardship.

Do you know about half priced taxi cards?

If you support a person with a severe disability, and you need to take them somewhere in a cab, you can receive 50% off the standard fare (covering up to $60 per trip) with a Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) card.

The card is issued to the person you care for. They would need to become a MPTP member to receive the card.

You don't need to show the driver your Carers Victoria Member Card or a We Care Card, just the MPTP card.

Please note:
-Eligibility requirements apply for the person with disability
-Some restrictions may apply
-The program does not cover the full cost of a taxi fare.
-The cost of any road tolls or airport fees is paid by the passenger.

Find out more and how to apply for the card here. https://www.carersvictoria.org.au/benefits/half-priced-taxi-card/

02/03/2026

Michelle Jensen remembers a day she couldn’t face going home. She was left broken, exhausted, and empty after her disabled 10-year-old son received a devastating $50,000 cut to his NDIS funding 👉 https://bit.ly/4s7FAW7

If you or your family are navigating your own NDIS struggles and would like to share your story, please reach out to me at bella.munro@news.com.au.

25/02/2026

Have your say on the new NDIS planning rules.

People across the community are already sharing their concerns, and the message is clear.

From early survey responses, many people are worried about:

• Assessors chosen by the NDIA, not independent
• Whether assessors will be properly qualified
• Not being able to use their own reports and evidence
• Assessments not capturing complex or changing needs
• Being “put in a box” that doesn’t reflect real life
• It being hard to fix decisions if they’re wrong

These proposed planning changes could reshape how NDIS budgets are decided, how assessments are used, and how decisions are explained.

Every Australian Counts is preparing a submission to Government, and your input helps strengthen it.

If you are an NDIS participant, family member, carer, support worker or advocate, your perspective matters.

You don’t need to read all the consultation papers. Just tell us what fair, safe and transparent planning should look like.

⏰ The consultation closes 6 March 2026.

We’ll use survey responses (de-identified unless you say otherwise) to strengthen our submission and advocate for safeguards that work in real life.

👉 Take the survey: https://forms.office.com/r/EsbqZ3gcXM

A note of care: the survey discusses changes that may feel stressful. Support is available via Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

[Image description: Red background with a white speech bubble reading, “Have your say on the new NDIS planning rules.” A bar chart shows top concerns about the proposed changes, including assessor qualifications, complex needs not being captured, use of personal reports, and difficulty fixing wrong decisions. Text at the bottom says, “Take our survey today.”]



Mark Butler MP Jenny McAllister Melissa McIntosh MP

19/02/2026

Navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be overwhelming, especially when trying to understand the different roles involved in supporting participants. Two of the most commonly confused roles are Local Area Coordinators (LACs) and Support Coordinators. In this article we go over the differences -

Navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be overwhelming, especially when trying to understand the different roles involved in supporting participants. Two of the most commonly confused roles are Local Area Coordinators (LACs) and Support Coordinators.

04/02/2026

We’re making National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) planning fairer, more transparent, sustainable and person-centred.

Right now, we’re working to develop rules for how new framework planning will work. This will set out the process for creating NDIS plans.

We want to hear from NDIS participants and the disability community to make sure we get the rules right.

🗓️ Consultation closes 11:59 pm AEDT, 6 March 2026.

For more information, see the comments below. 👇

25/01/2026

Have your say

📣 Parliament is running an Inquiry into the administration of the NDIS, and they want to hear from you.

The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit is asking for submissions on how the Scheme is run, including how the NDIA operates, how claims are handled, the performance of the NDIS Commission and more. Submissions close 30 January 2026.

Your lived experience matters, your voice counts, and this is a chance to push for fairness, reasonable and necessary support, and choice and control.

📨 You can make a submission, share your story, or raise issues you see every day.
👉 Add your voice today: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Public_Accounts_and_Audit/Inquiry_into_the_administration_of_the_National_Disability_Insurance_Scheme

[Image description: Graphic with red and white background. A megaphone sits in the bottom left. Text reads: "Add your voice – Inquiry into the administration of the NDIS." The Every Australian Counts logo appears in the bottom right.]

14/01/2026

The planned introduction of the I‑CAN assessment tool is a landscape shifting quickly. Many of the rules that will guide how I‑CAN is used in planning are still being written, with public consultations scheduled for early 2026. In this environment, people with disability, families, providers, and advocates are trying to make sense of what these changes may mean for real‑world supports. In this article, we discuss what we understand so far.

The planned introduction of the I‑CAN assessment tool is a landscape shifting quickly. Many of the rules that will guide how I‑CAN is used in planning are still being written, with public consultations scheduled for early 2026. In this environment, people with disability, families, providers, an...

13/01/2026

The Committee on Ageing and Disability is conducting an inquiry into supported decision-making for adults with disability and older people in NSW.
What’s being looked at?

👉 The role of the Ageing and Disability Commission in supported decision-making.
👉Ways to improve how supported decision-making works.
👉The experiences of people who need help making decisions, including Aboriginal people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
👉Ensuring substitute decision-making is only used when absolutely necessary.

Want to contribute?
You can make a submission by Friday, 13 March 2026. (Just follow the link)

06/01/2026

Happy new year

06/01/2026

Assistive technology (AT) is equipment or devices that help you do things you can’t do because of your disability. AT may also help you do something more easily or safely.

Learn more at 💻 https://ow.ly/KFyK50XHNN0