Jigsaw Autism Services in Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia | Occupational therapist

Jigsaw Autism Services

Locality: Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 431 661 484

Address: Unit 13, 19 Reliance Drive 2259 Tuggerah, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.jigsawautismservices.com

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• Medical and health
• Speech pathologist
• Disability service
• Occupational therapist

20.01.2022 You did this! New NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds has announced she will pause plans for NDIS compulsory assessments. The Minister said she will "not be making a...ny decisions in terms of legislation to enact independent assessments until the trial is finished and we’ve had a good opportunity to examine the feedback. "Senator Reynolds said the assessmentswere still being considered but would have to wait until the end of trials and after nationwide consultations." Thank you! Thousands of people with disability, their families, and supporters have taken action on this - and it IS making a difference. The fight is not over - but today is a step in the right direction. Stay in the loop and keep the pressure on https://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/join-every-australian/ The article in The Australian is behind a paywall. We have copied and pasted the text below. If you have a subscription to The Australian you can read it at https://www.theaustralian.com.au//896526461391d721c5e50758 NDIS revamp put on the back-burner EXCLUSIVE STEPHEN LUNN SOCIAL AFFAIRS EDITOR New Government Services Minister Linda Reynolds will shelve plans to roll out mandatory assessments for those on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, putting on hold efforts to rein in spiralling costs by forcing participants to justify their funding arrangements. Senator Reynolds said the assessments, which the government argues would ensure better resourced participants aren’t unfairly accessing more funding, were still being considered but would have to wait until the end of trials and after nationwide consultations. I will not be making any decisions in terms of legislation to enact independent assessments until the trial is finished and we’ve had a good opportunity to examine the feedback, Senator Reynolds told The Australian on Wednesday, ahead of a meeting of federal and state ministers. There has been significant feedback already. And as a new minister, I’ll be consulting around the country with as many stakeholders as I can, she said. Once I’ve received that feedback and the trial has concluded and we can assess the feedback of the trial, it is then a matter of making sure we have the best process (for assessment of eligibility), one that is fair and equitable and has appeal mechanisms. With the NDIS website noting the results of the current pilot trial would be made available later this year, the proposed laws may now be off the table for some months. The government, under former minister Stuart Robert, was working on major changes to the $23bn a year insurance scheme in a bid to rein in escalating costs. These included removing funding from participants who did not have their funding arrangements independently assessed, a change expected to be rolled out later this year. The NDIS gives 430,000 people with various levels of disability access to funding at levels based on advice submitted by medical specialists for care. Mr Robert, now the Employment Minister, said the system was inconsistent and favoured those with the means to submit comprehensive applications backed by numerous health professionals. Disability advocates are concerned the independent assessments a standardised three-hour consultation similar to other programs, including the Disability Support Payment would not cater for individual differences. They also see them as a ploy by the government to cut entitlements to save money. Despite the NDIS being half-funded by the states, it is a growing budget headache for the Morrison government. Documents leaked from the National Disability Insurance Agency show the cost of the scheme, which began in 2013, has grown by 23 per cent annually over the past two years. Under the funding arrangements, state and territory contributions are capped at a 4 per cent annual increase. Eligible participant numbers are expected to grow from 430,000 to 530,000 by June 2023. The leaked documents also reveal the NDIA had quietly established a new taskforce charged with bringing costs under control after an overrun in the past two years. The scheme’s Sustainability Action Taskforce would seek to slow growth in participant numbers (and) slow growth in spend per participant, it said. Opposition NDIS spokesman Bill Shorten said the documents revealed a secret plan to slash services to Australians with a disability. The NDIS is a right, not a ration. Yet what we have seen in the past eight years is that the Coalition is hell-bent on secretly slashing it at every possible opportunity, Mr Shorten said. Senator Reynolds said her decision to put the new assessment system and legislation on hold did not change the government’s underlying premise that the NDIS had to be affordable. It’s clear to me that the initial actuaries and assumptions that it was established on in terms of numbers and participants and cost of packages was underestimated and as we’ve developed the scheme those costs have increased well beyond what we initially anticipated, she said. This has never been about denying people the right to enter the scheme or stay in the scheme. We have ensured it is fully funded and continue to do so, with increased budgets. But like any organisation, the NDIA and its board has to make sure it continues to improve its governance to make sure it is as fair as we can. Senator Reynolds will chair Thursday’s disability reform ministers meeting for the first time after taking on her new role after the recent ministerial reshuffle. #NDIS #NDISMakeItWork #HandsOffOurNDIS (Image description: Text reads "NDIS compulsory assessments PAUSED". A speech bubble filled with 32 photos of people with disability, their families, and supporters holding their arms out towards the camera, motioning 'stop'.)

