Virtually Accountable - NDIS Plan Manager

03/02/2026

You may have seen recent media about the Australian Government’s Thriving Kids initiative, here’s a clear explanation of what it is and the key facts currently known.

✨ What is Thriving Kids?

Thriving Kids is a national system of supports being developed by the Australian Government to help children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs, and their families, carers and kin.

👶 Focus on Early Identification & support

The initiative aims to:
• Identify developmental concerns earlier when support can have the greatest impact
• Provide access to evidence-based supports in everyday environments — such as schools, early childhood services, health settings and community programs
• Help families access trusted information, advice and support tailored to their child’s needs.

💡 How It Relates to the NDIS

• Children with permanent and significant disability or high support needs will remain supported through the NDIS as usual.
• Thriving Kids is being designed as a complementary system of foundational supports outside the NDIS for children with mild to moderate needs, with the goal of supporting them earlier and more flexibly in settings that already serve children and families.

📅 Timeline & Next Steps

• The Government has committed $2 billion over five years to Thriving Kids, starting from 1 July 2026, with services expected to phase in over 12 months.
• National rollout is being developed in partnership with state and territory governments, experts, service providers and community representatives.
• Broader changes to how children access the NDIS and Thriving Kids supports are expected to evolve as the program design is finalised.

📌 Key Principles of Thriving Kids

• Earlier, evidence-based supports in places where children already live, learn and play
• Supports tailored to individual needs and family circumstances
• Children with more complex or significant lifelong needs continue to access the NDIS.

06/01/2026

🌟 Welcome to 2026! 🌟

Our friends at Purple Orange have shared their upcoming Cuppa & Catch-Up dates for the year ☕💬

These catch-ups are a wonderful opportunity to connect, share experiences, and stay informed. Be sure to mark the dates in your diary so you don’t miss out , the February catch-up is just around the corner!

👉 See Purple Orange’s post below for all the details.

Welcome to 2026......
Our dates for the Cuppa & Catchup days are below, so you can mark them in your diary now, and not miss out.
We are getting excited about our February catchup and look forward to seeing you there.

06/01/2026

☀️ Extreme Heat Alert – South Australia ☀️

South Australia is forecast to experience extreme temperatures, with conditions reaching 40°C and above over the coming days.
We encourage everyone to take extra care by:

* Staying cool indoors where possible
* Drinking plenty of water
* Avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat
* Wearing light, breathable clothing
* Monitoring for signs of heat stress or heat stroke, including dizziness, nausea, headache, confusion, or fatigue

Please check in on participants, families, and anyone who may be more vulnerable during extreme heat. If there are any concerns about health or safety, seek medical support promptly.

Stay safe and take care during this period of extreme weather. 💛

24/12/2025

🎄✨ We’re now on Christmas break! ✨🎄

Virtually Accountable is officially closed for the festive season 🎅

Our closure runs from 23.12.2025 to 3.01.2026, and during this time no invoices or accounts will be processed.

We’ll be back in the office and ready to go from Monday 5th January 2026.

Thanks so much for all your support this year – we hope you all enjoy a well-deserved break filled with rest, good food and happy moments 💛🎁

See you in the new year! 🎉✨

22/12/2025

As we close off 2025, our CEO has shared a heartfelt letter reflecting on the year that was 💙

Thank you to our incredible community; our participants, families, and team - for your trust, commitment, and support throughout the year. We’re so grateful to walk this journey with you and look forward to what’s ahead.

✨ Here’s to closing 2025 with gratitude.

18/12/2025

🎄✨ Invoice Reminder – Please Read ✨🎄

A friendly reminder that tomorrow is the last day to submit invoices for payment before the Christmas break.

📌 Invoices received after tomorrow will still be processed up until we go on leave, however we cannot guarantee payment will be made prior to the Christmas break.

