🌈 Wow, Pride Month 2025 was a blast!

June’s rainbow-filled days celebrated the LGBTIQASB+ community, with a special focus on people with disability and intersectional identities. From accessible parades to virtual meetups, love, resilience, and diversity were honoured.

This year, Pride shone a light on the unique experiences of LGBTIQASB+ folks navigating disability, race, and more. Sign language interpreters, wheelchair-friendly venues, and sensory-safe spaces made events more inclusive, proving that true Pride lifts everyone.

It is a great time to acknowledge that education and awareness are key to empowering allies and communities to understand the diverse needs of LGBTIQASB+ individuals with disability.

The NGO Training Centre’s course, Supporting LGBTIQASB+ People, is a game-changer, educating disability support professionals about gender-affirming care, the Genderbread Unicorn analogy 🦄, and intersectionality to foster inclusive support.

🌈 So, how was your Pride? Did you march, connect online, gain greater insights through education… or face challenges? Share your story with #Pride2025 and tag us on socials @ngotrainingcentre.

We’d love to hear it!

Let’s keep the love and fight going all year long, not just for the month of June.

Happy Pride! 🌈

Amanda Robinson BA, MMHealthPrac,

As Head of Learning and Development and a seasoned NDIS expert, Amanda drives capability and sustainability in the disability and health sectors. With over 15 years of experience, post-graduate qualifications in Mental Health Leadership and Management, and currently pursuing an MBA, she brings deep expertise and personal insight as someone with lived experience of disability. A devoted carer, Amanda champions Human Rights, working to dismantle stigma and barriers for individuals with disability and mental health challenges. She is passionate about building robust stakeholder relationships, leveraging her advocacy, communication, strategic thinking, and analysis skills. 

NDIS Supports: Have Your Say!

A lot is happening with the NDIS, and as a provider, you will want to stay informed. The Federal Government is rolling out reforms to ensure the NDIS remains a sustainable, fair, and robust system for supporting people with disability well into the future.

So, what does this mean for you as a provider?

Last year, the Australian Parliament passed updates to the NDIS Act, laying the groundwork for significant improvements. These changes serve as a blueprint for enhancing the NDIS to work better for everyone, including participants, providers, and the system as a whole.

The focus?  New rules to make the scheme fairer, stronger, and more sustainable.

The government is collaborating with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), state and territory governments, and people with disability to develop these new rules.

They have also been working with disability organisations, and as providers, you’re a key part of this conversation too!

Currently, the government is conducting a public consultation on NDIS Supports, which is open from June 16^th to July 27^th. This is your chance to share your insights.

Whether it’s about service delivery, funding, or how the new rules could impact your work, here is how you can jump in:

• Complete the survey or submit a written response with your thoughts.
• Check out these resources to help you prepare:
  • NDIS Supports Discussion Paper (full version)
  • Easy Read version (great for sharing with clients)
  • Auslan version for accessibility
  • “What We’ve Heard” paper, summarising feedback from disability organisations

If you or your team need support to complete the survey, you can call the DSS Complaints phone line on 1800 634 035.

You can leave a message with:

• Your first name
• Your contact number
• The best time for a callback
• A note that it’s about the NDIS Supports consultation

Join the Webinar

To help you get a clearer picture of the NDIS Supports rules, there’s a public webinar on Tuesday, June 24^th . It’s a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from the government, ask questions, and understand how these changes might affect you and your organisation and participants that you support. Register for the webinar here to secure your spot!

What’s the Timeline?

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening and what’s next:

• May: Engagement with the disability sector on NDIS Supports kicked off.
• June 16–July 27: Public consultation on NDIS Supports (happening now!).
• June 24: Public webinar on NDIS Supports.
• July: More discussions with the disability sector to prepare for a new framework consultation in August.

We cannot stress enough that as an NDIS provider, you’re on the front lines delivering essential services. These reforms aim to create a system that’s easier to navigate, more equitable for participants, and sustainable for providers like you. By engaging in the consultation, you can help shape rules that work better for your organisation and, more importantly, those you support.

Whether it’s streamlining processes, clarifying funding, or ensuring fairness, your input can make a real difference.

Do you have ideas on how to improve service delivery or make the system more participant and provider-friendly? Now’s the time to speak up! Join the consultation, attend the webinar, and check out the resources to share your perspective.

If you would like more information, please visit: https://engage.dss.gov.au/ndis-supports-rule/.

Let’s work together to ensure the NDIS continues to empower participants and support providers for years to come!

