Support Collective

24/12/2025

As we wrap up the year, the Support Collective office is officially closed and our team is on leave.

This year has been full, challenging, meaningful, and at times heavy, for our participants, our team, and the wider sector. I am incredibly proud of the work our staff do every day to support people to navigate a system that is not always kind or simple.

Thank you to our participants and families for trusting us, and to our team for showing up with care, persistence, and integrity even when things were tough.

We will be back refreshed and ready in the new year.
Wishing everyone a safe, restful break and a gentler start to the year ahead.

23/12/2025

A reminder that free food relief is available this evening, Tuesday 23 December, from 5pm to 7pm for anyone in the Maitland community who may be experiencing hardship this Christmas 🌟🍴

Visit the Maitland Visitor Information Centre for a warm meal and a welcoming environment.

22/12/2025

As the year comes to a close, we’ll be taking a short break to rest and reset.

Our office will close from Wednesday 24 December at 12:00pm and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.

Thank you to everyone who has worked alongside us this year. Your trust, patience, and support mean a great deal to our team.

Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful Christmas and a gentle start to the new year 🎄🤍

09/12/2025

🎄 Staff Christmas Lunch Tomorrow 🎄
Our team will be celebrating together on Thursday 11 December, so the office will be closed for the day.

If you need support, feel free to leave us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we return.

Thank you for your understanding and we hope you are enjoying the lead up to Christmas.

— Support Collective 💛

27/11/2025

Louise and Darren Catton have spent years building a safe, stable future for their daughter Mary, who lives with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and is non-verbal.

Then Mary’s NDIS plan was cut by nearly $250,000.

The cut put essential supports like overnight care and two-on-one community access at risk. It also put enormous pressure on her family - emotionally and financially.

They’ve since had some funding restored through internal review, but it’s still not enough. And they’re worried they’ll have to fight again next year.

Cuts like these are happening to families across the country. We need a system that listens, supports, and gives people certainty.

Read the full story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-16/qld-ndis-funding-cuts-means-brisbane-couple-cant-retire/106006192?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link&fbclid=IwY2xjawOF-UFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFwUVVRcno0ODkxcWp6R3Bic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MghjYWxsc2l0ZQIzMAABHgq388R2Mft5S6Cmbepg_UDaPitnBJ-oSPHhriW-DKWVef8ALiJEDnLJEHWR_aem_SXDwWPXNn7hzT_6jhpzpVw

[Image description: Every Australian Counts tile with the text: ‘Read from ABC News. NDIS funding uncertainty means QLD couple “may never be able to retire” as they care for their daughter.’]

26/11/2025

🧡 Sharing this great updated list of Maitland support services put together by Emmy-Lou’s Charity Cook Ups - Maitland 2320. It has food help, low-cost groceries, housing, mental health support and more.

Please share so it can reach anyone who might need it. 🧡

🥦✨MAITLAND AREA: LOCAL HELP & ASSISTANCE 🥦✨

I’ve put this list together to make it easier for anyone doing it tough to find support. When I went looking, I realised most lists were 5+ years out of date – so I created a fresh one myself. 💓

If you notice any errors, or know of updates or extra services, please let me know so we can keep it current. This list is for everyone, and sharing it might just reach someone who really needs it.
Emmy-Lou Carson 😋🥦🍊🥘✨🌈☀️🙏🍀🥰
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🍽️ FOOD ASSISTANCE
Click on each page or link for exact details, dates and any changes.

MONDAY
• 5 pm – Munch Program – Maitland Uniting Church

TUESDAY
• 12:30–2:30 pm – Maitland Family Support – “Food is Life (FiL)” program, Woodberry Family Centre. Supported by Rotary Club of Maitland Sunrise Incc. and Slow Food Hunter Valley
• 2:30 pm – Free Food - Maitland Sikhs, at Woodberry Junior Football Field
• 5 pm – Metford Community Hall – Lions Club East Maitland

