Month: July 2025

We know your time is valuable. Between work, family, and personal commitments, finding the right training opportunities shouldn’t add stress to your day. That’s exactly why we created our NGO Training Centre chatbot, Ally, to make your experience with us as smooth and helpful as possible.

Think of Ally as your personal guide through everything we offer. Whether you’re curious about specific training programs, looking for particular resources, or simply trying to navigate our website, Ally is here to help. Instead of spending time searching through multiple pages or waiting for email responses, you can get clear, direct answers in moments.

We’ve built this tool with real people in mind. Whether you’re completely new to technology or you’re someone who lives on their laptop, our chatbot, Ally, speaks your language. She understands what you’re looking for and responds in a way that actually makes sense.

The best part? She never sleeps. Whether you’re an early bird checking options over morning coffee or a night owl planning your company’s training rollout, Ally is ready to help whenever inspiration strikes or whenever you need information delivered simply and urgently.

We believe learning and growth should be accessible to everyone. Ally, our chatbot, is just one way we’re working to remove barriers and make it easier for you to find exactly what you need to make a difference in your community. Ready to see how it works? Please try Ally out in the chatbot field at the bottom right-hand corner of every page on our website and start a conversation. We think you’ll find it refreshingly straightforward.

Hey NDIS Providers! The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) just dropped a fantastic new resource, an Easy Read booklet designed to help families understand what quality support for children looks like. This is your cue to step up and ensure your Disability Support Professionals are equipped with the skills to deliver exceptional care. Training your team in working with children and young people isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential to meeting NDIA standards, building trust with families, and making a real difference in children’s lives.

Let’s unpack why this matters and how you can provide much needed supports for young people.

The NDIA’s New Booklet: Your Roadmap to Quality Support

The NDIA’s Easy Read booklet, available on their Quality Supports for Children webpage, is an absolute goldmine for providers. It spells out in accessible language, exactly what families expect from you when delivering NDIS supports to their children, whether it’s early childhood intervention, therapy, or specialist behaviour support.

Here’s what it covers:

• What quality support looks like: Clear examples of best practices that put children and families first.
• Provider dos and don’ts: Guidance on what you must do (like tailoring supports to each child) and what’s off-limits.
• Rules you must follow: The standards and regulations that keep you accountable.
• Questions families might ask: Be ready to answer with confidence and show you’re on top of your game.

This booklet isn’t just for families; it’s for providers to ensure your services align with NDIA expectations. Families are using this resource to choose providers, so your team needs to be ready to deliver quality support that stands out above the rest.

Why Training in Working with Children is a ‘Non-Negotiable’

Children and young people accessing NDIS supports have unique needs, and Disability Support Professionals need specialised skills to meet them. Training in working with children ensures your team can:

• Build trust with families: When your staff are trained to engage kids effectively and respectfully, families feel confident in your services.
• Deliver tailored support: Kids aren’t mini adults; they need approaches that match their developmental stage and individual goals.
• Stay compliant: The NDIA’s booklet highlights strict rules for providers. Proper training ensures your team knows these standards inside out.
• Handle complex needs: Whether it’s early intervention, therapy, or behaviour support, trained professionals can navigate challenges with skill and empathy.

Untrained staff risk missing the mark, which can deplete trust and even lead to complaints. Investing in training isn’t just about compliance, it’s about setting your organisation apart as a leader in quality care!

Have you seen the NGO Training Centre’s Courses?

The NGO Training Centre offers fantastic courses that align perfectly with the NDIA’s expectations for quality support. These courses are informative, engaging, and designed to equip Disability Support Professionals with the skills to shine when working with children and young people. Check out these must-have courses:

• Working with Children and Young People (9-18 years): Train your team to connect with kids and teens in ways that respect their unique needs and aspirations.
• Supporting Children and Young People to Communicate: Equip your staff with strategies to help kids express themselves, no matter their communication style.
• Autism: Provide your team with the expertise to support children on the autism spectrum with confidence and care.
• Keeping Children and Young People Safe: Ensure your staff know how to create safe, nurturing environments where kids can thrive.

These courses aren’t just about ticking boxes, they’re about giving your team the tools to deliver exceptional, child-centred support that young people, and their families, need.