Amanda Robinson BA, MMHealthPrac,

As Head of Learning and Development and a seasoned NDIS expert, Amanda drives capability and sustainability in the disability and health sectors. With over 15 years of experience, post-graduate qualifications in Mental Health Leadership and Management, and currently pursuing an MBA, she brings deep expertise and personal insight as someone with lived experience of disability. A devoted carer, Amanda champions Human Rights, working to dismantle stigma and barriers for individuals with disability and mental health challenges. She is passionate about building robust stakeholder relationships, leveraging her advocacy, communication, strategic thinking, and analysis skills. 

Let’s Celebrate World Refugee Day together this June 20^th.

This year’s theme is Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community. It is a day where we acknowledge the strength and resilience of refugees and those who have been forcibly displaced.

At the NGO Training Centre, we would like to acknowledge the challenges faced by refugees with disability and the need for improved access to disability support services like the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It starts with education and awareness.

Did you know: refugees with disability face unique challenges such as difficulty accessing healthcare, disability services, and navigating or even accessing the NDIS?

While many refugees with disability may be eligible for NDIS support, accessing these services can be difficult due to language barriers, lack of awareness, and the overwhelming and complex application processes.

Organisations like the Refugee Council of Australia are advocating for early intervention, culturally sensitive support, and simpler NDIS access for refugees with disabilities.

This World Refugee Day, let’s reflect on how we, as a community and dedicated providers, can advocate for their right to essential supports while overcoming these unique hurdles.

Our Cultural Awareness course for Disability Support Professionals is here to help you and your organisation get a handle on those hurdles… because, let’s face it, “Change is the end result of all true learning” – Leo Buscaglia.

 

Amanda Robinson BA, MMHealthPrac,

As Head of Learning and Development and a seasoned NDIS expert, Amanda drives capability and sustainability in the disability and health sectors. With over 15 years of experience, post-graduate qualifications in Mental Health Leadership and Management, and currently pursuing an MBA, she brings deep expertise and personal insight as someone with lived experience of disability. A devoted carer, Amanda champions Human Rights, working to dismantle stigma and barriers for individuals with disability and mental health challenges. She is passionate about building robust stakeholder relationships, leveraging her advocacy, communication, strategic thinking, and analysis skills. 

NDIS Pricing Shake-Up:

2025-26 Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL) released!

The updated NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL) 2025-26 has been published, following the release of the 2024-25 Annual Pricing Review recommendations.

The PAPL has also undergone a name change. You may remember it as the NDIS Price Guide. The new pricing updates come into effect on 1 July 2025. I know…that’s not much notice for providers!

There have been a few changes to wrap your head around.

Firstly, The NDIA has changed the early childhood age limit from 7 to 9 years old. The early childhood approach now covers children up to 9 years old. Providers will find this change in the PAPL.

Next, new text has also been added to explain provider responsibilities and conflicts of interest. This explains a provider’s duty to declare and manage any conflict of interest.

Then, we have the pricing updates. To help you digest these changes, let’s break these down further for you:

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1. Minimum Wage Increase: Fair Work Commission announced a 3.5% minimum wage increase effective 1 July 2025, passed directly to price caps for Disability Support Worker (DSW) Cost Model Supports, including Core supports, Psychosocial Recovery Coaching, and Level 1 Support Coordination.

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2. Superannuation Increase: A 0.5% minimum superannuation increase will also be applied to DSW-related price caps.

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3. Psychology: State-based price differences have been eliminated, so there is a new national rate set at $232.99 per hour, good news for QLD, NSW, VIC, with a $10 per hour increase… but not so good news for those in WA, SA, NT, TAS who are copping an $11.23 per hour reduction.

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4. Non-DSW Supports: The Annual Pricing Review recommends price limit increases for nursing and other non-DSW supports (excluding Capital, Plan Management, Therapy, or Support Coordination) based on an 80/20 weighting of Wage Price Index (WPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the 12 months to March 2025.

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5. Support Coordinators and Plan Managers: Another year, another year of no price cap increase, and effectively a reduction due to a 2.4% inflation. Support coordination shows no widespread unmet demand and the upcoming structural reforms such as mandatory registration, and the Navigator role are expected to impact pricing. We look forward to seeing how this pans out.

Plan Managers also face no price cap increase, they have removed of remote loadings, and setup fees, and now have a single national rate for administration. This is not a great outcome for Support Coordinators and Plan managers who are struggling to keep up with costs.

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6. Therapy Pricing: There have been multiple price cap reductions: Physiotherapy was cut by $10/hour and Dietitians and Podiatrist fees were cut by $5/hour.

Jurisdictional loadings have been removed, leading to a total $40.63/hour cut for physiotherapists in WA, SA, NT, TAS. The previous flat rate of $193.99/hour was deemed unnecessary and the NDIA said that they will be reviewing therapy pricing over the next 18 months to look at potential differentiated pricing models.

