Category: News

While most NDIS providers are still settling back into routine after the holiday break, forward-thinking organisations are seizing this critical window to implement their training systems before operational demands escalate.

By mid-February, teams will be consumed by full client loads, staff scheduling pressures, and compliance deadlines, making strategic training initiatives nearly impossible. The providers who act now will enter the busy season with trained teams and streamlined systems, while their competitors scramble with compliance gaps and outdated processes.

If you’re frustrated with your current training system or exhausted from maintaining manual training logs, there’s no better time to make the switch to NGO Training Centre than right now.

The Data Behind the Opportunity

Training completions during the post-holiday period demonstrate a powerful trend:

• January-February historically shows strong completion rates as teams return refreshed
• 2025-26 festive period saw a 76% increase in course completions over the previous year
• Providers who launched training in this quieter window reported smoother implementation and higher initial engagement

This pattern reveals a fundamental truth: the period between late January and early February offers a unique combination of renewed motivation and manageable workloads that won’t exist again until next summer.

Ready to leave your frustrations behind? We have the ideal training package for you and your organisation.

Want to understand why this timing matters? Keep reading ⬇️

Why Right Now is Your Strategic Advantage

Holiday recovery creates natural openings. Teams are back at work but not yet overwhelmed. Client schedules are rebuilding gradually, creating pockets of time that will disappear by mid-February.

New year momentum is still strong. The fresh-start mindset that drives January resolutions hasn’t faded yet. Staff are receptive to new systems and genuinely motivated to improve their workflows.

Compliance deadlines loom ahead. March and April bring quarterly reviews, Worker Screening Check renewals, and NDIS Commission requirements. Launching your training system now means you’ll be ahead of these pressures instead of drowning in them.

Manual processes are already showing cracks. If you’ve been tracking training on spreadsheets or paper logs, you’re likely already seeing the frustrations: lost records, unclear completion status, compliance gaps you didn’t know existed. Every week you delay compounds these problems.

The Cost of “We’ll Do It When Things Calm Down”

Here’s the reality check:

Things don’t calm down in this sector. February becomes March (full client loads return, training gets postponed). March becomes April (compliance deadlines hit, gaps become urgent). April becomes May (you’re firefighting issues instead of preventing them). By June, you’re looking at the same broken system you had in January, except now you’ve lost six months, and it has impacted employee experience.

Providers who set up their training systems in late January/ early February? Already running smoothly, tracking course and certificate completions automatically, and focusing on service delivery instead of administrative headaches.

What Makes This Window Work

• Reduced pressure: Operational intensity is lower, giving your team breathing room to learn a new system
• Psychological readiness: New year energy creates genuine openness to change
• Implementation time: Launching now means you’re fully operational before the March/April crunch
• Immediate relief: Stop chasing staff for completed certificates and manually updating spreadsheets starting this week

The Strategic Imperative

This isn’t about adding more to your plate—it’s about:

• Eliminating the administrative burden that’s consuming your time right now
• Closing compliance gaps before they become audit findings
• Building a scalable system that grows with your organisation
• Giving your team modern tools instead of frustrating manual processes

The question isn’t whether you can afford to switch systems. It’s whether you can afford another six months of the frustration you’ve been experiencing.

Built for Your Organisation

Generic training platforms fail because they force you into their processes. Our Learning Management System adapts to yours. Brand it with your logo, embed your internal policies, create custom modules specific to your services—all at no extra cost. The platform includes a world-class fun to use mobile app, it’s available 24/7, and has gamification features (badges, leaderboards) that actually drive engagement.

Whether you’re onboarding new staff, upskilling experienced workers, or running organisation-wide compliance refreshers, your dedicated account manager will support you through every step. The system reduces your administrative burden while ensuring everything ties directly to compliance outcomes.

The Window is Closing

Implementing a new training system requires proper setup, staff communication, and initial onboarding. Start this week, and you’ll be fully operational by mid-February. Wait until March, and you’ll hit the busy season still struggling with your old processes and system.

Ready to seize this window, or enter the busy season with the same frustrations you have already had?

Let’s leave manual training logs and legacy system frustrations behind in 2026! Contact our friendly team today or get started with one of our training packages to launch before the busy season hits. Because the best time to fix your training system isn’t when you’re drowning in operational demands. It’s right now, while you still have the bandwidth to get it right.

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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.

Subject Matter Expert – Clinical Psychology: Mental Health in Disability & Aged Care

Joseph Witt is a registered Clinical Psychologist and respected Subject Matter Expert with extensive experience across government, not-for-profit organisations, education settings, and private practice. He holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and is a member of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA).

Joseph has authored / co-authored a suite of highly regarded, sector-specific courses, including:

• Introduction to Mental Illness – Disability
• Introduction to Mental Health – Aged Care
• Stopping the Cycle of Shame – Disability and Aged Care
• Suicide Prevention – Disability and Aged Care (coming soon!)
• Trauma-Informed Care – Disability

His courses focus on reducing stigma, strengthening trauma-informed practice, and equipping the workforce with practical strategies that improve outcomes for both care recipients and care professionals.

We are grateful to have Joseph Witt as a Subject Matter Expert with our organisation. His clinical expertise, evidence-based approach, and passion for improving mental health outcomes across disability and aged care greatly enhance the quality and impact of our training.

