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I am located on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and the Taungurung Peoples of the Kulin Nation. They are the traditional custodians of this land. I would like to pay my respects to Elders, past, present, and emerging.

From 27 May to 3 June each year, Australians come together to recognise and reflect during National Reconciliation Week 2026. It is a significant time to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, while considering how we can all contribute to reconciliation in meaningful ways.

The 2026 theme, All In, is a powerful reminder that reconciliation is everyone’s responsibility. It calls on all Australians to move beyond awareness alone and actively contribute to positive change every day through our workplaces, communities, services and conversations. As highlighted by Reconciliation Australia, reconciliation is not a passive activity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have carried the emotional and cultural labour of advocating for equality and understanding for generations. The All In theme encourages all Australians to stand alongside First Nations peoples and commit to listening, learning and taking action together.

I have been on a steep learning journey since my professional career began in 2010. Without giving away my age, school and community education around First Nations Peoples was vastly different from what it is today. My eyes have been well and truly opened by education, seeking the truth, listening, and learning from incredible mentors along the way.

In my advocacy and support roles, including supporting the voices of First Nations People to be heard in the recent Disability Royal Commission, I had the privilege of working alongside a First Nations Elder who taught me so much about First Nations culture, unconscious bias, and the importance of cultural connection and culturally safe, respectful care. He shared his lived experience of being raised in an institution, and of racism and segregation. Ultimately, he guided me, but I took it upon myself to learn, research, and discover the truth about the history and the current barriers that First Nations Peoples still face today.

This is such an important part of reconciliation as it is not the sole responsibility of First Nations people to educate, explain and act; they have been doing this for far too long.

I wanted to share this knowledge and experience, so we engaged a subject matter expert and an Elder to share their lived and living experiences and to create an engaging and accessible course for all aged care staff supporting Elders. We are proud to offer our course ‘Supporting First Nations Elders‘ which is designed to educate disability and aged care workers in delivering compassionate, informed and culturally responsive care to First Nations Elders.

One of the most meaningful aspects of our aged care course is hearing directly from Elder, Monica, who currently resides in an Elder Facility in Shepparton, VIC. I had the privilege of being invited into Monica’s home, where she shared her story and the incredible impact she is having in the community through her support for cultural connection and her involvement in First Nations celebrations and activities across regional Victoria.

Monica generously shared parts of her personal story, experiences and reflections on growing up as a proud Aboriginal woman and what culturally respectful care looks like in our ‘Voice of Experience’ video segment in our aged care course. Her voice provides learners with valuable insight into the lived experiences, resilience, culture and identity of First Nations peoples.

Here is an insightful snippet of my conversation with Monica – the full version of Monica’s video is available in our ‘Supporting First Nations Elders‘ course:

Through our training, we aim to strengthen understanding and confidence for those providing care to First Nations Elders, and we provide learning outcomes such as:

• Discussing First Nations cultures, including the diversity of histories, languages and traditions across communities
• Understanding the historical background of First Nations peoples and the enduring impacts this has had on health and wellbeing
• Demonstrating culturally safe and respectful care practices for First Nations Elders, and
• Practising culturally safe communication that supports dignity, connection and trust. We also provide a broad range of additional learning resources to support ongoing education and reflection for workers across the aged care sector.

For many First Nations Elders, culture, Country, family and community are deeply connected to health and wellbeing. Delivering culturally safe care means recognising and respecting these connections while ensuring Elders feel heard, valued and understood.

National Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on how we can contribute to a more inclusive and respectful Australia, not just during one week of the year, but every single day.

Join us to celebrate National Reconciliation Week.

Because reconciliation is not about standing on the sidelines.

It is about being All In.

–

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. 

In the coming months, providers will face the reality that what was once a ‘nice to have’ is now being mandated by the NDIA Quality and Safeguards Commission following Mark Butler’s announcement on the 22^nd April 2026 at the National Press Club.

So, thanks to those providers who have done the wrong thing, everyone must now deal with the consequences of this fraudulent activity. It sounds like the military, right? I am far too familiar with this kind of collective punishment. Unfortunately, the government has decided that providers were given the opportunity to do the right thing, and some took full advantage of their flexibility.