Differentiated pricing is different ways of pricing supports based on the benefits and costs to participants and providers. It moves beyond the assumption that hourly pricing is always best, and instead introduces a more structured way to assess when different pricing approaches may be beneficial.

Price caps for therapy are now presented in 10-minute increments to allow flexible session lengths and better align claimed time with services. Provider travel claims are also now capped at 50% of the relevant hourly rate.

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Alright, there you have it… the lowdown on the NDIS pricing updates! We hope this breakdown makes things a tad clearer. With the clock ticking to roll these changes out across your organisation, we’re wishing you all the best to surf this wave smoothly.

So, what does the future look like for you as a provider?

The annual pricing review recommends a three-year NDIA work plan to implement reforms from the Independent Pricing Committee’s Final Report.

Due to the very short notice to providers of this year’s Annual Pricing Review, it has been recommended that in the future the NDIA will be adjusting the Annual Pricing review timeline to improve implementation and provide earlier advice to the sector.

So, from 2025-26, future Annual Pricing Reviews will be delivered earlier in the year, with recommendations finalised and published well in advance of the financial year.

This change will take effect from the 2026-27 Annual Pricing Review.

That’s a lot to take in for now, but if you would like more information, please visit the Pricing arrangements page of the NDIS website to download the updated 2025-26 PAPL and support catalogues, and check out the NDIA website’s Annual Pricing Review FAQs page.

Amanda Robinson BA, MMHealthPrac,

As Head of Learning and Development and a seasoned NDIS expert, Amanda drives capability and sustainability in the disability and health sectors. With over 15 years of experience, post-graduate qualifications in Mental Health Leadership and Management, and currently pursuing an MBA, she brings deep expertise and personal insight as someone with lived experience of disability. A devoted carer, Amanda champions Human Rights, working to dismantle stigma and barriers for individuals with disability and mental health challenges. She is passionate about building robust stakeholder relationships, leveraging her advocacy, communication, strategic thinking, and analysis skills.

Meet Paul Larcombe, our exceptional Subject Matter Expert, whose dedication and impact in the disability sector are truly inspiring.

As a qualified NDIS Auditor, Business Growth Executive and a person living with disability, Paul brings a unique and powerful perspective to his work.

His lifelong commitment to advocating for people with disability has driven transformative change, from influencing policy through political involvement to serving on government and peak boards.

Paul’s contributions have been significant, including leading initiatives to improve transport accessibility for people with disability. His expertise combines thorough auditing knowledge with the authenticity of living experience, enabling him to break down barriers and enhance the quality of supports provided to the disability community.

We sincerely thank Paul for his brilliant work in helping us transform training in the Australian disability sector!

Learn more about all our brilliant Subject Matter Experts on our About Us page.

 

Invest in Training Before June 30th

You’re about to discover how the most innovative disability service providers are turning their final weeks of the financial year into a powerhouse opportunity.

While others scramble at the last minute, you have the inside track on a strategy that transforms necessary training expenses into significant tax advantages, all while building the strongest, most capable team you’ve ever had. The clock is counting down to June 30th, but that just makes this opportunity even more valuable for those clever enough to act.

Turn Training Costs into Tax Wins

Let’s talk numbers that actually matter to your business. When you invest in NGO Training Centre’s high-quality, affordable online courses before June 30th, you’re not just spending money; you’re strategically reducing your tax bill. Those NDIS-compliant courses covering everything from foundational skills to complex care scenarios? They’re legitimate business expenses that the ATO recognises as tax-deductible.

Instead of handing over extra tax dollars, you could be channelling that money into upskilling your workforce. It’s like getting a discount on professional development (sponsored by the government) that pays dividends all year long. (Just remember to chat with your accountant to make sure you’re ticking all the right boxes.)

Sleep Better During Audit Season

Here’s something that keeps many providers awake at night: those dreaded NDIS audits. And with spot checks becoming more common, the “we’ll deal with it later” approach to staff training isn’t a sensible option anymore.

NGO Training Centre gets this reality. Our platform offers more than 100 courses meticulously designed to align with the NDIS Practice Standards and the Code of Conduct, so when the auditors come knocking (announced or not), you’ll be ready with comprehensive training records and confident, well-trained staff. No more scrambling to find certificates, hoping your manually updated training log is accurate, or praying your team remembers what they learned in that workshop from two years ago.

Training That Actually Fits Your Life

We know the struggle is real! Trying to get busy support workers to attend training sessions while maintaining service delivery feels like solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. That’s where the beauty of online, bite-sized learning comes in.

These aren’t marathon training sessions that eat up entire days. We’re talking 30-minute chunks that your team can tackle between clients or during quiet moments. Your staff can learn on their phones during lunch breaks or catch up on tablets at home. The flexibility means less disruption to your services and more engagement from your team.

