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The NDIS is failing profoundly disabled people stuck in group homes. Here’s how to fix it

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The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is transforming the lives of tons of of hundreds of Australians with a disability. For the primary time, many can get the support they need to live more independently and be a part of society.

Yet the NDIS is failing people with essentially the most severe disabilities: those in housing and intensive care needs.

The overwhelming majority of people in this a part of this system live in group homes, with little alternative about where they live, who they live with, and who provides support. Worse, they face high levels of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Intensive housing and housing supports are some of the expensive parts of the NDIS, costing approximately AUD 15 billion in 2023-2024. Although this is a small group – around 7% of all NDIS participants – the whole variety of support packages for these participants is approximately 37% of the whole program expenditure.

At this price, disabled Australians deserve and taxpayers expect top quality services.

New evaluation in latest Grattan Institute study report shows how the federal government can create revolutionary alternatives to group homes that cost the identical or less.

Create alternatives to housing and life support

There are higher alternatives to group homes: these are generally known as individual life arrangements. United Kingdom, Canadaand closer to home, Western Australia reformed housing for people with disabilities and introduced recent housing solutions that supply people greater alternative and a more individualised approach.

Individual housing solutions are integrated into the community as much as possible. They depend on a combination of supports, from formal (hourly paid support employees), to semi-formal (landlords or roommates who receive a subsidy for his or her expenses), to informal (family and friends).

A bunch arrangement is where an adult with a disability in the NDIS lives with a ‘host family’ or ‘host roommate’, who is not related to them, in the host’s home, becoming a part of the household. The host is usually a couple or a person, they usually provide semi-formal support to help with day-to-day activities.

Individual housing solutions are based on formal and informal support.
Unai Huizi Photography/Shutterstock

The same arrangement is home-share: an adult with a disability in the NDIS lives in their very own home (either owned or rented) with a housemate who provides support. Hosts and housemates may help with emotional support, companionship, cooking, cleansing, night-time help and other household duties, and receive funding for their very own expenses.

Based on our estimates, individual housing solutions could possibly be cheaper than group homes, which operate on a one-to-three basis (one support employee for 3 disabled residents), as advisable in last 12 months’s Independent NDIS Assessment.


Individual housing solutions cost the identical or lower than group homes, compared to the 1:3 benchmark proposed in the review

A column chart comparing the average cost of a 1:3 group home, the average individual living arrangement, and the host's estimate and the estimated cost of sharing a home on an annual basis. The chart shows that all three alternative options are cheaper than 1:3 g

NDIS Review (2023); Grattan evaluation of unpublished provider data (2024)

Individually adapted housing is not only cost-effective, but additionally gives people with disabilities the chance to select where they live, who they live with and who supports them.

Share homes, not group homes

Instead of group homes which can be run more like service facilities than people’s homes, we recommend reforms that create shared homes. So when people with disabilities select to live with other people with disabilities and share support, they will select the rhythm of their day by day lives and who cares for them.

Moving to a system where paid support staff time may be shared can dramatically reduce support costs, as this chart shows. This is critical in a system that is facing enormous cost pressures.

We also recommend making systemic changes, including:

  • separation of housing and living support in shared accommodation, as Independent NDIS Assessment advisable
  • enforceable service agreements (similar to contracts) between disabled people and suppliers
  • support from housing and accommodation “navigators” to determine individual living conditions.
  • mandatory registration for providers of housing and life support services and unannounced inspections.

To give disabled people the chance to select where to live, the federal government should introduce a rental levy to help disabled people move out of group homes and into the private rental market.

An increasingly common feature of shared homes could be the sharing of each formal and semi-formal support. Combining the economies of scale of co-worker support with semi-formal roommate support can be an economical way of running shared homes in the long run.

Two women, one disabled, are sitting on a couch and looking at a phone.
People with disabilities must have the chance to select the people they live with.
Marcos Castillo/Shutterstock

Time for NDIS to come on board

Currently, disabled people have to provide extensive evidence in regards to the support they need and are then told what support they will get and how much – often without ever meeting the choice maker.

People are subsequently forced to choose from different options before they’ve the chance to try alternatives that could be higher, safer and cheaper.

Our proposal is that people with disabilities get a versatile budget up front. Then you may start planning.

People must have access to independent advice to plan their best life inside their budget. The National Disability Insurance Agency should commission housing and living navigators to provide disabled people with this vital support.

We all try different arrangements in life and regularly work out what works best for us. We need information and options to pick from to get the most effective end result – the identical goes for people with disabilities.

Providing the best services for people with essentially the most severe disabilities who need 24/7 support must be a litmus test for any government that wishes to get the NDIS back on the right track. Our research shows that real alternative and higher quality services are close by of Australians with disability – and governments don’t need to spend quite a bit more to do it.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Your friend has been diagnosed with cancer. Here are 6 things you can do to support them

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All over the world, one in five people are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Almost on the age of 85 one by two Australians can be diagnosed with cancer.