To avoid any delays, we strongly encourage you to submit all outstanding invoices as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation, and we wish you all a safe and happy festive season 🎅🎁

🎄✨ Christmas Closure Reminder ✨🎄

A friendly reminder to our valued clients that Virtually Accountable will be closed for the Christmas period from Wednesday 23 December 2025 to Friday 3 January 2026 (inclusive).

We will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
During this time:
✅ No invoices or accounts will be processed
✅ Emails and messages will not be monitored
📌 Important information:

• If you have invoices that need to be paid before the closure, please ensure they are submitted by Friday 19 December 2025 to allow time for processing.
• In line with NDIS guidelines, invoices cannot be forward-dated. Any supports provided during our closure period will be processed once we return in January.

Following this, our physical office will remain closed during the school holiday period and will reopen on Monday 29 January.

During this time, we are still available by phone and by appointment if needed. You can contact Genelle, Megan, or Hailee using the phone numbers or email addresses you already have.

If you usually drop invoices off in person, you can:
📸 Text or email a photo of the invoice to Hailee for processing, or
📍 Drop it off at Mission Australia, where your LAC will pass it on to us.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a safe, happy, and restful holiday season 🎅✨

16/12/2025

📣 Important Update for VA Participants 📣

Are you currently on our participant email mailing list?

We regularly send important updates and information via email (one should have came through today), so it’s essential that you’re receiving them. Please note that our emails may occasionally land in your spam or junk folder, so we recommend checking there first.

If you’re not receiving our emails, or are unsure whether you’re on the list, please send us a message with your preferred email address and we’ll make sure you’re added.

Thank you for helping us keep you informed and up to date 💙

16/12/2025

🎄✨ Christmas Closure Reminder ✨🎄

A friendly reminder to our valued clients that Virtually Accountable will be closed for the Christmas period from Wednesday 23 December 2025 to Friday 3 January 2026 (inclusive).

We will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
During this time:
✅ No invoices or accounts will be processed
✅ Emails and messages will not be monitored
📌 Important information:

• If you have invoices that need to be paid before the closure, please ensure they are submitted by Friday 19 December 2025 to allow time for processing.
• In line with NDIS guidelines, invoices cannot be forward-dated. Any supports provided during our closure period will be processed once we return in January.

Following this, our physical office will remain closed during the school holiday period and will reopen on Monday 29 January.

During this time, we are still available by phone and by appointment if needed. You can contact Genelle, Megan, or Hailee using the phone numbers or email addresses you already have.

If you usually drop invoices off in person, you can:
📸 Text or email a photo of the invoice to Hailee for processing, or
📍 Drop it off at Mission Australia, where your LAC will pass it on to us.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a safe, happy, and restful holiday season 🎅✨

05/12/2025

🎄 COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH, OPEN TO ALL 🎄

Virtually Accountable is proud to share this wonderful initiative supporting our local community this Christmas.

If you, a client, or someone you know would benefit from a friendly, welcoming place to spend Christmas Day, the Community Christmas Day Lunch is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy good food, connection, and company.

📅 25 December 2025
📍 City Hall (Entry via Cave Gardens)
📌 Bookings are essential
📞 Contact Vicki Clark – 0455 464 620

A big thank you to the volunteers and sponsors who make this event possible each year. ❤️

Please share to help spread the word, everyone deserves community at Christmas. 🎁✨

02/12/2025

💙🌏 International Day of People with Disability is Tomorrow! 🌏💙

Tomorrow is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), a day that encourages all of us to pause, reflect, and broaden our understanding of disability within our communities.

At Virtually Accountable, we’re committed to doing more than just acknowledging the day. We’re continually working to create systems, supports, and environments that are accessible, respectful, and inclusive for everyone.

Whether it’s through our services, our workplace, or the way we engage in the community, we believe inclusion should be part of everyday practice, not just one day a year.

We encourage everyone to take a moment tomorrow to learn something new, challenge assumptions, and celebrate the incredible diversity, talent, and resilience of people with disability.

Together, we can make inclusion the norm. 💛