I saw this coming. After leading the Disability Royal Commission advocacy services in regional Victoria in 2019-2023, I heard story after story of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability by services that they entrusted with their lives. You’ve heard it on the news and across the sector. It’s wrong, and it needed to change. This is certainly not the complete solution, we all know that, but it’s a step in the right direction. Another notch in the very long NDIS belt – Providing oversight and accountability.

We are still unsure of how this will actually look on the ground for smaller providers. I am very sure, though, that everyone will require some kind of registration. We saw this coming from the NDIS Review and the Disability Royal Commission recommendations, so no one is really that surprised by this announcement.

But it’s not all bad news, especially for those who are doing the right thing.

There are some significant advantages to becoming a registered provider. We will go through these first, then discuss some of the challenges that providers may face, and who knows… we might even have some solutions for you!

Being a registered NDIS provider has some real perks. For starters, it allows you to work with agency-managed participants, giving you access to a bigger and more diverse group of clients. It also boosts your credibility, increases your visibility on the NDIS Provider Finder, and ensures a steady income stream through direct payments from the NDIA.

Here are some key advantages of becoming registered:

• Access to more Participants: as a registered provider, you can work with participants regardless of the way their plan is managed. You can now access NDIS-managed participants, which you couldn’t do as an unregistered provider. You can also work with participants who require higher-risk supports, such as behavioural support and SDA.
• Increased Trust, Visibility and Credibility: As a registered provider, you are deemed to be in strict compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards and are audited regularly. This gives you opportunities to improve your services and ensure that you continue to do the right thing. Gotta love that continuous improvement cycle! (I did when I was a Quality Assurance Manager at a not-for-profit). You will also be listed as a registered provider with the NDIA, making it easier for participants to search and find you! Saves on that marketing bill, too, right?
• Direct payments and improved cash flow: No more waiting for payments long after a service has been delivered! You can claim payments directly through the provider portal, making the whole process a LOT easier and more efficient for your business.

These are just some of the advantages of being a registered provider.

Alas, we all know that with the pros come the cons.

I have heard a lot of noise since the announcement and witnessed much angst and fear, particularly among smaller providers in thin markets. In those small, remote towns, providers who are struggling to rub two pennies together now need to fork out thousands of dollars, slog through endless paperwork, and provide detailed evidence of the great work they are doing.

They need to be fully compliant with all the NDIS Practice Standards and ensure that their staff are trained accordingly. I don’t want to toot our own horn, but as I said earlier, we saw this coming. We know that providers cannot all afford to obtain specialised advice from boutique NDIS Consultants or to fund high-priced face-to-face training providers, let alone track their training compliance in preparation for their audits.

This is where the NGO Training Centre comes in.

We took action. First, we joined forces with the compliance experts at Provider Institute Australia last year and created a series of short courses that provide step-by-step guidance to help providers complete the NDIS Online self-assessment application for each module of the NDIS Practice Standards.

If you’re not already in the loop, the NDIS online self-assessment is a mandatory part of registering or renewing your service provider registration. It’s a digital process that checks how well your policies align with NDIS Practice Standards. Basically, it helps you spot where you might need to improve and get you ready for registration and audits.

We hope to assist as many providers as possible to ensure that participants continue to access the vital supports they need to live the lives they deserve, because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.

Get the guidance you need to succeed.

Start today with our FREE NDIS Self-Assessment Introductory Course.

Then, complete the supplementary courses relevant to your registration, and you’ll be well on your way to NDIS Registration!

Not ONLY do we provide these great courses, but we also have over 100 disability-specific, fully NDIS-compliant microlearning courses you can access starting at only $29 per staff member per year. All providers, including Allied Health and Support Coordinators, can also access our bundles or pathways that can be purchased online if you need very specific training or to fill any gaps in your current training.

You can talk to us about all of your options by contacting our friendly and supportive team using the form below, or at 1300 990 995.