Plus, let’s be honest about the math: no travel costs, no venue hire, no catering bills. The platform has already saved organisations $33 million in training costs and nearly 300,000 hours in commute time. That’s money and time you can reinvest in what matters most. Supporting your clients.

Happy Staff, Happy Life (and Business)

Every smart business owner knows this: invest in your people, and they’ll invest in your success. NGO Training Centre’s track record speaks volumes—93% engagement rate and 90% completion rate across 20,000 learners measured. These aren’t just statistics; they represent real people feeling valued and equipped to do their best work.

When your team feels confident and competent, it shows in everything they do. Better service delivery, higher job satisfaction, lower turnover rates; it’s a win-win-win situation. And in a sector where good staff are worth their weight in gold, anything that helps you attract and retain top talent is money well spent.

Your Move: Don’t Wait Until Next Week

You know that feeling when you see a great opportunity and think, “I’ll do it next week”? Next week might be too late. The financial year clock is ticking, and once June 30th passes, you’ll be waiting another 12 months for this tax advantage to come around again.

As the business revolutionary Zig Ziglar famously said, “You don’t build a business; you build people, and then people build the business”! Right now, you have a unique window to do exactly that while also making smart financial sense.

Ready to Make Your Move?

NGO Training Centre’s team is ready to help you find the perfect training package! Whether that’s NGO Lite for smaller operations, Workforce Ready for growing teams, or NGO+ for comprehensive coverage.

Don’t spend the next financial year wondering “what if?”. Make this the year you turned training expenses into tax savings, compliance headaches into peace of mind, and good intentions into real action. Your future self (and your accountant) will thank you.

Time’s ticking—but there’s still time to win. What are you waiting for?

Click here to request a demo, or a free trial, or call our helpful Customer Relationship team on 1300 990 995.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. While we highlight potential tax benefits of investing in training, you should consult with a qualified accountant or tax professional to ensure any decisions align with your specific financial circumstances and comply with Australian Taxation Office (ATO) regulations.

Written by Matthew Crawford, PGCert(Bus)

Matt has over a decade of experience in B2B sales and business development and with a passion for human services, is deeply committed to driving meaningful solutions within the disability sector. His commitment to improving service quality and his deep understanding of client needs make him a trusted partner in advancing the capabilities of organisations that support people with disability across Australia.

Get in touch

Send your enquiry to our friendly team and we’ll be delighted to assist you

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The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Commission has launched its Annual Stakeholder Survey.

We’re reminding providers, workers, people with disability, and their supporters to share their valuable insights. Your feedback is crucial in helping the NDIS Commission understand what’s working well and where improvements are needed to better serve our community.

At the NGO Training Centre, we’re committed to empowering stakeholders through education and advocacy, and we believe your voice can drive meaningful change. By participating in this short, anonymous survey conducted by an independent organisation, you can help shape the NDIS Commission’s ongoing efforts.

Your input will ensure their systems, processes, and communication strategies are fit for purpose, accessible, and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders.

Why Your Feedback Matters

The NDIS Commission relies on your experiences to refine its operations and enhance support for the disability sector. Whether you’re a service provider, a frontline worker, a person with a disability, or a supporter, your perspective will help create a more effective and inclusive NDIS framework. This is your opportunity to influence policies and practices that impact our community every day.

How to Get Involved

The survey is quick, confidential, and open to all NDIS stakeholders. We encourage you to take just 5 –15 minutes to complete it and share your thoughts. Your responses will remain anonymous, ensuring you can provide honest feedback.

Spread the Word

Please share the link to this article with your colleagues, professional networks, and community groups to enhance the voices within our sector. The more perspectives we gather, the stronger the impact we can make together.

Article link to share: https://ngotrainingcentre.com/ndis-commission-annual-stakeholder-survey/

Key Details

• Survey Closes: 13 June 2025
• Who Can Participate: NDIS providers, workers, people with disabilities, and their supporters
• Time Commitment: Approximately 10–15 minutes
• Confidentiality: The survey is anonymous and managed by an independent organisation
• Survey Link: bit.ly/44qbbtK

The NGO Training Centre is proud to champion initiatives like this that strengthen the disability sector. Your participation in the NDIS Commission’s Annual Stakeholder Survey is a powerful way to contribute to a more inclusive and effective NDIS.

Have your say today and help shape the future of disability support in Australia!

 

Written by Amanda Robinson, B.A., MMentalHealth Prac.

Amanda is a professional with over a decade of dedicated experience in the fields of Mental Health and Disability. Her extensive expertise lies in navigating the intricate landscape of the Disability Sector. She brings a unique perspective to her work, being both a person with lived experience of disability and a compassionate carer. She has a passion for advocacy, making her a staunch champion for the rights and well-being of individuals facing similar challenges.