Your Next Step: Train, Align, and Shine

The NDIA’s Easy Read booklet is a clear signal: families are getting savvier about what quality support looks like, and they’re holding providers to higher standards.

Now is the time to invest in training your Disability Support Professionals to work effectively with children. By aligning your services with the NDIA’s guidelines and upskilling your team with courses from the NGO Training Centre, you’ll not only meet expectations but exceed them.

Head over to the NDIA’s Quality Supports for Children webpage to grab the booklet and see what families are looking for. Then, check out the NGO Training Centre to get your team enrolled in training that will set your organisation apart.

What steps are your team taking to deliver the HIGHEST quality support for children and young people?

Have you explored the NDIA’s booklet or the NGO Training Centre’s courses?

Let’s share ideas and keep raising the bar!

–

Author: 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. 

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to raise awareness, celebrate the vibrant community of people with disability, and promote self-acceptance while embracing all forms of disability.

You may have seen the Disability Pride Flag (pictured above) before. It is a powerful symbol with deep meaning. Each colour has its own meaning. These are as follows:

• Green: Invisible and undiagnosed
• Blue: Mental ill-health
• White: Sensory
• Yellow: Neurodiversity and developmental
• Red: Physical
• Diagonal Line: Cutting through barriers faced by people with disability
• Black Background: Honouring those who have died due to ableism, violence, negligence, suicide, illness, or other causes.

So, as a provider, how can you advocate for people with disability today and every day?

You can:

• Listen: Amplify the voices of people with disabilities.
• Stand Up: Confront harassment or bullying when you see it.
• Challenge Assumptions: Don’t prejudge what people with disability can or cannot do.
• Educate: Educate yourself and others. Complete quality training and apply it to your daily life.
• Ask Respectfully: Curious? Ask questions, but always with respect.  Talk to people with disability about their lived and living experiences.

At the NGO Training Centre, we recognise that providing quality education is crucial to breaking down ableism and creating inclusive, accessible spaces for all. By sharing knowledge about disability rights, inclusive practices, and raising awareness, we can help everyone play a part in building a vibrant, fair world where people with disability can truly flourish.

Join us to celebrate diversity, break down barriers, and build a more inclusive world!

At the NGO Training Centre, we’re delighted to highlight Daniel Witthaus 🌈 Founder & CEO of Rural Pride Australia 🏳️‍🌈

Daniel has over 28 years of passionate dedication to breaking down homophobia and promoting LGBTIQA+ inclusion, and shares his valuable expertise with communities over a warm coffee ☕.

From rural Victorian towns to international places like Poland, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, Daniel has worked with Kids Help Line, VicHealth, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, and No to Violence.

For the past 8 years, Daniel has been busy leading Rural Pride Australia alongside the Victorian State Government and LGBTIQ+ Commissioners, bringing programs like the Equality Roadshow, Regional Communities of Practice, and Rainbow Ready Roadmap to 29 rural communities!!!

We’re truly happy to have Daniel as our expert and talented course writer for the Supporting LGBTIQASB+ People course, sharing his knowledge and compassionate spirit.

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.

A strategic approach to reducing turnover costs while building a stronger, more skilled workforce.

I speak to disability support providers all week, every week. As such, I am acutely aware of the challenges they face. One of the primary concerns that our customers share with us is the problem of staff turnover.

If you’re a disability support organisation in Australia, you’re all too familiar with the numbers. According to an NDIS report, staff turnover (for a casual disability support workforce) is around 25% annually. This means that a typical 40-person team faces the departure of 10 workers each year—and the subsequent crushing, often unrecognised, financial burden.

The hidden cost? Somewhere around $18,500 (or more) annually in recruitment costs alone.

What a waste! This is based on a conservative estimate of spending $1,850 to recruit, equip and start each new team member.

The Real Cost of Staff Turnover (It’s More Than You Think)

Let’s break down what replacing each disability support worker actually costs an organisation:

• Recruitment expenses: Job ads, background checks, etc…
• Training and onboarding: The time that you are paying the new staff members to do time-consuming onboarding training and familiarisation, while they are not working yet
• Insurance: Public liability and professional indemnity coverage
• Lost productivity: The time that you and your already stretched team spends on recruitment instead of client care

For hiring managers and CFOs, these aren’t just numbers—they represent strategic resources being drained from your core mission.