We want to ensure that you are not left behind when these changes are implemented. The disability community needs you!

–

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. 

May the 17^th 2026 marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), a day that commemorates a turning point in history.

On this date in 1990, homosexuality was officially removed from the International Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organisation.

That was 36 years ago.

Since then, we’ve seen remarkable progress toward equality and acceptance.

Yet in 2026, it can feel like we’re moving backwards in many ways. Rights that once seemed secure are being challenged. Discrimination persists. For LGBTIQASB+ individuals, particularly those who are ageing or living with disability, the barriers to feeling safe, seen, and supported remain very real.

As a disability advocate, I often had participants come to me for support with difficult conversations involving disability and aged care staff, healthcare professionals, and even their own family and friends. Many of the people around them simply didn’t understand the challenges they faced or the importance of living their lives in a way that felt authentic to who they are.

Most of the time, it came down to a lack of education and understanding around the participant’s gender identity or sexuality, along with a failure to recognise their unique experiences and the barriers they faced in accessing affirming care.

The first step was often helping the individual feel safe enough to speak up and be heard. From there, connecting them with affirming supports and linking their families, friends, and support workers to education and learning opportunities often created the pathway toward more positive and supportive outcomes.

Only yesterday, I ran into a previous client down the street who had connected with our disability advocacy organisation a few years ago. At the time, they were really struggling. The people around them didn’t understand their gender identity, and they felt completely isolated from their own community and peers.

Their support workers had little understanding of their journey and would often dismiss or judge simple requests, such as wanting to wear clothing that aligned with their identity in public or to have their pronouns respected. To make things even harder, their family also struggled to support them, which left the participant feeling incredibly distressed and alone.

Over time, I supported them in self-advocating, connecting with their community, and accessing affirming supports. We also linked their support staff and family with education so they could better understand and support the participant’s journey.

The person I spoke to yesterday was completely different. They were happy, confident, and were proud to report that they were pursuing their goals and dreams while finally feeling comfortable in their own body and identity.

It honestly made my heart happy. It was such a powerful reminder that affirming, holistic support can completely change someone’s quality of life and sense of belonging.

You see, the intersection of people with disability who also identify as LGBTIQASB+ can experience multiple layers of discrimination, exclusion, or misunderstanding across healthcare, aged care, disability services, education, employment, and community settings, which is why education across the sector is greatly needed.

Creating Inclusion at Every Life Stage

When I first started at the NGO Training Centre, I knew this gap existed for many support workers and teams, so the first thing I did was connect with a subject-matter expert with deep knowledge, education and living experience to craft a course to help professionals meaningfully support the LGBTIQASB+ community.

LGBTIQASB+ people exist in every community, every age group, and every care setting. They deserve support that recognises their identity, respects their history, and honours their dignity. So, when we expanded into aged care, we created one specifically for ageing individuals to help recognise their unique experiences.

Our Disability and Aged Care courses are designed to help staff:

• Understand the unique experiences of LGBTIQASB+ individuals across all life stages
• Recognise the barriers that can prevent people from accessing welcoming, affirming care
• Build practical skills for creating inclusive environments where everyone belongs
• Challenge assumptions or myths and expand their capacity for genuine allyship

Whether you’re supporting a young person with disability who is exploring their identity, or an ageing individual who may have lived through decades of discrimination, your approach matters. Education is a vital part of allyship.

How Will You Go Rainbow in May?

There are meaningful ways to mark IDAHOBIT in your workplace or service:

• Invite an LGBTIQASB+ guest speaker to share their living experience with your team or the people you support
• Engage in self-paced eLearning through our courses to deepen your understanding
• Start conversations about what inclusion looks like in your everyday practice
• Wear the rainbow and show your community that they are seen and valued

Because it’s more important than ever to stand up, speak out, and create SAFE and inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive.

Explore our ‘Supporting LGBTIQASB+ People‘ disability support course (plus, we have an Aged Care ‘Supporting LGBTI+ Individuals‘ course coming soon) and take the next step toward becoming a more inclusive practitioner.

Everyone can make a difference. What will you do?