19.01.2022 A story aired tonight on the ABC that highlighted the inhuman treatment of a student with disability in a NSW school. This student was bolted into a small room ...when he was deemed as misbehaving. When the parent questioned the school regarding this the response from the school was to ban the parent from the school grounds with the end result leading to police being called to remove the distraught parent. Unfortunately, this response from schools is not an isolated incident nor is the inhuman treatment of students with disability. Local school make local decisions regarding their response and resolution to grievances raised leaving students and parents both disempowered and at risk of great harm in the process. Like many students who are isolated and segregated away from the general school population the risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation poses an ongoing and real risk for this student cohort. So, what do we need to do to right this wrong? The desegregation of the education system is the first necessary step in ensuring all students are given a safe and equitable education alongside their peers. It is also a moral imperative as when can we ever look back on segregation and say this is ok? Its not possible, and our decision makers need to right the wrongs and commit to desegregating these students. In the mean time we need an independent complaints body to oversee issues that occur in NSW schools to protect students and to give families independent recourse. This system cannot continue to investigate itself. We need our decision makers in NSW to see the realities for what they are and to stop bending to the pressure of stakeholder group. We need a strong government with conviction to do the right thing. Let’s get this right Minister Mitchell. Children with disability need your leadership. Sarah Mitchell MLC Penny Sharpe MLC David Shoebridge Gareth Ward

18.01.2022 Some important breaking news this morning about the introduction of compulsory assessments to the NDIS. The legislation to introduce these new assessments has n...ow been delayed. The draft legislation will now be released for consultation early next year. The legislation is expected to be passed by July 1. This means the start date of these new assessments will now be delayed - but no info yet about exactly when that will be. And the NDIA will also "shortly" release three new consultation papers about these assessments. These papers will look at: Access and assessments Planning and assessments Changes to early childhood early intervention (ECEI) Consultation on the content of these papers will happen over the next few months. No word yet about what it will look like - we will let you know as soon as it hits. And how you can have your say. In the meantime you can find an information paper from the Department of Social Services here - https://www.dss.gov.au/disab/ndis-reforms-information-paper There is also an Easy Read version. You can find it on this page - https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-/ndis-legislative-reforms #NDISMakeItWork #NDIS (Image description: A red rectangle with the words "Breaking News" in white capital letters. Underneath the words you can see the Every Australian Counts logo and the words "NDIS: Make It Work)

17.01.2022 There has been a mountain of paper released by the NDIA today. And hiding amongst all those words is some news that we all kinda suspected all along but is now ...laid bare for everyone to see. Does the introduction of compulsory assessments to the NDIS mean the end of individualised planning as we know it? Sure looks that way. You can check what we found in the report here - https://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/is-this-the-end-of-pl/ And if you want to read all four reports released by the NDIA today you can find them here - https://www.ndis.gov.au/community/have-your-say #NDISMakeItWork (Image description: A page torn from the NDIA's planning and assessment consultation report. There are five steps running down the left hand side of the page. Step one has a magnifying glass sitting in a circle. The text reads "Applicant undergoes an independent assessment, incorporating an assessment of functional capacity including any environmental factors and individual circumstances. Step two has a calculator inside a circle. The text reads "An NDIS delegate considers a budget informed by the outcomes of the independent assessment and identifies any additional supports required." Step three has a file inside a circle. The text reads "Participant receives a draft plan including a draft budget." Step four has two people talking inside the circle. The text reads "Planning conversation about the participant's goals and how their community and mainstream supports and NDIS funds can be used to pursue these and meet their disability related support needs." Step five has a dollar note inside the circle. The text reads "A plan and personalised budget is finalised by the delegate including any additional supports, allocation to a fixed and flexible budget, release and management of funding.")

17.01.2022 Today, Autism CRC has released a landmark report on early intervention for children on the autism spectrum, which they completed for the Australian Government. The report contains two elements: 1. A clear description of the different types of early intervention supports for children on the autism spectrum. 2. A systematic review of the evidence underpinning different early intervention supports. The key findings are in Table 6 of the main report on p. 73 (also presented in... the community summary). You can download the report, along with ‘community summaries’ of the main findings, here: www.autismcrc.com.au/interventions-evidence

14.01.2022 Everyone at Planet Jassi HQ is super excited because Santa Claus is coming to town! We are ready with bells on to jingle all the way as Planet Jassi brings you ...some Christmas holiday fun! #christmas #holidays #fun #creative #festive #sillyseason #carols #santa #photos #merry #magic

13.01.2022 Hi Superstars Check out Planet Jassi final episode for 2020. Let's Open the Presents hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and stay positive during our first Covid Christmas. ... Don't forget to click on the description button to learn more about this episode. #subscribelikeshare#planetjassi#autistic

11.01.2022 EARLY BIRD OFFER! | Get 15% off school holiday circus classes when you sign up before 29 December! Roll up, roll up, and join the circus these... school holidays! Kids and teens wanting to try out something new this summer can sign up for one of Roundabout Circus' school holiday classes. From Aerial workshops where children will learn fundamental skills in Aerial Silks, Lyra, and Trapeze to exclusive master-class workshops where kids aged 10+ will be taught by some of the best in the industry, there's something to suit all ages and abilities. Not sure which type of performer they'd like to be? Then sign them up for one of the Roundabout Circus mini circus camps where they'll get to try it all! When: Workshops and camps run throughout January. Where: Unit 1/2 Evan Close, Wyoming. Cost: Workshops start at $30 | Camps start at $35. SPECIAL OFFER: Book before 29 December to get a 15% discount on all bookings. Discounts are also available for multiple class bookings. Visit here for information or to book: https://www.roundaboutcircus.com/our-classes-aerial-silk// PSST - one last thing! JD's World of Magic fans will be thrilled to hear that the award-winning magician will be doing a special performance at Roundabout Circus on 22 January at 5pm! Tickets start at $15 - bookings are essential.