The Strategic Solution: Investing in Your People

The most successful disability support providers I’ve worked with understand a fundamental truth: retention is more cost-effective than recruitment.

Here’s how strategic training investment transforms your bottom line:

1. Reduce Turnover by up to 20% Through Professional Development

Professional development programs, such as micro-credentials and leadership training, enhance the confidence and job satisfaction of disability support workers. Research by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and HESTA have shown that such initiatives can reduce turnover by 10-20%. For a 40-worker team, this translates to approximately $3,700 in annual recruitment cost savings alone.

2. Reclaim Your Time

Time-poor leaders spend countless hours on recruitment cycles. Based on our own customer feedback, online, self-paced training systems can reduce onboarding time by 50%, freeing up managers to focus on strategic priorities and client outcomes. It also gets your new workers working sooner!

3. Stay Ahead of NDIS Compliance

With 2025’s stricter NDIS reforms, compliance isn’t optional—it’s survival. Comprehensive training aligned with the NDIS Skills Descriptor, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Framework, and the Code of Conduct reduces audit risks and penalties while maintaining funding eligibility.

4. Attract Top Talent

In today’s competitive market, offering professional development isn’t just nice-to-have—it’s essential for attracting quality candidates who view your organisation as an employer of choice.

The ROI That CFOs Love

Consider this scenario: A disability support provider with 40 staff invests in comprehensive online training, reducing turnover from 25% to 20%. The savings:

• Direct recruitment cost savings: Some of, or all of $1,850+ annually
• Reduced onboarding time: 50% efficiency gain
• Improved NDIS compliance: Reduced audit risks and penalties
• Enhanced client outcomes: Better-trained staff deliver higher quality care

With NDIS pricing increases of 3.95% effective July 1, 2025, investing in retention now ensures you can maximise funding while maintaining workforce stability.

Transform Your Team for Less Than a Cup of Coffee Per Week

Here’s the compelling reality: For just $2.95 (or less) per staff member per week – less than half the cost of a weekly cup of coffee – your entire team can gain unlimited access to comprehensive professional development.

That’s right. The investment that could save your organisation up to, or more than $18,500+ annually in recruitment costs alone works out to less than $3 per week, per employee.

This affordable investment provides:

• 100+ high-quality online training courses specifically designed for disability support professionals
• NDIS compliance training to keep your organisation audit-ready
• Professional development opportunities that boost staff confidence and retention
• Evidence-based best practices that transform the quality of care you provide
• Flexible, accessible learning that fits around your team’s busy schedules

Making It Happen: Your Next Steps

The disability support sector faces unprecedented challenges, but forward-thinking leaders are turning these challenges into competitive advantages. By investing in comprehensive, accessible training that empowers your workforce, you’re not just reducing costs—you’re building a stronger, more skilled team that delivers exceptional client outcomes.

The question isn’t whether you can afford to invest in high-quality online training. It’s whether you can afford not to.

Every person living with a disability deserves exceptional care and support to reach their full potential. When you invest in your team’s development, you’re not just improving your bottom line—you’re transforming lives. That’s why we are here!

Ready to transform your workforce strategy? Connect with a training provider who understands the unique challenges of disability support and can deliver NDIS-aligned solutions tailored to your team’s needs.

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.

The fundamental role of disability support professionals and support coordinators in Australia shapes the daily reality of people with disability, giving participants the chance to thrive. Without proper training, this vital role falters, and leaves participants without the care and dignity they deserve.

Training isn’t just a checkbox; it’s the heartbeat of high-quality, person-centered support that not only aligns with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), but genuinely transforms lives.

Support Professionals

Support professionals are on the front lines, helping with everything from personal care to community connection. Untrained, they’re set up to fail. Imagine facing a participant’s changed behaviour without knowing how to de-escalate or supporting someone non-verbal without communication skills. Proper training provides support professionals with essential tools to deliver care that’s safe, respectful, and empowering. It is often the difference between a participant feeling trapped, or truly supported.