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

Significant changes are coming to the NDIS provider landscape, and now is the time for providers to start preparing.

On 18 December, the Minister for the NDIS, Senator Jenny McAllister, announced that mandatory NDIS registration for Supported Independent Living (SIL) and platform providers will commence from 1 July 2026.

What does mandatory registration mean?

From 1 July 2026, all providers delivering NDIS-funded SIL supports and platform-based services must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This marks a significant shift for providers who have previously operated as unregistered entities within these service types.

Why is this change happening?

The move to mandatory registration is the result of extensive consultation with the disability community and the NDIS sector, and responds directly to recommendations from:

• The NDIS Review
• The Disability Royal Commission
• The NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce

The aim is to strengthen safeguards, improve service quality, and ensure greater accountability across the sector.

New Practice Standards for SIL providers

Mandatory registration for SIL providers will align with the introduction of new SIL Practice Standards, currently being developed in partnership with people with disability through Inclusion Australia.

These standards are designed to reflect the complexity, risk, and importance of SIL supports, while embedding participant choice, safety, and quality of life at the centre of service delivery.

Platform providers

Platform providers who connect participants and workers through online marketplaces have grown rapidly. However, consultations have highlighted several emerging risks, including:

• Poor handling of complaints
• Inadequate privacy and information-sharing practices
• Unclear service relationships and responsibilities

Bringing platform providers into the mandatory registration framework will help address these concerns by ensuring they meet clear quality, safety, and governance standards.

What happens next?

Further guidance on transition arrangements is expected in early 2026. A considered transition period will be put in place to allow providers sufficient time to prepare for registration, while ensuring continuity of support for participants.

How the NGO Training Centre can support you

To support providers through these changes, the NGO Training Centre has partnered with experienced compliance providers who can assist with:

• NDIS registration applications
• Registration renewals
• Understanding and preparing for the new SIL Practice Standards, and
• Building compliant systems, policies, and workforce capability

We understand that registration can feel complex and resource-intensive. Our role is to support you in navigating the process with confidence and clarity, so you can stay focused on delivering quality supports.

Get in touch

If you are a SIL provider or platform provider and want to start preparing now, contact the NGO Training Centre for more information and support.

Preparing early will put your organisation in the strongest position for a smooth transition in 2026.

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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. 

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!

Australia’s aged care system experienced a major overhaul on November 1, 2025, with the launch of the new Aged Care Act. This rights-based framework aims to prioritise older Australians in their care choices.

Responding to the Royal Commission’s severe findings on neglect and abuse, the reforms promised increased transparency, improved quality standards, and greater support for ageing populations. Central to these changes is the shift from Home Care Packages (HCP) to the “Support at Home” program, which provides financial help to assist seniors in staying in their own homes rather than moving into residential facilities. However, while the intention is admirable, emerging evidence indicates these financial packages are unintentionally causing more harm than good for those trying to age independently, increasing financial pressure and restricting essential services.

“No Worse Off” Principle

Under the old HCP system, older Australians received tiered funding, ranging from basic to comprehensive levels, to cover services such as personal care, domestic help, and allied health. The 2025 reforms maintain a “no worse off” principle for existing recipients, ensuring their contribution arrangements aren’t hiked. For new entrants, however, the Support at Home program introduces means-testing and price caps on non-clinical services, with clinical care, such as nursing, now free. On paper, this sounds equitable: subsidies tailored to income, promoting choice and dignity. Yet in practice, the packages fall short, forcing seniors into heartbreaking trade-offs.

Surge in Costs for Everyday Supports

The most glaring issue is the surge in costs for everyday supports. Basic assistance, such as showers, meal preparation, or wound care, has seen price increases of 20-30% under the new pricing model, outpacing inflation and eroding the value of allocated funds. Advocates report that a Level 2 package, once sufficient for weekly cleaning and transport, now barely covers half those needs, leaving recipients to choose between a hot meal or a safe bath.

This isn’t abstract; it’s real hardship. One Sydney senior, quoted in recent reports, lamented, “Do I eat tonight or get help to the toilet tomorrow? It’s no way to live.” For low-income households, these gaps translate to isolation, untreated health issues, and increased hospital admissions, ironically driving up system-wide costs.

Administrative Bureaucracy

Compounding the problem is administrative bureaucracy. The reforms’ emphasis on personalised plans requires extensive assessments and provider approvals, leading to months-long delays in package activation. Workforce shortages, already acute, mean fewer providers can deliver services at the capped rates, further shrinking options.

Meanwhile, the means test discourages asset sales for care funding; families rushing to liquidate homes now face “shocking hidden costs” like restored means testing post-reform, potentially clawing back subsidies. Far from empowering independence, these financial hurdles are funnelling vulnerable elders toward residential care—the very outcome the reforms sought to avoid.

Financial Pitfalls

While the Aged Care Act introduces vital protections, such as mandatory staffing ratios and safeguards against abuse, its financial mechanisms require urgent recalibration. Without addressing these pitfalls, the Support at Home program risks becoming a barrier rather than a bridge to dignified aging.

Policymakers must listen to frontline voices: adjust pricing, streamline access, and bolster funding to truly honour the promise of home-based care. For the million-plus Australians over 65, the stakes are nothing less than their freedom to age on their own terms.

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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.