When this happens to someone you care about, it can be difficult to know what to say and the way to help them. However, providing your friend with the precise support can make an enormous difference as they face the emotional and physical challenges of a brand new diagnosis and treatment.

Here are six ways to provide meaningful support to a friend diagnosed with cancer.

1. Recognize and respond to emotions

When faced with a cancer diagnosis and treatment, it’s normal to experience different situations (*6*)emotions including fear, anger, grief and sadness. Your friend’s moods may change. Feelings are also common change over timefor instance, your friend’s anxiety may decrease, but she or he may feel more depressed.

Spending time together can mean so much to someone who feels isolated during cancer treatment.
Chokniti-Studio/Shutterstock

Some friends might want to share details, others prefer privacy. Always ask permission to discuss sensitive topics (similar to changes in physical appearance or thoughts about fears and anxieties) and do not make any assumptions. You can tell them that you feel uncomfortable since it validates the difficult situation they are facing.

Once they feel comfortable talking, follow their lead. Your support and willingness listen without judging can provide great comfort. You don’t need to know the reply. Just acknowledging what was said, giving your full attention and being present for the person can be very helpful.

2. Understand their diagnosis and treatment

Understanding your friend’s diagnosis and what they’ll undergo after they are treated could also be helpful.

Being informed can reduce your worries. It can also help you listen higher and reduce the quantity of explaining your friend has to do, especially after they’re drained or overwhelmed.

Browse reputable sources similar to Cancer Council website for accurate information so you can have meaningful conversations. But remember, your friend has a trusted medical team that gives personalized and accurate advice.

3. Check in commonly

Cancer treatment can be isolating, so checking in commonly, texting, calling or visiting can help your friend feel less alone.

Normal conversation and sharing a joke can be greatly appreciated. But everyone deals with cancer in a different way. Be patient and versatile in your support – some days can be tougher for them than others.

Remembering key dates – similar to the subsequent round of chemotherapy – can help your friend feel supported. Celebrating milestones, including the tip of treatment or anniversaries, can boost morale and remind your friend of positive moments on their cancer journey.

Always ask if it’s a superb time to visit because your friend’s immune system could also be violated due to cancer or treatment similar to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. If you’re feeling unwell, it is best to postpone your appointments, but they might still appreciate a call or text.

4. Offer practical support

Sometimes one of the simplest ways to show care is thru practical support. Help could also be offered in quite a lot of ways, and your friend’s needs may change at the start, during and after treatment.

For example, you could offer to pick up prescriptions, drive them to their appointments so that they have transportation and company to check-in, or wait with them at their appointments.

Meals will all the time be welcome. However, it will be important to remember about cancer and its treatment affect taste, smell and appetite, in addition to your friend’s ability to eat enough or absorb nutrients. You might want to check first in case your child likes any particular foods. Good nutrition can help increase their strength when dealing with the negative effects of treatment.

There may additionally be family responsibilities you can help with, similar to babysitting, grocery shopping, or pet sitting.

A nice casserole dish filled with lasagna sits on the stove.
There could also be practical ways to help, similar to dropping off meals.
David Trinks/Unsplash

5. Explore support together

Studies they showed Mindfulness practices can be an efficient way for people to cope with the anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

If that is something your friend is focused on, it is perhaps fun to explore a category together (online or in person).

You can also help your friend connect with organizations that provide emotional and practical help, similar to the Cancer Council support linewhich offers free, confidential information and support to all people affected by cancer, including family, friends and carers.

Peer support groups it can also reduce your friend’s sense of isolation and foster shared understanding and empathy with individuals who have been through similar experiences. primary care doctors can help with referrals to support programs.

6. Stick with them

Be involved. Many people feel isolated after their treatment. This could also be because regular meetings have been reduced or stopped – which can mean the lack of their safety net – or because their relationships with others have modified.

Your friend may additionally experience emotions similar to worry, lack of self-confidence, and uncertainty as she or he becomes accustomed to: recent lifestyle after completing their treatment. This can be a vital moment to support your friend.

But do not forget: take care myself can be vital. Providing good nutrition, sleep, exercise and emotional support will help you get through this difficult time for each you and the friend you love.

Our research the team is developing recent programs and resources to support caregivers of individuals with cancer. While this can be a difficult experience, it can even be incredibly rewarding, and your small acts of kindness can make an enormous difference.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Vice President Kamala Harris’ ascension and derailment to the White House is the story of many Black women, including me

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2024 Election, Concerned, black women


Written by Dr. Dionne Mahaffey

My heart is heavy. My mind is racing and I am unable to help but take into consideration what this latest era under Donald Trump means for me and for ladies who appear like me and who wanted Vice President Kamala Harris to win, not simply because of her policies and competence or its historical significance. We wanted her to win because having her as a black woman in charge could be a robust statement for a rustic that so often seems reluctant to recognize our strength, talent and humanity.