–

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. 

Dementia and palliative care are key in Australia’s aged care, with dementia affecting 446,500 people and projected to exceed 1 million cases by 2065. This growth strains services amid an ageing population. The Aged Care Act 2024 and Support at Home Program, effective November 2025, introduced rights-based frameworks and dedicated end-of-life care pathways.

The connection between dementia and palliative care is especially important. Many individuals with advanced dementia need compassionate care that emphasises comfort, dignity, symptom relief, and overall quality of life, rather than trying to cure. The recent reforms clearly acknowledge the right to excellent palliative and end-of-life care within aged care services.

Policy Reforms Supporting Dementia and Palliative Care

The Aged Care Act 2024 and the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards place ageing individuals at the centre, with a specific emphasis on:

• A Statement of Rights that includes access to palliative and end-of-life care, dignity, and supported decision-making (particularly important for those with cognitive impairment).
• Enhanced expectations for person-centred care, dementia-friendly environments, and culturally safe practices (including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders), and
• Mandatory attention to clinical care needs, including delirium prevention, pain management, and comprehensive end-of-life care.

The Support at Home program includes:

•  Higher funding levels for complex needs, such as advanced dementia, and
• A dedicated End-of-Life Pathway providing up to approximately $25,000 over 12–16 weeks for people with a life expectancy of three months or less who wish to remain at home.

The National Dementia Action Plan 2024–2034 calls for greater investment in brain health awareness, risk reduction, early diagnosis, post-diagnostic support, and better coordinated care.

The Shift Toward Home-Based Dementia and Palliative Care

A strong preference for ageing in place includes people with dementia and those needing palliative care. It has been found that up to 90% of Australians want to die at home with support. The End-of-Life Pathway under Support at Home provides more funding for in-home personal care, respite, and practical supports.

Home care for dementia emphasises reablement, behaviour support, assistive technology, home modifications, and respite care. Residential care is vital for severe Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, with new facilities designed to be dementia-friendly, home-like, private, with outdoor access, and with less sensory overload.

Technology and Innovation in Dementia and Palliative Care

The adoption of technology is rising quickly to address workforce shortages and improve the quality of life. This includes:

• AI-enabled companion robots (such as Abi and Daisy) provide cognitive stimulation, music, exercise guidance, conversation, and companionship, particularly helpful in reducing loneliness among people with dementia.
• Predictive sensors, behaviour monitoring, fall detection, and pain-management apps support early intervention and symptom control, and
• Digital tools, including palliative care dashboards, support better coordination of end-of-life care.

Technology must supplement, not replace, human connection, with ongoing attention to privacy, ethics, and equitable access.

Workforce Challenges in Specialist Care

Dementia and palliative care are among the most demanding areas of aged care.

Key trends include:

• Growing need for staff with specialised skills in person-centred dementia care, behaviour management, and the creation of supportive environments.
• Increased demand for palliative and end-of-life expertise, including symptom management, emotional support for families, and advance care planning.
• Persistent overall workforce shortages, with specialised dementia and palliative care roles particularly hard to fill, especially in regional and remote areas.

Government initiatives include wage supplements for aged care nurses, and providers are also prioritising targeted training and retention strategies. Upskilling the broader workforce in palliative care and dementia care remains a national priority.

Emerging Focus Areas

Advance Care Planning and Supported Decision-Making: The new Act provides additional tools to help people with dementia share their preferences early on, ensuring their voices are heard.

Cultural Safety: There’s a stronger focus on delivering dementia and palliative care that respects and aligns with cultural needs.

Integrated Care: Efforts are underway to improve how aged care, specialist palliative services, primary care, and hospitals work together.

Prevention and Brain Health: Calls for a national brain health campaign.

Outlook for the Remainder of 2026 and Beyond

In 2026, the focus is on implementation and adaptation, with providers overseeing new funding, standards, and price caps while also expanding dementia-friendly and palliative care practices. The Federal Budget for May 2026 is anticipated to outline details regarding workforce and dementia funding.

