Month: December 2025

In the disability and aged care sectors, safe medication management is a critical responsibility. Providers must ensure that staff who assist participants or ageing individuals with medication are competent, confident, and fully aware of their obligations.

While there is no nationally mandated prescribed training requirement from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission or the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, both frameworks emphasise ongoing competency. Providers are responsible for verifying that workers have the necessary knowledge and skills, and many organisations implement regular refreshers as best practice to maintain high standards, reduce risk, and meet insurance or audit expectations.

NGO Training Centre offers targeted, high-quality online courses specifically designed for disability support professionals and aged care workers. These concise modules deliver essential knowledge created by experienced Healthcare professionals, helping providers demonstrate staff competency while supporting safe, person-centred care.

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Tailored Courses for Aged Care Providers

NGO Training Centre provides a two-part Assisting Individuals with medication course series dedicated to aged care:

Assisting Individuals with Medication – Part 1 (Aged Care) (40 minutes)

Created by Marguerite Hoiby, a Qualified Aged Care Auditor/Assessor and Registered Nurse.

• This foundational module covers:
  • What medication is and the different types
  • The importance of regular medication reviews
  • The specific role and legal obligations of aged care workers, and
  • Dose Administration Aids (DAAs) / Blister packs and common medication risks

By completion, staff will feel more confident in their scope of practice and better equipped to prioritise the safety of ageing individuals.

Assisting Individuals with Medication – Part 2 (Aged Care) (40 minutes)

Created by Marguerite Hoiby, a Qualified Aged Care Auditor/Assessor and Registered Nurse.

• Building on Part 1, this module focuses on practical safety:
  • The “10 Rights” of medication assistance framework (current best practice approach)
  • Phases of support and step-by-step processes tailored to individual needs
  • Best practices for handling, storing, and disposing of medication, and
  • Recognising and responding to side effects, adverse events, incidents, and errors.

Together, these two 40-minute courses provide comprehensive training that aligns directly with the Aged Care Quality Standards and the Guiding Principles for Medication Management in Residential Aged Care Facilities.

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Tailored Courses for NDIS Providers

For disability support professionals, NGO Training Centre offers a parallel NDIS-specific series:

Assisting Participants with Medication – Part 1 (NDIS) (35 minutes)

Created by Hayley Assaf, Registered Nurse and Qualified NDIS Lead Auditor.

• Content includes:
  • Understanding medications and their types
  • The importance of medication reviews
  • The role and obligations of disability support professionals, and
  • Dose Administration Aids (DAAs)/ Blister packs and common risks.
• Staff gain the foundational knowledge needed to support NDIS participants safely and within scope.

Assisting Participants with Medication – Part 2 (NDIS) (40 minutes)

Also created by Hayley Assaf.

• This module explores:
  • The “10 Rights” of the medication assistance framework (current best practice approach)
  • Key phases and steps of medication support based on participant needs
  • Safe handling, storage, disposal, and incident response procedures

These NDIS-focused courses align with the NDIS Practice Standards (particularly the Provision of Supports Environment) and help providers meet expectations for worker competency and to minimise risk.

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Why Choose NGO Training Centre Courses?

By incorporating NGO Training Centre’s medication management courses into your staff development program, you strengthen your organisation’s commitment to safety, reduce medication-related risks, and build a more capable and confident workforce.  When you choose us, you choose:

• Expert-led and sector-specific content – Developed by registered nurses who are also qualified auditors, ensuring content reflects current standards and real-world audit expectations.
• Convenient and flexible courses  – Short courses (35–40 minutes each) that staff can complete online at their own pace, ideal for new employee induction, annual refreshers, or targeted upskilling.
• Evidence of competency – Certificates of completion provide clear documentation for internal records, audits, or verification processes.
• Cost-effective compliance support – Helps providers demonstrate due diligence in maintaining staff knowledge without the expense or disruption of lengthy face-to-face training.

Explore our disability and aged care training packages for organisations, and equip your team with the skills they need to deliver exceptional, safe, and compliant care.

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Author: 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 NDIS is now evolving fast, and it’s going to be challenging. But for adaptable, evidence-based providers, the next 12–24 months could also bring real opportunities to stand out and thrive.

Here’s what’s coming, and how you, as a provider, can turn it to your advantage:

1. Computer-generated plans arrive mid-2026

The NDIA’s algorithms will set NDIS budgets using tools like the I-CAN. Early data show some plans shrinking by 15–25%, especially in therapy and support coordination, which is quite scary!

However, providers who deliver clear, measurable outcomes (using NDIA-approved tools) are seeing their clients’ algorithm scores and budgets hold steady or even rise. However, this date of expected roll-out and even the assessment process could change, given the amount of pushback from the community and disability advocacy organisations. The jury is still out on this one.