Support Coordinators

Support Coordinators, the navigators of NDIS plans, face equal pressure. They’re the bridge between a participant’s needs and the services that make independence possible. Without deep knowledge of NDIS rules, funding, and person-centred planning, they risk leaving participants stranded, disconnected from therapies, equipment, or community. Training gives support coordinators the confidence to advocate, ensuring every participant’s plan is a lifeline, not a bureaucratic maze.

The Benefits of Quality Training

The disability sector in Australia isn’t static. NDIS guidelines shift, new practices like trauma-informed care emerge, and participants’ diverse cultural, mental, social and physical needs demand adaptability. Ongoing training keeps frontline professionals and coordinators sharp, ready to meet these challenges head-on. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about honouring the rights and humanity of every individual, as demanded by the NDIS Code of Conduct.

Training also often saves support professionals from burnout. The emotional weight of this work is real, but when staff feel skilled and supported, emotions are frequently positive. They build lasting bonds with participants, creating trust that changes lives. Without training, turnover usually spikes, and participants suffer the instability of ever-changing names, faces and care methods.

When it comes to training, the NGO Training Centre’s innovative and competency-based resources are a cornerstone for Australia’s disability workforce. The wide range of over 100 NDIS-compliant courses, compiled and maintained by genuine industry experts, delivers practical, real-life skills. Training is easily implemented, tangible, and transformative. With the flexibility provided by online microlearning-style training, upskilling support professionals and growing careers is equally accessible in bustling cities and the most rural, regional and remote regions.

The NGO Training Centre doesn’t just train – it inspires. Our affordable, accessible programs empower learners to satisfy NDIS standards while also igniting passion for their meaningful work: every lesson learned is a participant empowered and a life uplifted. For disability support professionals and support coordinators, choosing the NGO Training Centre isn’t just about meeting requirements – it’s about becoming the difference-maker that people with disability need.

In this field, training isn’t optional; it’s crucial.

Get Started Today

Whether you’re an individual embarking on a fulfilling new disability support career, an experienced disability sector professional looking to upskill and grow your skills, or a manager, board member or executive at an organisation, we have the ideal solution for you, starting from only $29!

Browse our courses and training packages to find out more, or contact our friendly and knowledgeable team for any assistance needed and we’ll be delighted to help!

As we celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025, marking 50 years of honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resilience, culture, and voices, the NGO Training Centre proudly embraces this year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.”

This milestone invites us to reflect on the enduring legacy of Indigenous communities while empowering the next generation to lead with courage and vision. Our commitment as a training provider is to amplify the voices of First Nations people, particularly those with disability and Elders.

A Milestone of Resilience and Vision

NAIDOC Week’s 50-year journey began as a grassroots movement for Indigenous rights and recognition, evolving into a national celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. The 2025 theme highlights the strength of young leaders, the vision of communities, and the legacy of ancestors.

Guided by the wisdom of Elders, this week reinforces a shared vision for an Australia where First Nations voices lead with authority and pride.

For First Nations people with disability and Elders, NAIDOC Week is a powerful platform to celebrate their contributions and address their unique challenges. Our training centre recognises their vital role in shaping the next generation’s legacy, ensuring their stories and perspectives are central to our cultural awareness initiatives.

Our Commitment as a Training Provider

At the NGO Training Centre, we are dedicated to education that uplifts First Nations voices. We believe cultural awareness training is not just an event but a lifelong commitment to learning, listening, and acting with respect.

This NAIDOC Week, we invite organisations and individuals to join us in celebrating 50 years of Indigenous resilience by strengthening your education and learning, and completing Cultural Awareness training, yarning with First Nations Peoples and experiencing their culture firsthand. Together, we can honour the past, empower the present, and build a future where First Nations people with disability and Elders are valued as leaders and visionaries.

Looking Forward: A Legacy for the Next 50 Years

As NAIDOC Week 2025 inspires us to look toward the next generation, the NGO training centre remains committed to fostering cultural awareness that drives lasting change. By focusing on First Nations people with disability and Elders, we contribute to a legacy of strength, vision, and unity.

Let’s walk together this NAIDOC Week, honouring where we’ve come from and boldly supporting the next generation to lead with pride and purpose.

For more resources, take a look at our Cultural Awareness course, or don’t hesitate to contact the NGO Training Centre today.

Together, we can build a future that celebrates and uplifts all First Nations voices.

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.