WEDNESDAY
• 12–2 pm – Hope UC- Hope Unlimited Church Maitland “The Welcome Place”. Home-cooked lunch, Foodbank, laundry and showers available
• 5 pm – Munch Program – Maitland Uniting Church
• Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council – Social, health and learning hub for the Aboriginal community. OzHarvest delivery times vary – follow on Facebook
1A Chelmsford Drive, Metford NSW | Phone (02) 4015 7000
• 5:30–6:30 pm – Community Kitchen – Metford Community Baptist Church (fortnightly). Dine-in free meal

THURSDAY
• BOOKS ARE CURRENTLY FULL. Emmy-Lou’s Charity Cook Ups - Maitland 2320.
Every Thursday evening, plus celebratory days (Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas Day and more).
Please send a private message to be added to the list and follow my page for updates.
Note: I’m not a chef or a big business – just a grassroots, community cook up helping where I can 💓

FRIDAY
• 6–7:30 pm – City Salvation Army Church
1 Bunning Avenue, Rutherford. BBQ often served at Churchill Crescent, Rutherford
• 6–8 pm – Free BBQ – New Life Community Relief
Raymond Terrace Council Carpark (undercover)

SATURDAY
• 5–6 pm – Free BBQ, fresh food, drinks and social time – Our Circle Maitland - OCM Under the Maitland Library.

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🥡 TAKEAWAY MEALS
• Grace Community Kitchen – Metford Community Baptist Church
• Region Community Support
• Food War Inc, The Food War Inc. Beresfield – low-cost food and homewares (cheap fruit, vegetables and more, changing stock daily, Monday to Friday, 9 am–3 pm)

🛒 CHEAP GROCERIES
• Gillieston Heights Food Rescue – Seventh-day Adventist Church, East Maitland
Thursdays, 1–2:30 pm (or until sold out)
• The Food War Inc, Beresfield
• Maitland Food Co-op
• Kingdom Foodcare, Weston – affordable groceries for all

🆕 UPDATED SERVICES
• Youth Off The Streets – BBQ every second Friday at Woodberry and Tenambit parks
• St Peter’s Pantry – St Peter’s Church, Anglican Parish of East Maitland
• Maitland City Salvation Army Church (Rutherford) – Financial advice, Tuesdays 10:30 am–12 pm
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🏠 HOUSING SUPPORT
• Link2Home – Phone 1800 152 152 | bit.ly/Link-2-Home
• Hume Community Housing – 464 High Street, Maitland NSW | Phone 1800 004 300
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🧠 MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
IN A CRISIS
🚨 Emergency – Call Triple Zero (000)
• Mental Health Line (NSW) – 1800 011 511
• Transcultural Mental Health Line – 1800 648 911 (Monday to Friday, 9 am–4:30 pm)
` UMatter_awareness works to prevent su***de by raising awareness, fostering strong community connections, providing support, and spreading the vital message that every individual matters, has value, and deserves hope. https://umatterawareness.org/
PHONE SUPPORT
• Lifeline (24/7) – 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue (24/7) – 1300 22 4636
• Kids Helpline (24/7) – 1800 55 1800
• NSW Health support contacts – see: health.nsw.gov.au (search “support contact list”)
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⚖️ LEGAL AID
• LawAccess NSW – Web chat or phone 1300 888 529
- Hunter Community Legal Centre which operate Mon & Fri 10-12 and Wed 2-4 ph 1800 650 073
- Legal Centre The University of Newcastle, Australia https://www.newcastle.edu.au/school/law-and-justice/legal-centre/free-legal-clinics
operate during uni semester
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🛡️ DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE SUPPORT
• Carrie’s Place Domestic Violence and Homelessness Services Inc
• Hunter Domestic Violence Support and Advisory Service Inc
• Jenny’s Place Domestic Violence and Homelessness Support
• Hunter Men’s Projects Network – Support for men and fathers
Website: huntermensprojectsnetwork.au
• Against Domestic Abuse (MADA) – Raises funds and awareness for domestic violence and abuse services across Maitland.
Note: MADA is not a crisis or support service; they provide information and links to services
• Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council – Social, health and learning hub for the Aboriginal community
“Safe and Strong” domestic and family violence program, with an Aboriginal DFV specialist for Aboriginal families and victims.
For enquiries, call Chernai on (02) 4015 7000
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🚿 LAUNDRY AND SHOWER ACCESS
• Ask Izzy – Free, anonymous resource finder: askizzy.org.au
• Shower and laundry – Sugar Valley Neighbourhood Centre, West Wallsend
• Orange Sky Australia – Mobile laundry and shower services
• Car 2 Home Project
• Homelessness Australia, Mission Australia, Australian Red Cross, The Salvation Army Australia – contact for shelter and basic needs
• Wednesdays, 12–2 pm – Hope UC, Hope Unlimited Church Maitland “The Welcome Place” (showers and laundry available)
• BP petrol stations – some locations have showers (check online or phone ahead for details)
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🌐 EXTRA SUPPORT SERVICES
• Ask Izzy – Search over 450,000 support services nearby: askizzy.org.au
• Survivor’s R Us Incorporated – Free professional counselling, food relief and furniture hub
57 Pendlebury Road, Cardiff NSW
• Gari Kuruma – A safe haven for women and children (coming soon to the Hunter Region)
` Lotus Asocsa - A support group for female adult survivors of child sexual abuse and r**e. Coming to Maitland in 2026.
• For after-hours, bulk billed home GP visits in the Maitland area:
– 13 SICK (13 7425)
– 13 CURE – Home Visiting GP Service (13 7424)
These services provide urgent care when your usual GP is closed on weeknights, weekends and public holidays. Visits are covered by Medicare, so you generally will not have out-of-pocket costs.
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Thank you everyone. Please feel free to share so this reaches anyone who might need a little extra help right now. xoxo 🥰🍀🌈✨🌻🙏🥰