Madame Harris’s candidacy was deeply personal. Black women identified together with her story, her rise, her spirit. Like me, she grew up in a single mother’s home. She’s my sorority sister. I felt hopeful in the concept that for the first time a Black woman was on the verge of real power, not only next to it. She represented every part we are sometimes told we can’t be: good, uncompromisingly ambitious, compassionate, and yet fiercely independent. Her presence defied the “angry black woman” stereotype, and her resilience reminded us of the countless ways during which Black women have long been pillars of American progress.

But now plainly this dream has been placed on the back burner. Trump’s victory brings back a well-recognized fear. His administration has at all times signaled a disregard for racial equality and women’s rights. We’ve seen what happens when hard-won protections are dismantled: voting rights are violated, police grow to be more aggressive, access to health care is restricted, and social justice is sidelined. For me as a black woman, these changes aren’t abstract political moves; these are issues of survival and dignity. The rhetoric surrounding us is a direct reflection of how protected, valued and vulnerable we feel in our own country.

With Trump’s victory comes the specter of Project 2025, a conservative motion plan that would severely limit civil rights, access to health care and economic resources, especially for Black Americans. Proposed cuts and restructuring of health care, housing and education could reverse years of progress and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. In my work, I see the potential impact on Black-owned businesses that already face enormous barriers to accessing capital. My clients – small business owners who’ve put every part into their ventures – are actually apprehensive about surviving in an economy that will push them further aside. Their concerns echo my very own, underscoring a reality we all know all too well: for us, progress is never linear and actually not guaranteed.

Twice nearly as good

But she didn’t win. We know that Black women often have to be twice nearly as good to achieve half nearly as good. Instead, America selected a criminal over an experienced black woman and it hurts. His victory brought back memories of my very own profession, after I began my first job in the technology industry over 30 years ago. I earned a formidable six-figure salary and came upon that my white friend made $30,000 greater than me. I had a diploma; he didn’t do it. While I used to be promoted to manager, he was promoted to director, and the company ended up paying for his education while I self-funded my MBA. That was the first time I understood how much white men were pampered and given opportunities to achieve perfection that black women were simply expected to earn.

Kamala was greater than qualified — she had worked as a prosecutor for 13 years, was the first Black and South Asian woman elected as a district attorney in California, the first Black and South Asian woman in the United States Senate, and the first woman of color to function vice chairman. By contrast, Trump is a convicted felon, born into privilege, who paid someone to take the SATs, filed for bankruptcy six times, was found guilty of sexual assault, incited a deadly revolt and denied the results of the 2020 presidential election. But by some means he won.

For Black Americans, Trump’s return to office is greater than symbolic. The reality of Trump’s latest presidency appears to be looming. Project 2025 plans to dismantle civil rights protections, access to health care, and economic opportunity that our communities have fought to provide. For those of us who in the past were forced to work twice as hard to achieve half as much, the stakes couldn’t seem higher.

Peace priority

The consequences of these selections aren’t just political – they’re deeply personal. As a therapist, I actually have seen firsthand how alternative anxiety affects my clients. After the elections, this tension will only deepen. Many people struggle with concerns about their future safety, rights and dignity in an environment where they feel increasingly unheard and invisible. Advising clients in these times is difficult, especially knowing that they may face renewed threats to their mental health and well-being. They carry the burden of this country’s instability, and sometimes that burden is greater than anyone should bear.

While helping others, I also need to concentrate to my very own mental health. It’s hard to support others when your spirit is drained, when their fears mirror yours. Taking care of yourself is not just a buzzword for me now – it is a necessity. Every day I remind myself that I cannot pour from an empty cup; so as to serve my clients and community, I need to provide myself with a spot to rest, recharge, and find peace inside myself.

Protecting our peace in times like these requires intention and care. It starts with tuning out the noise – setting boundaries around the news to stay on top of things and prevent anxiety from creeping in. Community is a balm, a reminder that we’re on this together. Leaning on friends, family and networks keeps us grounded and resilient. Mindfulness practices, corresponding to just a few minutes of quiet reflection or deep respiratory, can show you how to regain calm in the face of stress. Taking small actions, volunteering, supporting essential causes restores a way of control and purpose.

And still we rise

When I take into consideration this moment, I do not forget that Black women have faced adversity for generations and proceed to thrive. Kamala Harris’s candidacy, irrespective of the end result, has ignited something inside us – the determination to claim our space, construct our communities, and defend justice. The fight for equality and progress doesn’t end with one election; it is a lifelong journey and we’re uniquely equipped to sail it.

So today I hold space for my disappointment. But tomorrow, like all Black women who know that our value, power, and stories are greater than any single person or alternative, I’ll return to work. We will proceed to move forward, not just for ourselves, but for generations who will look back on this moment and know that we never gave up. Together we embody resilience and together we are going to rise.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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WATCH: In the studio: Who decides on the war – Essence

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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