2. Your reports still matter if they’re sharp

While long essays are often disregarded (as they always have been!), concise, data-rich progress reports (covering goals met, functional improvements, photos, validated scales) are now being used to ‘override’ low algorithm scores in trials. Some providers are adopting templates for these reports and securing more funding for their clients. Ask around in a community of practice, or consult a qualified consultant to find out what you can use.

3. Registration is becoming the new normal

With fraud crackdowns hitting unregistered providers hard, the shift to becoming a registered provider is accelerating.

Registered providers are already reporting higher client referrals as participants and families seek trusted names in such an uncertain market.

4. Pricing and payment reforms

Audits are on the rise, but the NDIA is also speeding up payment cycles (from 14 days to 7 days for compliant claims) and introducing a new “outcome-based bonus” payment in certain categories. Providers with strong compliance and digital records are getting paid more quickly than ever.

5. Support coordination and plan management evolving, not disappearing

Hours are being tightened, but high-impact coordinators who specialise in complex cases, regional areas, or specific disabilities are in greater demand than ever.

Overall, providers who invest in quality systems and training, clear outcomes, and genuine support for participants will emerge stronger. The era of prioritising volume over value is ending, but for those willing to adapt, 2026 could be the beginning of a more sustainable and rewarding chapter in disability support.

Change is coming.

The providers who prepare best will lead the next era of the Scheme from 2026 and beyond.

We hope that it’s YOU!

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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. 

Check out the insightful new edition of Aged Care Today magazine by Ageing Australia – including a brilliant article by our very own amazing Amanda Robinson on page 92!

 

NDIS Industry Expert and Director of Your Path Your Way Support Coordination

Justine is an NDIS Expert committed to fostering inclusivity and empowerment. She is a dedicated professional with an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management. With a rich background in supporting individuals with diverse abilities and backgrounds, Justine is impassioned about dismantling barriers, championing self-determination, and staying abreast of the industry’s dynamic complexity.

Justine’s mission is to create a world where every individual, regardless of their circumstances, can thrive and reach their full potential. Justine worked alongside Amanda Robinson (Head of Learning and Development) to create our Support Coordination suite of courses, drawing on her expertise as the director of Your Path Your Way Support Coordination, located in Bendigo, VIC.

Our sincere thanks go to Justine for helping develop a truly innovative and purpose-focused suite of Support Coordination courses!

• Support Coordination – Part 1
• Support Coordination – Part 2
• Support Coordination – Part 3
• Suport Coordination – 3 Part Bundle

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

Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress

Every year on December 3, the world comes together to observe the International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD). This day is a powerful reminder that true social progress is only possible when every individual, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to participate fully and equally in society.

As someone living in the vibrant community of Greater Bendigo, VIC, I feel so proud and grateful to see how everyone is coming together this year. We’re not just celebrating a single day, but an entire WEEK filled with exciting activities and meaningful events that raise awareness. You can check them out HERE.

It’s not just Bendigo having a wow of a time this year. You can explore events and activities in your area or online by visiting the IDPwD Events Calendar.

Go along and join in the fun!

This year, the United Nations has chosen an extremely important theme for IDPwD 2025:

Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress

This theme calls on all of us. It calls on governments, providers, employers, and communities to move beyond awareness and take deliberate, sustained action to remove barriers and build systems that work for everyone.

At the NGO Training Centre, we see this theme not just as a global aspiration, but as the core of our daily mission.

Since we first launched in 2017, we have been working at the intersection of empowerment, education, and professional excellence to make inclusion a reality.

This International Day of People with Disability, we renew our commitment to building a society where inclusion isn’t just a bolt-on, it’s the foundation.

• Let’s keep learning.
• Let’s keep training.
• Let’s keep advocating.

Because an inclusive society isn’t just fair… It’s stronger, smarter, and richer for all of us.

To learn more about the 2025 theme and access Easy Read resources, you can visit the official About IDPwD webpage.

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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. 

What a night! 🎉

Our team had an amazing time at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards over the weekend. We were incredibly proud to be finalists in the Education, Training & Employment category for 2025; our third year in a row!

We may not have taken home the trophy this time, but we’re celebrating the recognition and feeling inspired by all the outstanding organisations around us. HUGE congratulations to all the winners and finalists – you’re AWESOME! 👏💛

We were also grateful to spend time with so many wonderful people during the event, including Leon Rebello MP, Federal Member for McPherson, and Steven Paull, President of ‘WhatsUp In Disability‘, Disability Advocate, and Founder of BigDog Support Services!