12/11/2025

We want to hear from you!

Have you or someone you support experienced a reduction in Support Coordination funding?

We’re collecting real examples from across Australia to show how these changes are affecting people with disability, families, and providers.

Your input will help strengthen our advocacy for fair and sustainable NDIS funding.

Please take a few minutes to share your experience using the link below:
🔗https://forms.office.com/r/Q6mZv17Wwi

Every response counts and every story helps. Please share this post to help us reach more voices.

29/10/2025

There's still time to have your say on the Government review of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The government want to make sure it is working to protect people with disability from discrimination.

They recently extended public consultation to now close on Friday 14 November 2025.

You can find the Issues Paper including Easy Read and Auslan versions at: https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/human-rights-and-anti-discrimination/australias-anti-discrimination-law/review-disability-discrimination-act

28/10/2025

💛 We missed our own birthday last week, but that feels pretty on brand for a team that’s always putting others first!

🎉 Support Collective turned 5!

Five years of standing beside people, learning from our participants, and growing a team that genuinely cares.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of our story so far. Here’s to the next chapter! 💛

03/10/2025

We talk a lot about “independence” in disability services.

It’s a word that rolls off the tongue like it belongs to everyone. But too often, when it comes to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, “independence” gets redefined to mean “what we allow.”

You can live here - but only if we say yes.
You can choose this - but only from the options we approve.
You can go there - but only if someone drives you.

That’s not independence. That’s managed compliance.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth. Real independence is messy. It means mistakes, risks, even failures. It means someone with a developmental disability has the same right to make a bad decision, or to be imperfect. Just like everyone else.

If you want to support people, stop bubble-wrapping lives. Start making space for risk, for growth, for the dignity of trying.

Because control disguised as “care” is not kindness, it’s captivity.
..

ID: Image shows a man with his arms folded smiling. Text reads: Control disguised as “care” is not kindness, it’s captivity.

03/10/2025

Support Collective is a proud Member of Disability Intermediaries Australia

When you see the DIA Member logo, it means more than just membership.

It’s a mark of commitment to:
✔️ Sector standards
✔️ Best practice
✔️ Supporting quality outcomes for participants

Our members proudly display their Member or Associate DIA logo's on their websites, email signatures and communications — showing that they stand with the peak body for Support Coordination and Plan Management.

Look for the DIA logo. It’s the sign of a provider who puts quality first. If you are a DIA member and would like a copy of your member logo, reach out to: membership@intermediaries.org.au

25/09/2025

🚨 Final 24 hours.
This is our last chance to show the government that Support Coordination matters.

Every single signature counts.
Please don’t leave it for someone else — your action today could save services tomorrow.

👉 Sign Petition EN7619 now:
🔗 https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN7619