Sincerity Support Services

24/11/2025

It is finally recognised and no we are not alone.

We have had participants in this situation, put many hours in unpaid and had to terminate employment due to the lack of funding.

Sometimes life is far more complex for those participants that have no family, no friends and as a result no next of kin. We were told by a planner to work "Pro Rata" at our own expense, as this is what "good providers do" we were shocked at this comment and they knew how much effort we had put in.
We could never walk away from someone in this position.

This article is of no surprise sadly.

14/11/2025

What does this mean? In our experience the VDWC is silent and I'm sure what they actually do.

Does anyone know what they do and who they are?

The Victorian Government’s decision to scrap specialist disability watchdogs is a brutal, cowardly, and deeply irresponsible move that will leave people with disability and the workers who support them at greater risk.

Despite strong warnings from Disability advocates, unions, and community organisations - the Allan Government is pushing ahead with a plan to abolish the Disability Worker Commissioner and the VDWC, tearing down the very same safeguards that they previously deemed as essential.

This decision weakens protections, silences vulnerable voices, and blatantly ignores the Royal Commission’s call for stronger independent oversight.

HACSU State Secretary Paul Healey describes this move as a: “…slap in the face to every worker who has fought for safety, dignity, and professionalism. The Government has lost touch with its Labor values.”

HACSU strongly opposes this dangerous move, and stands with advocates, workers, and the disability community. We demand real, independent safeguards, not a diluted system that puts vulnerable Victorians at risk.

HACSU will not stand by while safeguards are dismantled. Workers and people with disability deserve better.

Full article here:
https://buff.ly/1DA5zu3

14/11/2025

New NDIA CEO

The Government has announced Graeme Head AO as the new CEO of the NDIA, starting 24 Nov 2025.
He brings strong experience, including leading the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and serving as Secretary of the NSW Department of Customer Service.

He will take over from Rebecca Falkingham PSM.

- Minister Butler: His leadership will be key to strengthening the NDIS.

- Minister McAllister: His experience will guide ongoing reforms.

- Graeme Head: Excited to help shape the Scheme’s next chapter.

13/11/2025

NDIS FRAUD CRACKDOWN COMING!

The Albanese Government is moving to give the NDIS Commission tough new powers to tackle fraud and dodgy providers in the $50 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Under the proposed laws, the Commission could:
• Ban auditors and consultants giving fraudulent advice
• Stop dishonest providers from promoting their services
• Strengthen penalties and boost info-sharing between agencies

NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said weak prevention controls have cost the scheme tens of millions, with some claims once paid automatically — no checks, no evidence.

The reforms come alongside new funding and a national taskforce targeting fraud, overcharging, and fake providers.
However, tensions are rising. State and territory ministers even threatened to boycott recent NDIS talks over limited input in meetings.

The goal: protect participants, restore trust, and keep the NDIS sustainable for the future.

Please tell us what you think about this 🙂

09/11/2025

Were excited for the Melbourne disability expo!

Come along and discover amazing services, supports, and products that make a real difference in our community. The expo is a great chance to connect with people and learn about how the NDIS can help you achieve your goals.

If you're heading to the Melbourne disability expo, check out the link below for all the details:

https://developingauscommunities.com.au/melbourne-expo-2025/

08/11/2025

Good day everyone, hope this post finds you all doing great or as best as you can. Well supported and achieving life's goals.

The article below is an indication of the difficulty in providing supports in the NDIS and raises a lot of questions. How can so many big businesses not survive. Hundreds have closed down and many more are on the brink of closure.

Sincerity Support Services is a survivor, as our business model is established by people who have extensive experience is corporate management and also 10 years experience in multimillion dollar Project Management, using Agile methodologies, which ensure survivability.

First hand experience after 7 years in the sector tells us we see these closures as totally understandable. I expect more and more to close.

The misconception surrounding the NDIS is its the big money maker. So many stories are reported in the mainstream media, how people make millions and even billions, but they are almost always fraudulent. This reporting does not show the truth about running a registered and compliant business, profit or non profit, it is difficult to stay viable, if your ethical, transparent, registered and completely compliant.