Challenges remain, including long wait times for assessments and services, thin markets in regional areas, and the significant future increase in dementia cases. Overcoming these will require ongoing investment, creative use of technology, more specialised training, and real choices for consumers.

For ageing individuals with dementia, their families, and those near the end of life, trends will be more rights-based, home-focused, and compassionate. Skilled, empathetic care workers are essential, and training is vital to developing this workforce.

You can access courses from the NGO Training Centre in Dementia, Advance Care Planning (coming soon), Cultural Safety and Awareness (coming soon) and Palliative Care, which are crucial for improving workforce skills and ensuring that reforms lead to better, dignified care across Australia.

–

Author: Cathy Kerr BANurs, GDAET, Cert IV Training and Assessment.

Cathy brings over three decades of expertise to the field of nursing education, with a distinguished career as a registered nurse, educator, and now aged care consultant. Her extensive experience spans clinical practice, training, and consultancy, where she has dedicated herself to improving care standards and supporting both ageing individuals and healthcare professionals. With a deep understanding of the sector’s challenges and opportunities, Cathy combines her nursing background with a passion for education to drive positive outcomes in aged care.

POV: You want to start a business that makes a real difference in people’s lives. There’s so much red tape and administrative burden to become a registered provider that it all seems so overwhelming.

You are likely wanting to engage with an NDIS consultant because, after all, having them do all the groundwork for you sounds like a dream come true. But these can come at a great cost, and not just financially.

You are putting your ‘baby’ into the hands of a person or company and have faith that they will do the right thing by you, your team, and your future participants. Don’t get me wrong, there are some incredible consultants out there, but not all consultants are created equal and let’s face it, there are so many to choose from, who can you trust is going to have your best interests at heart?

Given the recent NDIS changes, becoming registered with the NDIS will be mandatory, as a result of the current lack of oversight in the sector, the level of fraud and ongoing incidents, and the strong recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review.

So, with this in mind, if you are an NDIS provider, you will need to become registered, and soon.

We spoke with the community, service providers, and the team at the Provider Institute about the challenges providers were facing in becoming registered providers, as well as the gaps organisations were experiencing.

We found out some interesting facts.

We discovered that NDIS providers registering for the first time usually have multiple questions about completing the online self-assessment and ask for help. Out of 22,000 applicants, over 10,000 were declined because the provider used the same answers as other applicants, which were usually generic and had been provided by a consultant. The self-assessment component is mandatory for applying for NDIS registration and NDIS renewal audits, making this even more important!

We also found out that the NDIS Commission has a strong focus on the quality of self-assessment questions. Providers cannot copy or use responses from another organisation, as this may delay their registration or result in the NDIS Commission rejecting the application.

The NGO Training Centre and the Provider Institute have combined their skills and knowledge to develop 9 courses based on responding to the NDIS Practice Standards, including the core module and several supplementary modules, including a FREE introductory course to help you understand which modules you will require for your business, and how to complete the online self-assessment.

Our courses are designed to explain the NDIS Self-Assessment and how to respond to the NDIS Practice Standards questions relevant to your organisation. The great thing is that by understanding the NDIS Practice Standards and how to answer the self-assessment questions, providers can have greater confidence in the NDIS registration process.

And even more importantly, the self-assessment questions are the same as those that the auditors will check during the audit process, so they also provide excellent preparation for your NDIS Audit.

So really, it’s a win-win!

Get the guidance you need to succeed. Start today with our FREE NDIS Self-Assessment Introductory Course and other NDIS Self-Assessment Preparation Courses. Then, complete the supplementary courses relevant to your registration, and you’ll be well on your way to NDIS Registration!

–

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. 

A day of remembrance. A day of mourning. A day of community supporting those who have been left behind…and often, a day of trauma.

Leading up to ANZAC Day is not always a positive experience for many who have experienced the reality of laying their lives on the line for their country.

The humming of the bugle, the singing of the anthem, the synchronised marching of those who are serving, the survivors and their allies, can all trigger feelings of loss, despair, and deep-seated trauma.