09.01.2022 A great playground for our locals.

09.01.2022 Data, data everywhere ... The NDIA have released their latest Quarterly Report today. So what does it say?... There are now more than 410,00 people getting support from the scheme. Almost 22,000 joined this quarter - and almost 40 per cent of these were children. The scheme continues to try and reach out to people from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background or from a Culturally or Linguistically Diverse background. The numbers of participants who identified as either increased this quarter. There were also higher numbers of people with a psychosocial disability coming into the scheme in the last few months compared to previous quarters. in contrast the number of young people with disability living in aged care fell by a small amount over the quarter. The NDIA are now meeting their target of making a decision about eligibility for the scheme within 21 days. This is also the first Quarterly Report where the NDIA is reporting against the timeframes contained in the Participant Service Guarantee. The Guarantee outlines how long key NDIS processes should take - for example how long until you should wait before you receive your first plan or how long you should wait before your review is resolved. There is quite a bit of detail about how they are tracking in the report. There is also a lot about scheme sustainability - and why the NDIA think the new compulsory assessments will make things fairer and more consistent. We are still wading through all the detail. And will pop something up on our website soon. But in the meantime drop is a line and let us know what jumped out at you. You can find a copy of the report on the NDIS website - https://www.ndis.gov.au//5614-latest-quarterly-report-now- (Photo of the front of the Quarterly Report. There is a photo of two people walking together with a dog. They are walking on a path. There is grass on either side of the path. Trees can be seen in the distance. The text reads "Q1 2020-2021" in the top right hand corner. At the bottom the text reads "NDIS Quarterly Report to disability ministers September 2020". The NDIS logo is in the bottom right hand corner)

09.01.2022 We are pleased to announce we have just published a landmark report on evidence for interventions for children on the autism spectrum. Hear lead author, Prof A...ndrew Whitehouse, tell you a little bit more about the report and why it's so important for families. This report was commissioned by NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme and produced by an expert team of researchers engaged by Autism CRC. #autism #EarlyIntervention #Evidence

08.01.2022 The Jigsaw Autism Services team would like to wish all our friends a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It's certainly been a journey this year with COVID, that unfortunately isn't over yet so keep safe. It has been a pleasure working with all our families and we look forward to 2021 when we return on 4 January. Don't forget to catch Planet Jassi on YouTube for some great Christmas videos and entertainment #planetjassi... Enjoy this special time of the year with your family and friends where allowed. Blessings to all. Merry Christmas.

06.01.2022 A bit of a flashback, Jigsaw our horse with Audrey Bear having a ride. Unfortunately Jigsaw has been stabled at a nice farm since COVID and we know has been missed by the children.

06.01.2022 Everyone can work! The good folks at Inclusion Australia - National Council on Intellectual Disability have a fantastic new website for people interested in emp...loyment. There is tons of helpful information and resources about finding and keeping a job. And there are also free workshops for people who want to learn more. While the site is aimed at people with an intellectual disability and their families, we think lots of people will find the info helpful. The free workshops begin next Monday - so you need to get your skates on! You can find the website here - https://www.everyonecanwork.org.au And you can learn more and register for workshops here - https://events.humanitix.com/organ/5f83fe174071d7000abb0614 (Image description: A screenshot of the Everyone Can Work website. The title at the top reads "Employment Pathways". There is an illustration of a park. There are a number of paths running through the park. City buildings can be seen in the distance. The sky is blue and a bird is flying through it.)

05.01.2022 Play based learning increases engagement and participation for resistant learners.

04.01.2022 Jigsaw were very excited to be part of 2020 cckdo. Here is a sneak preview of what we got up to.

02.01.2022 An important article. At Jigsaw Autism Services we only use practices derived from evidence-based research.

01.01.2022 Employment opportunities are available for ALL people regardless of their disability, and it’s never too early to start planning. Resourcing Inclusive Communit...ies' School to Work project aims to inspire, increase the confidence of and motivate students with disability in Years 7 12 and their families to make a start on the road to meaningful, paid employment in the community. If you missed their first round of School to Work introductory webinars in November/December, they are repeating them again in January registrations are now open. Imagining Work - Getting Started in Years 7 & 8 - Wednesday, 20 January 12-1pm Imagining Work - The Next Steps in Years 7 & 8 (NEW) - Friday, 29 January 12-1pm Discovering Work - Getting Started in Years 9 & 10 - Wednesday, 20 January 12-1pm Discovering Work - The Next Steps in Years 9 & 10 - Wednesday, 27 January 12-1pm Finding Work - Getting Started in Years 11 & 12 - Thursday, 21 January 12-1pm Finding Work - The Next Steps in Years 11 & 12 - Thursday, 28 January 12pm-1pm Find out more and register at https://www.ric.org.au/events/