A&K Support Services

25/04/2026

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

LEST WE FORGET ❤

23/04/2026

An easy to read version thanks to Heidi Wombat Cairns Disability Network 🙏🏽

Here’s a clear, plain-English summary of today’s major announcements about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS):

🔑 Big picture

• The Australian Government announced a major overhaul of the NDIS to make it financially sustainable.

• The reforms are being framed as “securing the NDIS for future generations”.

📉 1. Fewer people on the NDIS

• Around 160,000 fewer participants by 2030 are expected.

• Total participants would drop from roughly ~760k–900k forecasts down to ~600k.

• This will mainly happen through stricter eligibility rules, especially for new entrants.

👉 Key shift: moving away from qualifying based mainly on diagnosis → toward functional impairment (how disability affects daily life).

💰 2. Slowing cost growth

• Annual spending growth will be capped at ~2% (down from ~10%+).

• Aim is to reduce projected costs from ~$90B+ down to ~$55B by the end of the decade.

• Average plan budgets are expected to drop (e.g. ~$31k → ~$26k).

🧾 3. Tighter rules & assessments

• New standardised functional assessments to decide eligibility.

• More frequent reassessments for some participants.

• Reduced use of the current “diagnosis-based” entry pathway.

🛑 4. Crackdown on fraud and providers

• Stronger focus on fraud prevention and stopping misuse.

• Introduction of digital payment tracking/verification systems.

• More providers will need to be registered, especially higher-risk services.

🧑‍🦽 5. Changes to supports & spending

• Some spending areas (like social/community participation) may be capped or limited.

• Greater emphasis on “core supports” for people with significant disability.

• A new “inclusive communities” fund is planned for broader supports outside the NDIS.

🗓️ 6. Timeline

• Immediate changes (2026): laws to control spending and tighten rules

• From 2028: new eligibility system fully implemented

⚠️ 7. Reaction & concerns

• Disability advocates and some states are worried about:

◦ People losing access to supports

◦ Increased pressure on state services and health systems

◦ Lack of consultation so far

🧠 In simple terms

• The government is trying to rein in costs and stop misuse

• But that means tighter access and fewer people covered

• The biggest impact will likely be on:

◦ New applicants

◦ People with less severe or less clearly defined disabilities

17/04/2026

Light it up BLUE 💙💙💙, Spread & share Autism awareness this April 🧡💚❤️💛💙

Why is raising awareness so important?

Building community understanding can improve the life of a child (or adult) with autism by increasing their chances of early diagnosis, so they can receive therapy and support. It can also result in a more tolerant, compassionate society.

As people learn about things like why it’s called a 'spectrum', how meltdowns and tantrums aren’t the same thing, and what sensory challenges are all about, they’re helping create a community where autistic people and those who love them can thrive, rather than being judged.

Here at A&K Support Services we believe everyone should know that autism can be very challenging, but that it also has positive elements which should be nurtured. And that our society is stronger when it’s more diverse.

16/04/2026

Inclusion is a deliberate practice that is reflected in our daily interactions with others. It requires progressing beyond awareness and towards a deeper understanding. This involves posing questions, being open to learning, and recognising that what works for one person may not work for another. An inclusive society places a high value on diversity and respects individual differences, while also taking responsibility for driving change - whether that involves improving accessibility, using inclusive language, or creating safe and supportive spaces. Inclusion is rooted in empathy, strengthened by education, and driven by advocacy. It's about seeing the person first, rather than their limitations, and ensuring that everyone is included and valued. When done correctly, inclusion benefits everyone.

04/04/2026

🐇🐰A&K Support Services would like to wish you all a very Happy Easter🐰🐇
🐣We hope the Easter bunny hops on by & you all have a wonderful time🐣

03/04/2026

💜🧡💚💙💛 May the blessings of Good Friday fill your heart with an abundance of peace and love 💜🧡💚💙💛

25/03/2026

💜💚💙🧡💛 Disability rights are human rights.
They're about dignity, access, and equal opportunity. 💜💚💙🧡💛
Protecting disability rights means making sure people can access education, healthcare, employment, safe housing, and community life without barriers. It means listening to lived experience. It means understanding that inclusion isn't just about being invited into the room - it's about making sure the room is accessible in the first place.
Disability can be visible or invisible. It can be present from birth or acquired later in life. At any moment, any one of us could become disabled. That's why disability rights protect all of us.
Advocacy isn't always loud. Sometimes it's learning.
Sometimes it's challenging assumptions. Sometimes it's making small changes that create big impact - like using inclusive language, supporting accessibility, or calling out discrimination when we see it.
A more inclusive world benefits everyone. And protecting disability rights is part of building that world ✨

18/03/2026

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. On Sunday we ventured out courageously in the rain with our lovely participant & her family to explore the remarkable wildlife at the wildlife habitat in Port Douglas. The smiles, laughter and magical moments were endless & worth every raindrop 🌧️🐊🦆🦉🦜🪿🐨

17/03/2026

🍀🍀Happy Saint Patrick’s Day 🍀🍀

Hope everyone is enjoying their festivities 💚

🍀🍀 Just a few fun facts about St Patty’s Day 🍀🍀

Today commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. 💚

12/03/2026

We understand that sometimes we get frustrated & our emotions get the better of us, so A&K Support Services thought we would share some great strategies on how to regulate them 💜💚💛🧡💙
Mental Health matters ✨ You are not alone, reach out ✨ Mind your health.

09/03/2026

💚💜🧡💙 It’s here! & A&K Support Services have signed up 💚💜🧡💙
The Sit-Up Challenge 2026 is officially ON.
Join, share or donate & get behind this amazing cause ✨
This year, Endeavour Foundation are celebrating 75 years of creating opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and you can be part of it.

Every sit-up you complete and every dollar you raise helps people with disability be seen, heard and included.

Join this incredible tradition and make an impact that truly matters.

I’m taking part in the Sit-Up Challenge this May! Why? Because every sit-up I do helps raise funds to support people with disability to live, work and belong in their communities. Please consider donating. Even the cost of your weekly coffee can make a real difference ...

08/03/2026

🌸💗Happy International Women's Day 🌸💗

Today A&K Support Services pause for a moment to honour the quiet strength carried in the hearts of women everywhere. Not only the loud victories that history records, but the gentle, unseen courage that lives in everyday life, the resilience of getting up again, the grace of loving deeply, and the bravery of becoming who we truly are. International Women's Day is not only about what women have achieved, though those achievements are extraordinary; it is also about the journey inward, the slow and beautiful unfolding of a woman discovering her own worth, the moment she realizes she does not need permission to stand tall in her life. To be proud of who we are is one of the most powerful things a woman can do. Pride not born of arrogance, but of self-respect. Pride that comes from surviving, learning, loving, and growing. Pride in the softness that does not make us weak, and the strength that does not make us hard. Women carry many seasons within them: tenderness, wisdom, creativity, fire, compassion. We nurture families, friendships, ideas, and communities. We hold space for others, yet we are also learning that we are worthy of holding space for ourselves. On this day, may every woman remember that her story matters. Her voice matters. Her presence in this world is not small or accidental. It is part of the great tapestry of courage woven by women across generations. So stand a little taller today. Smile a little deeper at your reflection. And know that simply being yourself, fully, honestly, beautifully, is something to be proud of. Happy International Woman's Day.💐