Why do we say that?
Here is just a handful of concerns.

The SCHADS AWARD and the NDIS do not align, the country is broke and the ATO is charging hard, and the NDIS itself does not fund particpants correctly in accordance with their individual requirements, leaving providers to fill the gaps.. The QSC and NDIS does not facilitate a fair playing field

Example: Independent Support Workers, charging maximum rates, no compliance, no overheads, no audits, often no insurance and they often have no qualifications. Most dont even have first aid training.

The compliant operators, must spend 10s of thousands of dollars to stay registered. Audits, insurances, superannuation, software, workcover, tax, staff training, HR and WHS compliance, all come at a cost. That is not taking into consideration, rent, power, furniture and the general costs of doing business with an office.

The years ahead for the NDIS will be very different going forward, as they already are from 2018 when we first started.

Our optimistic outlook and our hope for our participants is the NDIS will work out how to make it sustainable. Despite any incompetence at the highest level of government, the NDIS is one of the greatest legislation bills ever introduced. It will survive and so will Sincerity SupportServices.

Not-for-profit organisation Anglicare WA has announced it cannot afford to keep its Bridges Disability Service going and about 80 staff might lose their jobs.

06/11/2025

Were building something new!

At Sincerity Support Services VIC PTY LTD we've realised that our old website wasn't quite up to the standard we want for our community and participants.

That's why we're excited to share that a brand new website is on the way!
It'll be easier to use, more informative, and a better reflection of the sincere support we provide every day.

Stay tuned, we can't wait to share it with you soon!

15/10/2025

SINCERITY NOTICE BOARD:

Meet Australia’s 2025 International Day of People with Disability Ambassadors! 💙

Announced by NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister, these six inspiring Australians are leading the way in promoting inclusion, awareness and respect for the 5.5 million Australians with disability.

Maree Jenner – Community advocate and inclusion educator
Santiago Velasquez Hurtado – Innovator and accessibility designer
James Parr – Wiradjuri model, athlete and advocate
Olivia Sidhu – Health ambassador and UN delegate
Ronan Soussa – Autistic advocate and Love on the Spectrum star
Isabella Choate – Young leader and founder of WA’s Disability Pride Festival

Minister McAllister:

“Our ambassadors are champions of inclusion, helping create a society where everyone is valued and can thrive.”

Let’s celebrate inclusion and challenge stereotypes this 3 December.
Learn more: www.idpwd.com.au

The Government has shut down unscrupulous behaviour in the National Disability Insurance Scheme stopping dodgy providers from misusing funding meant to support people with disability.

11/10/2025

Warning to non compliant providers.

The larger the organisation the harder it is to ensure quality support workers. If you have 100 appointments to fill every day or 1000, you need to ensure your staff are well matched, are well aware and well trained to deal with every situation in this very important complex sector, providing assistance to people with disabilities. Short cuts, having to fill shifts without fully vetting and matching participants is a time consuming process that larger companies often struggle with.

Be aware, providers to participants on the NDIS are required to ensure the safety and well-being of those entrusted to your organisation. Registration should be mandatory, specific to the supports offered, at least there is some accountability, sadly these companies failed badly. Good intentions do not guarantee quality of care, you must have robust, tried and tested policies and procedures that are renewed as often as possible and take no shortcuts.

All the best to all those who are genuine providers in the NDIS, those who aren't go do something else.

Former NDIS provider fined millions over man's death

A company caring for a mentally disabled man who died after walking into traffic has been hit with a record civil penalty against an NDIS provider.

Aurora Community Care's "ongoing and flagrant disregard" for its obligations were slammed by a court on Friday after being sued over the death of a 38-year-old man with an intellectual disability.

Justice Wendy Abraham on Friday imposed a $2.2 million fine against the provider following the March 2023 incident.

The man left his Queensland residence without the knowledge of two on-site care workers and was fatally hit by a car.

