The allabilityhour’s Podcast

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...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services welcome Bree from Soul Support Services for a thoughtful conversation about supporting children, teens and young adults in the disability space. Bree shares her journey from support work into building Soul Support Services, inspired by both lived experience and a passion for doing things the right way for participa...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services dive into the world of allied health with expert guests sharing how therapy and physiotherapy are changing lives. First, Julian from Back2You Therapy talks about his journey from traditional physiotherapy into neurological rehabilitation, where every client’s story and goals are different. He shares inspiring examp...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services welcome two passionate guests making a difference in the disability sector. First, Raquel from ACME Support Services shares her personal journey into the industry, driven by lived experience and a deep passion for supporting vulnerable people in the community. She outlines the wide range of services ACME provides a...

On this week’s episode of the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services sit down with Mick Neal from Footsteps to explore his journey through the disability sector and what inspired him to become a provider. Mick shares how he transitioned from high-pressure corporate roles into support work, discovering a passion for helping people achieve their goals. He reflects on star...

This week on the AllAbility Hour, DJ Sparky and Patty from Focal Community Services break down important updates affecting the disability community, with a focus on upcoming NDIS planning changes expected from mid-2026. They explore the proposed new person-centred and strength-based planning approach, including the introduction of support needs assessments and the ICAN v6 tool, designed to create...

The All Ability Hour kicks off 2026 with heart, hope, and big dreams as the team returns to the studios at Focal Community Services. In this feel-good first episode of the year, we catch up with Darelle and Tom, who share their personal goals for 2026 — from building creative skills and performing on stage to joining new programs and even planning a cruise to Hawaii. Host and regular guest Patty a...