As a veteran myself (RAAMC) and a partner/carer for a veteran who served in Afghanistan (RAEME) in Operation Slipper in 2010, I can personally reflect on this day with very mixed feelings. It took my partner many years before he could set foot outside the house, let alone attend a dawn service parade. Without understanding, patience and support, he may not have.

Some days he still can’t, and that’s the reality of trauma.

For civilians to understand this trauma can be incredibly challenging, and I am passionate about building awareness around the reality of experiences that many returned soldiers and their families endure.

When I first started at the NGO Training Centre, one significant aspect that drew me to the organisation was the complexity of their mental health and trauma-informed awareness training for support staff (see below for examples). I am not saying it’s the be-all and end-all… There is no way you can fit all of the complexities of supporting a veteran into micro learning courses, and anyone claiming that they can is not quite telling you the truth.

What they DO is build a platform of knowledge, provide the inner workings of trauma, and how best to support someone who experiences post-traumatic stress disorder and related challenges. 

In the ANZAC spirit of ‘mate-ship’, I hope that each and every organisation ensures that their staff are well-trained, well-informed, and talk openly with the veterans they support.

Go the extra mile – because they certainly did.

Important example courses:

• Trauma Informed Care
• Introduction to Mental Illness
• Suicide Prevention

–

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. 

We have been waiting and waiting for some news…and wow…did we get it all at once!

The Australian Government has just announced one of the most significant overhauls to both the NDIS and aged care systems in recent years.

In a National Press Club address, Health Minister Mark Butler outlined reforms that will reshape who receives support, how services are delivered, and what is expected of providers.

If you’re a provider, this isn’t just policy noise; this will have operational, financial, and workforce impact.

We’ve broken it down for you, and here’s what matters most for providers right now. There will be more announcements, legislative changes from the middle of the year and some other drip-fed details coming. So, let’s start here.

NDIS: A Shift Towards Sustainability and Accountability

1. Fewer Participants, Tighter Access

The NDIS is expected to reduce from 760,000 participants today to around 600,000 by 2030.

This signals a major shift:

• Stricter eligibility criteria
• More people transitioning out of the scheme
• Increased pressure on mainstream and community supports

What this means for providers:

• Demand may stabilise or decline in some service areas
• Participant complexity may increase (higher needs, fewer low-support participants)
• Greater scrutiny on service value and outcomes

2. Functional Capacity Over Diagnosis

Access to the NDIS will move away from diagnosis-based eligibility and toward functional capacity assessments.

Why this matters:

• Providers will need to clearly demonstrate how supports improve daily functioning
• Documentation, reporting, and outcomes tracking will become critical
• Workforce capability in assessment language and evidence-based practice will be essential

3. Slowing the Growth of a $50B+ Scheme

The government is targeting $55 billion by 2030, down from the projected growth of $70 billion.

This means:

• Tighter funding controls
• Increased auditing and compliance activity
• A stronger focus on eliminating waste and fraud

Provider takeaway:

Efficiency, compliance, and evidence of impact are no longer “nice to have”—they are survival requirements.

4. Mandatory Provider Registration

One of the biggest changes:

REGISTRATION will become MANDATORY for all NDIS providers.

Currently, fewer than 10% of providers are registered.

This is an absolute game-changer!!

Providers will need to:

• Meet NDIS Practice Standards
• Undergo audits
• Demonstrate governance, risk management, and workforce capability

If you’re unregistered, the question is no longer “should we register?” It is “how quickly can we get ready?” And we offer courses to assist you with your registration, including a free introduction module!

5. Inclusive Communities Fund ($200M)

A new fund aimed at building community-based supports outside the NDIS.

Implications:

• More emphasis on local, non-NDIS supports
• Potential partnership opportunities
• A shift toward community inclusion rather than scheme reliance

Aged Care Changes

Ok, now onto Aged Care. Mark Butler didn’t leave NDIS’s sibling out. He announced some further changes within the aged care sector. Let’s break this down for you with the ‘need to know for now’ news.

1. $3 Billion Boost to Capacity and Care

Funding will go toward:

• More residential aged care beds
• Increased home care packages
• Improved service delivery

But with great funding comes great accountability.

