Grow Your Abilities

13/10/2025

🎨 Art & Music Therapy Supports – What’s Changing

After an independent review, the NDIS has confirmed that art and music therapy can play a valuable role in supporting some participants’ wellbeing, emotional regulation, and skill development. These therapies are recognised as effective interventions when they are delivered by qualified professionals.

Here are the key updates you need to know:
🔹 New Price Limit – From November 2025, art and music therapy will be funded at a maximum of $156.16 per hour.
This is a reduction from the previous $193.99/hour rate and now aligns with the counselling price limit.

🔹 Qualified Providers Only – To claim at the therapy rate, providers must be appropriately trained and accredited. This means they need to hold professional membership with one of these recognised bodies:
ANZACATA – Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association
AMTA – Australian Music Therapy Association

🔹 Focus on Evidence & Outcomes – Funding will be tied to clear therapeutic goals, and services need to be delivered in line with best practice. This ensures that participants can demonstrate the benefits and progress linked to their NDIS goals.

🔹 What This Means for Participants –
If you’re already engaging an art or music therapist, check that they are members of ANZACATA or AMTA.

You may see a reduction in the hourly rate from November 2025, which could mean more hours of therapy within the same budget.

If your current provider does not meet the qualification requirements, you may need to transition to a registered professional to continue accessing funding under this category.

11/10/2025

🌈✨ National Coming Out Day ✨🌈

Today we celebrate courage, authenticity, and love.

Coming out is a deeply personal journey – for some it’s a moment of pride and freedom, and for others it can feel daunting and unsafe. Every experience is valid. 💛

At Grow Your Abilities, we stand with our LGBTQIA+ community, clients, families, and allies. We honour the strength it takes to live openly and authentically, and we also acknowledge that not everyone can or wants to come out – and that’s okay too. 💚

Let’s keep building a world where everyone feels safe, supported, and celebrated for who they are. 🦋

💬 If today feels heavy, know that you are not alone. Reach out to a friend, a trusted support, or a service like QLife (1800 184 527) for a safe and affirming chat.

Be proud of who you are – you are enough, exactly as you are. 🌸

10/10/2025

🌿 World Mental Health Day (Oct 10)

💚 Today is World Mental Health Day – a reminder that mental health matters every day.

This year’s theme is about connection, awareness and support.

Sometimes the smallest act – a smile, a text, a quick “How are you really?” – can make the biggest difference. 💬

Let’s keep building a community where it’s safe to talk about our struggles and celebrate our strengths.

Together, we are never alone. 🌻
If today feels tough, support is available: Lifeline 13 11 14 | Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.

09/10/2025

🗂️ Changes to Planning – What’s Coming

The new way of NDIS planning, originally scheduled to begin in September 2025, has now been pushed back to mid-2026.

This delay is intentional – it allows the NDIA to take on more feedback from the disability community, and ensures that the transition will be smoother and less disruptive for participants, families, and providers.

Here’s what the framework looks like so far:
🔹 Gradual Rollout – The changes won’t happen all at once. They’ll be introduced in stages, giving participants and providers time to understand and adjust.
🔹 More Transparency – Planning will move toward a clearer framework where decisions about “reasonable and necessary” supports are easier to understand and more consistent.
🔹 Individualised Budgets – The NDIA has signalled that budgets will be more closely tied to a person’s functional capacity and support needs, with stronger links to the evidence submitted.
🔹 Focus on Flexibility – Early drafts suggest participants will have more choice in how they use their funding, with simplified categories to reduce confusion and red tape.
🔹 Ongoing Feedback – The NDIA has committed to working with participants, families, advocates, and providers during the transition period to make sure the new system reflects real needs.

What does this mean right now?
👉 No immediate changes to your current plan.
👉 Participants can continue using their funding as usual.
👉 More information and resources will be released by NDIA as we get closer to the rollout.

At Grow Your Abilities, we’ll continue to stay across updates and share them in plain language so you know what’s coming and how it might affect you. 🌿

07/10/2025

PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT:

This month, we’re thrilled to feature Brainwaves Surfing, an incredible Gold Coast organisation that’s making waves in inclusive surf education and adventure activities. They believe the beach belongs to everyone—regardless of age, ability, or experience.

What They Offer
Private & Group Lessons — From one-on-one sessions to shared groups, perfect for learners of all levels.

Adaptive Coaching — Specialised instruction tailored for individuals who need modified equipment or support.

School Holiday Programs & Adventure Camps — A great option for young people to try surfing, kayaking, swimming, snorkelling, bushwalking, fishing and more.

Support Work — Assisting participants who require extra help during activities, focusing on safety, inclusion, respect, and fun.

Why We Love Them
They break down barriers to participation so that everyone can enjoy coastal adventures.

Their adaptive coaching shows meaningful commitment to accessibility.

They help build confidence, joy, connection to nature—and the ocean!

How to Get Involved
If you or someone in your network would enjoy a surf lesson or outdoor adventure, Brainwaves Surfing is a fantastic provider to consider. Whether it’s trying something new, getting outdoors, or just enjoying the beach, they help make those opportunities possible.

📍 Based on the Gold Coast, supporting local and inclusive adventures.

04/10/2025

⏰✨ Daylight Savings Reminder ✨⏰

Daylight savings begins this Sunday, October 5th at 2am.

Clocks will jump forward one hour ⏩ – so at 2am, it will become 3am AEDT.

For those in QLD, NSW, ACT, and SA, this means a long weekend and a time change. 🎉
Here in Queensland, our clocks stay the same, but let’s give ourselves some grace as we adjust to the time difference when working across the border.

🌿 A little reminder:
If you have supports scheduled on Monday, please double-check with your Support Coordinator to make sure there’s enough funding in place for the public holiday rates.

