Hi besties 👋✨
The boss babes are back in the office 💼💅
New year. Fresh energy. Big opinions. Zero tolerance for chaos without context.
We’re kicking off with what actually matters —
NDIS changes, emergencies, aged care updates, and community wins you need to know (without the doom scroll).
Grab your coffee ☕ straighten your lanyard, and let’s get into it.
🔥 Bushfires & Emergencies — Nationwide Update
Extreme weather and bushfires are impacting parts of Australia, especially Victoria, with flow-on effects everywhere 🌏🔥
🚨 What support workers need to know
Fire danger, smoke, heatwaves & road closures can disrupt services
If it’s unsafe to travel, don’t attend shifts — safety first
Always follow local emergency advice
😷 Health & safety
Smoke can affect breathing, especially for:
Older people 👵
People with disability ♿
Support tips:
Encourage fluids 💧
Keep meds close
Reduce outdoor activity
♿ NDIS supports
Plans can be used flexibly during emergencies
Urgent help if:
Equipment is lost or damaged
Supports are disrupted
Phone or online check-ins may replace face-to-face support 📱
👵 Aged care & home care
Residential services have emergency plans
Some people may need to relocate temporarily
Home care clients should have a simple leave-early plan
🧠 NDIS Deep Dive — Last 7 Days (Easy Read)
Here’s what’s new, what’s changing, and what you need to know 👇
🏛️ National updates
✂️ Plan funding cuts
Around 1 in 3 reviewed plans reduced
Average drop around 20%
⏳ Funding periods
Budgets split into 3–6 month chunks
Unused funds don’t roll over
⚖️ Law changes being discussed
NDIS may adjust plans without full reviews
Aim: stop fraud
Concern: unfair cuts
🤖 Future planning
From mid-2026, plans may be computer-set
Less flexibility, harder appeals
🏠 State Highlights
🟪 Victoria
Hundreds of group homes at risk
Extra state funding has ended
Families worried people may lose stable housing 😔
🟧 Queensland
Strong crackdown on bad providers
Some services shut down
Honest providers reminded to stay compliant ✔️
🧑💼 Providers & Services
📝 More providers must register
From July 2026, SIL & platform providers must be registered
More audits, checks & accountability
💸 Financial pressure
Providers say prices are too low
Some services may reduce hours or close
🚨 Safety & Fraud
🔥 Serious case reminder
A support worker charged after a participant death
Duty of care matters — always
🚓 Fraud crackdown
Fake claims being stopped
More audits and checks expected
👥 Participant Experience
😟 Many people feeling:
Confused by changes
Stretched by smaller budgets
Forced to cut back supports
🙂 Still wins happening:
Jobs 👏
Accessible homes 🏡
Community & sport ⚽
📣 Shout Outs & Community Wins
📖 Book Launch — Huge Congrats!
Big shout-out to Suchita Smith 🎉
Her book Little Body, Huge Life – Finding Freedom in Any Body launches March 7 in Fremantle (WA) 💚
15 years in the making — what a moment 👏
Path Connect Community Space launches mid-February 🚀
For independent allied health clinicians.
📅 Guest speaker calendar drops 14/01
✍️ Expressions of interest are open
Built for:
Connection 🤝
Learning 📚
Support 💬
📣 Cenaris has entered the group chat!
Big cheers to Cenaris 🎉
An Australian-built compliance platform for NDIS & aged care.
Why it’s handy:
Simple compliance tracking 🧠
See what docs you have vs need 📄
Spot gaps early ✔️
Clear dashboard 📊
Less stress 💆♀️
📅 Launching July 2026 with limited early access 👀
🫶💚 Final Words: From One Brat to Another
If this week feels heavy — you’re not imagining it.
Systems are shifting. Weather’s wild. The sector is loud.
But you’re still showing up 💅
You’re still supporting humans.
And that matters more than any policy update ever will.
Take what helps. Leave what doesn’t.
Check in on your people — and yourself.
Same Brat. Same values.
Just back in the office and doing it smarter 💖✨
Catch you next update 😘
💌 Email Sarah – the Swifty you didn’t know you needed for your unfiltered NDIS truth bombs → [email protected]