Aurora was placed into liquidation shortly after being sued in February 2024, but the Federal Court allowed the lawsuit to continue to send a message to other providers.

The man required two-on-one care at all times but, the night of his death, one carer was asleep while another was in a separate room and did not notice him leave the house.

Aurora knew the man would try to leave the premises and there were no locks on his doors preventing him from doing so, Justice Wendy Abraham said in her judgment.

Further, the court found Aurora repeatedly failed to properly care for the man for the 18 months they were engaged by his parents.

"Aurora has, over an extended period, displayed an ongoing and flagrant disregard for its legal obligations as a NDIS provider," Justice Abraham said.

The company's liquidators did not defend the case.

The fine, due to the Commonwealth, is contingent on the court approving enforcement, with the company's winding up delayed to allow for the case's outcome.

The $2.2 million fine tops a $1.9 million penalty in January when a client of not-for-profit Valmar Support Services fatally choked on food.

Aurora failed to notify the NDIS regulator of the use of chemical restraints more than 50 times, the judge said.

The man's access to television and Pepsi, which helped prevent him from engaging in harmful behaviour, was also restricted without approval.

"(The man's parents) trusted that Aurora would provide the supervision, support and safe environment their son needed," Justice Abraham said.

"Aurora did not provide those things."

The man's death was a "tragedy that could have been prevented", the regulator said.

"This legal action and the significant penalty imposed by the court send a strong deterrent message to all NDIS providers to take their obligations seriously," NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville said.

The NDIS Commission has already banned the sole director of the now-defunct Aurora.

Mohamed Issak cannot be involved in certain NDIS activities until November 2034.

Another NDIS provider - LiveBetter - has been fined $1.8 million and admitted to criminal charges over a woman's bathwater burns death.

Kyah Lucas died in Concord Hospital after receiving burns to more than 40 per cent of her body in a bath in February 2022.

LiveBetter pleaded guilty in the NSW District Court to breaching its primary duty of health and safety regarding Ms Lucas.

A sentence hearing is due to take place in March 2026.
Australian Associated Press

10/10/2025

World Mental Health Day

Sincerity Support Services sees every day as a day to focus on mental health. However today is officially a day to take notice and look out for each other. Ask, take time out and remember the value of a smile.

Be kind, be gentle, show patience, encourage each other and ensure to listen.

Listening is the most important part of communication.

Remember Sincerity Support Services is a support services that is always listening, to our participants, our staff and you.

It is always okay not to be okay, we are all in this together, above all be kind to yourself.

02/10/2025

Your NDIS Plan = Your Choice
We will shout this from the roof tops to make sure this message is spread far and wide.

NDIS Participants - YOU are the decision maker on who supports you. From Support Workers, Allied Health Professionals, Support Coordinators through to Plan Managers.

If you do not feel like you are being listened to, you can choose to change support at any time.

This is your life, your NDIS Plan and no one should ever feel stuck, unheard or unsupported.

It is incredibly heart wrenching as a Support Coordinator to come across this over and over again.

Please let your voice be heard.

Best wishes to all.

01/10/2025

Sincerity Support Services NOTICEBOARD:

We aim to keep NDIS participants informed with fact-checked, up-to-date information. However, always verify details yourself and consult the NDIS directly if in doubt.

Notification:

From mid-2026, NDIS assessments will use a new tool called I-CAN (Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs, Version 6). An allied health professional, called an Accessor, will conduct a 3-hour review to assess support needs across 12 areas of daily life, like mobility, self-care, and mental health. The process may improve funding allocation and reduce wait times, but system limitations and lack of empathy could result in missed individual needs.

Key Changes:

NDIS assessments will focus on functional impairments rather than medical diagnoses.

Assessments will be done by NDIA assessors (e.g., occupational therapists).

The new system may make the process more efficient but could also risk overlooking the personal, human side of care.

Instead of collecting evidence and submitting reports, participants will have an interview with an assessor that lasts up to three hours.