Providers should expect:

• Stronger regulation under the new Aged Care Act
• Higher expectations around quality, safety, and governance

2. Support at Home: Core Services Become Free

An additional $1 billion will fund the Support at Home program, including:

• Showering
• Dressing
• Continence management
• Clinical care

What this means:

• Increased demand for in-home services
• Workforce pressure (especially for skilled care roles)
• Greater need for consistent, high-quality training (this is where the NGO Training Centre comes in!!!)

3. Dementia Care Investment ($200M)

There will be a HUGE pool of funding for:

• 20 new specialist dementia care units
• Expansion of hospital-to-aged-care transition programs

Provider impact:

• Growing demand for dementia-specific skills
• Increased focus on clinical capability and behavioural support
• Need for specialised training and workforce readiness

The Bigger Picture: Reform Was Inevitable

The reality is, we knew these changes were coming.

With rising costs, increased fraud concerns, and recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission and NDIS Review, the system was under pressure to evolve.

As one political commentator noted, without reform, the scheme itself was at risk.

What Providers Should Do Now

This is not a “wait and see” moment. YOU, as a provider, MUST:

1. Review Your Compliance Position

• Are you ready for mandatory registration? We have NDIS Self-Assessment Preparation Courses to assist you with your registration!
• Do your systems align with Practice Standards?

2. Strengthen Workforce Capability

• Focus on functional capacity, not just task delivery
• Invest in training that supports evidence-based practice – contact our team, who will be happy to help you find the right training for your needs

3. Improve Documentation & Evidence

• Can you clearly demonstrate outcomes?
• Are your reports audit-ready?

4. Plan for Market Shifts

• Consider diversification (NDIS + aged care + community supports)
• Explore partnership opportunities

If that wasn’t already a lot to take in on a Wednesday afternoon, I don’t know what is!

I recommend taking the time to review all these announcements, as many details are still missing and numerous components need clarification in the coming weeks. We will keep you updated as we learn more!

–

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. 

In November 2025, the federal government introduced ‘once-in-a-generation’ reforms: a new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program to prioritise the rights of ageing Australians.

Five months later, the system is not doing as well as initially imagined, with wait times doubled, costs surging, and over 100,000 older Australians remaining in limbo, whilst politicians from both sides call for urgent action and fixes.

This isn’t just a policy failure; it’s the harsh reality for grandparents, widows, and rural farmers who want to age with dignity at home. Instead, they must choose between a hot meal and a shower. Worse, they’re left languishing on waiting lists while their health deteriorates.

The median wait time for a home-care package has risen to 245 days, over double the 118 days a year earlier. Assessment waits are now 27 days. Despite promises of 83,000 new packages for 2025-26, the waiting list stays above 100,000, with estimates indicating a backlog of nearly 200,000 people.

Residential aged care isn’t an escape valve, with occupancy near 90% nationally and slow bed growth, just a few hundred last year, while we need 10,000 annually for the next twenty years. Demand surges as baby boomers retire, yet supply has barely increased.

The workforce crisis is another area of great concern. There are many struggles to staff due to low wages, long shifts, lack of quality training and opportunities to complete their training, burnout, hindering the delivery of mandated care minutes, and really just making them feel pointless without enough workers.

These new costs have surprised many with higher bills due to means-tested fees and rising living expenses. Service prices doubling force families to ration care or use funeral savings.

I’m not saying the reforms were pointless. The old Home Care Packages system was bureaucratic and inflexible. A rights-based approach focusing on individuals, not providers, was well overdue, especially after the Royal Commission revealed many incidences of neglect. But good intentions without proper funding and implementation are just costly window dressing.

What we see in March 2026 is reform theatre: big promises, complex rules, but not enough money or beds. The ABC’s investigation crowdsources stories from staff and families, asking whether the promised aged care reform is happening. Early answers are damning.