Enjoy the sunshine, longer evenings, and a well-deserved long weekend! 💛

02/10/2025

⏳ Late Claims Grace Period Ending

The NDIA has announced that the grace period for late claims will officially end on 3 October 2025.

This means:
🔹 New Rule – From this date onwards, all claims must be submitted within two years of the support start date.
🔹 No More Older Claims – Any claims for supports delivered more than two years ago will no longer be accepted. This includes claims that may have been held up due to provider delays, system issues, or plan transitions.
🔹 Provider Action Required – Providers should carefully check their records now and finalise any outstanding claims before the 3 October 2025 deadline. After this cut-off date, the NDIA will not process them.
🔹 Impact on Participants – Participants should not be financially disadvantaged if their providers have been timely with invoicing. However, if you’re aware of any historic invoices that haven’t been submitted, it’s important to raise this with your provider now to make sure they are lodged before the deadline.

⚠️ Why this matters – This change is part of the NDIA’s push for consistency and accountability. It reduces the backlog of old claims and ensures funds are being used within the timeframe they were allocated.

01/10/2025

🌿 October is Mental Health Month 🌿

This year’s theme is all about awareness, belonging and connection. 💚

Mental health is something we all have, just like physical health, and it deserves the same care and attention. Whether you’re living with a mental health condition, supporting a loved one, or simply navigating the ups and downs of daily life — you’re not alone.

✨ Awareness – noticing how we’re really feeling and recognising the signs when things aren’t okay.
✨ Belonging – knowing we are valued, accepted and not defined by our struggles.
✨ Connection – reaching out, sharing a cuppa, joining a community activity, or simply checking in with someone who might need it.

This month, let’s take a moment to pause, reflect, and support one another.
Small steps — like asking a friend “How are you, really?” — can make a big difference. 💬

If you or someone you know is finding things tough, remember support is available. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or reach out to your GP or local mental health services.

Together, we can build a community where everyone feels safe, supported and connected. 💜

29/09/2025

🌼✨ Spring Picnic at Sol ✨🌼

What a beautiful day we had on Saturday for our GYA Spring Picnic! 💛
The turnout was absolutely amazing – so many friendly faces, laughter, and connection shared in the sunshine.

Our animals were extremely well loved (and WELL FED 😂) – thank you to everyone who gave them pats, cuddles, and treats. 🐷🐐🐓🐎 They’re still smiling today!
Events like these remind us just how special it is to come together as a community, celebrate the season, and nurture the sense of belonging that sits at the heart of what we do at Grow Your Abilities. 🌿

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so wonderful – we can’t wait for the next one! 💚

📸 If you snapped any photos at the picnic, feel free to share them in the comments – we’d love to see your memories too!

23/09/2025

23/09/2025

✋🌍 International Day of Sign Languages – 23 Sept 2025 🌍✋

Today we celebrate the beauty and power of sign languages around the world! Did you know there are over 300 different sign languages used by more than 70 million Deaf people globally? Each one is rich, expressive, and just as important as spoken languages.

This year’s theme is:
💬 “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights”
Because true inclusion means making sure everyone can access education, healthcare, community, and connection in their own language.

✨ How you can join in today:
Learn a new sign in Auslan (or your local sign language) and teach it to a friend 🤟
Share a story, video, or fact that shines a light on Deaf culture 🎥
Support Deaf voices and advocacy – listen, amplify, and celebrate 👂💛
Remember: every time we make communication more inclusive, we make our communities stronger.

Let’s raise our hands high and celebrate sign languages as a vital part of human diversity. 👐

22/09/2025

Celebrate National Week of Deaf People – 22–28 September 2025!
This year, Deaf Australia proudly presents National Week of Deaf People (NWDP) from Monday 22 September to Sunday 28 September 2025, aligned with the World Federation of the Deaf’s theme: "No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights".

Each day spotlights a critical theme in our ongoing fight for equality and recognition:
Mon 22 Sept — Deaf Communities Leading: Empowering Deaf-led alliances in decision-making.
Tue 23 Sept — No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights: Recognising sign language as a foundational human right.
Wed 24 Sept — Multilingual Education for Deaf Learners: Supporting culturally and linguistically appropriate learning environments.
Thu 25 Sept — Deaf Rights in Crises: Ensuring Deaf communities are central in emergency planning and response.
Fri 26 Sept — Recognition of National Sign Language: Advocating for the legal recognition of Auslan under the UNCRPD.
Sat 27 Sept — Sign Language Access Services: Championing choice and accessibility in language services and interpretation.
Sun 28 Sept — Set the Basis for the Future: Celebrating innovation, inspiration, and building a future where Deaf people can "sign anywhere"

Read more here: https://deafaustralia.org.au/nwdp/

What is NWDP and why it matters:
National Week of Deaf People is Australia’s way of honouring Deaf individuals, promoting Auslan, celebrating Deaf culture, and advocating for inclusion and rights. It also recognises the International Week of Deaf People (IWDP) and the International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL)—both global initiatives rooted in the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf on 23 September 1951.

How You Can Get Involved
Share this post to amplify awareness about sign language rights and the importance of Deaf-led leadership.
Join or host events like Auslan workshops, community gatherings, webinars, art exhibitions, or Deaf speaker panels.
Tag local Deaf organisations and allies to spread the word and inspire others.
Support policy change by promoting recognition of Auslan and inclusive practices in education, communication, and crisis planning.
Learn Auslan—whether you're hearing or Deaf, language is the bridge to connection and understanding.
Let’s stand together to honour Deaf culture, uphold language rights, and forge a more inclusive future. Because ultimately, there can be no human rights without sign language rights.