The allabilityhour’s Podcast

Major changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are raising plenty of questions for participants, families and service providers. So what do these reforms mean for the people who rely on the scheme every day? This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patti from Achieve Australia welcome back Ella from First2Care to discuss the latest NDIS reforms, including plan reassessment...

Finishing high school is an exciting milestone, but for young people with disability and their families, preparing for life after Year 12 can come with plenty of questions. This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Achieve Australia welcome Maddie and her mum, Kris, to share their experiences of preparing for the transition from school into employment, independence and adult life....

Finding the right place to call home is important for everyone, but for people with disability, having a home designed around their individual needs can make a world of difference. This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patti from Achieve Australia welcome Susanna Ratcliffe from JustSDA Services to explore Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), how it works within the NDIS and the opp...

Big changes are underway for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and understanding what they could mean for participants, families and service providers is more important than ever. This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky is joined by Patti from Achieve Australia to unpack the latest NDIS reforms, the proposed changes to funding and support arrangements, and where people can turn...

A familiar voice is back on the AllAbility Hour this week, as DJ Sparky and Patty from Achieve Australia welcome Crystal back to the microphone to find out how she’s progressing. Since her first appearance, Crystal has been throwing herself into the Dance Troupe, working as part of the team, learning new routines and practising at home. She’s also preparing for an exciting performance at the Ipswi...

Finding a support worker isn't just about finding someone who can fill a shift — it's about finding someone who understands the person they're supporting. This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky is joined by Tyrone from Bespoke to talk about support work, compliance, matching workers with participants and why getting the little details right can make such a big difference. Tyrone shares the st...

What exactly is boccia? DJ Sparky and Patti had the same question! This week on the AllAbility Hour, Emily from Sports4All joins DJ Sparky and Patty from Achieve Australia to introduce listeners to a Paralympic sport they may never have encountered before — and explain why boccia can provide an incredible opportunity for people with disability to get involved in sport. Emily explains how boccia wo...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Achieve Australia sit down for a catch-up on a big few weeks in the Ipswich disability community — from the first month of Achieve Australia to Fresh Futures and some important conversations around disability accommodation. Patty reflects on the transition from Focal Community Services to Achieve Australia, sharing how participants have se...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Achieve Australia bring together two fantastic stories about independence, inclusion, friendship and finding something you love. First up is Kristel, who wastes absolutely no time getting involved on her very first day with Achieve Australia — asking straight away if she could get behind the microphone and tell listeners about herself! Kri...

There’s plenty of energy, laughter and personality on this week’s AllAbility Hour as DJ Sparky and Patty from Achieve Australia are joined by members of the Performing Arts Group! Jess, Shaylee, Amy, Shelby, Josh, Dom and Tom take over the microphones to share what they love about performing arts, from singing and dancing to acting, spending time with friends and, most importantly, having plenty o...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patti from Achieve Australia welcome back Peter and Grandel from DCA Mentoring Support (DCAM) for a conversation about embracing change, the power of lived experience, and creating opportunities for people with disability. Peter and Grandel share their involvement in helping participants and support workers navigate the transition from Focal Communit...

This week on the AllAbility Hour marks an exciting milestone as DJ Sparky and Patty announce that Focal Community Services has officially joined Achieve Australia, opening the door to even more opportunities for people with disability across Ipswich and South East Queensland. Joining the show is Fiona from Achieve Australia, who shares the organisation's 75-year history of supporting people with d...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services are joined by Michael from Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability Queensland (DSiDQ) to discuss the organisation's mission of empowering people with intellectual disability to live full, independent, and meaningful lives. Michael shares his personal journey as the father of a young man with Down syndrome and how...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services welcome Kiara from the iCare Group to discuss her journey into the disability sector and the importance of delivering genuinely person-centred supports. Drawing from her own lived experience supporting family members with disability, Kiara shares how a passion for helping others led her from aged care into disabili...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services welcome Ella from First2Care Plan Management to unpack the latest NDIS Price Guide changes and what they mean for participants, providers, and families. Drawing on both her professional experience and her personal journey as the mother of a teenager with cerebral palsy, Ella shares the realities of navigating the N...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services shine a spotlight on the people behind quality disability support, welcoming Philippa from Ashley Institute of Training. The conversation explores the growing demand for qualified support workers and why nationally recognised training is becoming increasingly important across the disability and aged care sectors. P...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patti from Focal Community Services shine a spotlight on one of Focal’s most practical and empowering programs — the Life Skills Cooking Group. Joining the conversation are participant Luke and support worker Kelly, who provide firsthand insight into how the program helps people build confidence, independence, and essential everyday skills through co...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patti from Focal Community Services take a deep dive into some of the major changes happening within the NDIS and what they could mean for participants, families, and carers. With a scheduled guest unable to attend, Patti uses the opportunity to unpack key topics currently generating discussion across the disability sector, including the move towards...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services are joined by Brittany from Stable and Grounded for a fascinating conversation about Equine Assisted Therapy and the powerful connection between people and horses. Brittany shares her personal journey from working in corporate rehabilitation and insurance to creating Stable and Grounded, a service that combines her...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patti bring together an inspiring panel of guests to discuss disability advocacy, inclusive sport, independence, and the power of community support. First, Sean and Garth from Harmony Centred Care share their passion for helping people with disability achieve greater independence through person-centred support. Sean speaks openly about his own lived...

Broadcasting from the Ipswich Show, this week’s AllAbility Hour welcomes Victor from DCC Group to discuss the importance of holistic, culturally informed support and how community services are evolving to better meet people’s needs. Victor shares his personal journey from immigrating to Australia from Ukraine to finding his passion in the community services sector. He explains how DCC Group has gr...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patti return with a packed episode featuring expert insights and an incredibly inspiring personal story. First, Andrew from Thompson Community Dietitians shares his passion for helping people build better relationships with food, particularly those with complex needs such as dysphagia and enteral (tube) feeding. He explains how dietitians work alongs...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty sit down with Rufaro from Insight Collective to unpack the real impact of support coordination and the evolving NDIS landscape. Rufaro shares her inspiring journey into the sector, driven by her own experience navigating complex systems after moving from Zimbabwe, and her passion for supporting culturally diverse families who face additional ba...

This week on the All Ability Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty welcome two insightful guests for an episode focused on independence, support, and better outcomes for people living with disability. First, Ellie from Ellie Jane Support Services shares how her journey through community services and the NDIS led her to create a provider focused on helping young people build independence after leaving school....

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services sit down with Jo from Malachi Assistance Dogs Training, alongside her incredible assistance dog, Ice. Jo shares her powerful personal journey as a veteran, living with life-changing injuries and navigating years without adequate support before the introduction of the NDIS. Through resilience and determination, she...