The human toll is devastating. Ageing Australians who fought for our country, raised families, and paid taxes now sit in hospital beds because there’s nowhere safe to go home to, or they lie in their lounge rooms in pain because the promised support hours are not affordable. Providers are warning of closures, and the Productivity Commission’s own data shows the system is regressing in access.

We urge the government to focus on providing further funding and support to providers, so they can focus on what’s most important: the care of ageing Australians.

So, what does this look like?

• Increase support at home packages beyond 83,000, including thousands more.
• Fast-track incentives to train and retain aged care workers with wage rises.
• Develop a national plan to build 10,000+ new residential beds annually, supported by low-interest loans and grants, and
• Review pricing under the new Act to ensure dignity and nourishment without forcing choices.

Ageing people, their families, supporters and providers didn’t demand a perfect system overnight, just one that works. Five months in, many still wait not for luxury, but for basic, compassionate care. If our ageing population deserve respect and security, excuses are over. Urgent investment is now.

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Author: Cathy Kerr BANurs, GDAET, Cert IV Training and Assessment.

Cathy brings over three decades of expertise in nursing education, with a distinguished career as a registered nurse, educator, and now aged care consultant. Her extensive experience covers clinical practice, training, and consultancy, where she has dedicated herself to improving care standards and supporting both older adults and healthcare professionals. With a deep understanding of the sector’s challenges and opportunities, Cathy combines her nursing background with a passion for education to promote positive outcomes in aged care.

The wheels have finally started moving… and as of the 1^st April 2026, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2026 has officially passed both houses!

In simple terms this means: More scrutiny. More control. Less room for error.

What’s changing (and quickly)?

• There will be stronger powers for the NDIS Commission
• Fully electronic claiming will be happening (greater visibility)
• Plan funding can now increase or decrease, and
• There are more safeguards for participants.

What does this mean for providers?

This now isn’t just about compliance; it’s proof of practice. Organisational policies alone won’t set you up for success and documentation must be clear and consistent across the board. This means investing in high quality, accessible and robust training for your staff.

Staff capability will be under the spotlight!

In the NDIS world, this is where many providers will be exposed and where training becomes absolutely critical. Quality training is no longer another tokenistic tick box exercise, it will be your first line of defence.

So, to help your organisation stay afloat in the slowly deflating lifeboat of NDIS providers, you must ensure:

• YOUR staff understand how to apply standards and training in real scenarios
• High-risk areas (such as medication management, positive behaviour support, and safe practices) are embedded in practice, and
• Training is current, relevant, and demonstrable!!

Now with tighter funding and increased oversight, the risk isn’t just getting it wrong; it’s actually not being able to prove you got it right.

How the NGO Training Centre can support you

At NGO Training Centre, we ensure:

• Compliance-aligned training that meets the NDIS Practice Standards
• Training that is updated in line with current legislation and best practice
• Real-world application and examples in a fraction of the time (not theory-heavy content), and
• Supporting providers to demonstrate competency and not just completion.

In this human-rights based environment the providers who will thrive in this next phase of the NDIS are those who invest in their people, and ultimately the people they support, and rightly so!

Because in this environment, training isn’t just optional, it is operational and essential. Get in touch today to talk to our friendly and supportive team!

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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. 

This year’s theme, Together Against Loneliness, is a powerful reminder that inclusion doesn’t happen by chance… it happens through knowledge, understanding, and action.

For people with Down syndrome, loneliness is still a real and ongoing experience that is often linked to gaps in awareness, confidence, and support.

That’s where education matters.

At the NGO Training Centre, we know that quality training shapes quality support.

When staff are properly trained, they communicate better, build stronger relationships, and create environments where people feel genuinely included and not just present.

Training isn’t a checkbox.

It’s the difference between someone feeling isolated… and someone feeling like they belong.

Today, we challenge the sector to keep learning, keep improving, and keep putting people first.

Because connection starts with understanding.

People who discriminate are more likely to be those who do not hold an understanding. So to start you off, please watch this video about Down syndrome to help give you a deeper understanding:

Video link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG-3MfeyHY/_nsu74M_uVzp7nTwJiVAdg/view?utm_content=DAG-3MfeyHY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer

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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.