Octagon Disability Support
Octagon Disability Support is a registered NDIS provider. We are here to help people with disabilities to obtain and manage the best services available.
Sometimes a person with a disability is unable to make their own decisions about the bigger things in life such as where to live and what supports and services they need. VCAT may appoint a guardian from Office of the public advocate or maybe a family member or friend will put their hand up to assist. If a family member or friend chooses to take on this role they must remember to work in the best interests of the person with a disability. They must understand the law and work within it. This is not some power play where they are allowed to make decisions in their own best interests. It is not a financial gain situation for the guardian. It is a Volunteer role and should be conducted like any other job, just unpaid.
Not all guardians are the same, I have seen a friend of a client appointed as a guardian and they are amazing. I have seen families appointed as guardians and some have been horrific and some have been amazing.
It is so important to have a good guardian. Life is hard enough already for people with a disability. Taking away people's rights to a better quality of life is inhumane.
Guardians - your job is so very important. Not to make you look more virtuous, not to make you look like a good person, but to help an individual who needs really help and assistance. Check in on why you do it and if it isn't for the best interest of the person, get out. If you don't have time to do it, don't do it. Vcat OPA guardians are fine. Don't disadvantage somebody further who is already disadvantaged.
01/12/2023
31/10/2023
Pro tip: If an autistic person in your life is interrupting you frequently, it's not because they're rude.
What's happening is that they are trying to keep up with the conversation. If you mention something they want to remember, and you keep going, they are either going to:
A. Focus on that thing they need to tell you and not be able to hear the rest, or
B. Forget the really cool thing they have to add to the conversation because you've already maxed out the amount of information they can process.
Autistic people aren't being rude. They're trying to keep up. They're showing interest.
Otherwise, they may still be trying to rewind your conversation and play it back to absorb it all hours after you're already gone.
29/09/2023
"Just be kind".
‘Just be kind’: The three-word message from one boy to the royal commission A 2020 video of Quaden Bayles weeping about school bullies touched hearts across the world. Now his experiences have informed the findings of Australia’s long-awaited royal commission into disability.
Disability Royal Commission findings will be published today. Then it is time to act on the findings and make some real changes to the lives of people with a disability. With 4.4 million people in Australia living with a disability, nearly 20% of our population, this is important, we need to listen, we need to change, we need to fight the good fight. As Australia reflects on so many topics right now we need this one to be highlighted. We are a lucky country, there is enough of everything for everyone to have a good life. No room for abuse and neglect, no need to disrespect others, no room for complacency or turning a blind eye.
Time for change is now, let's do this.
25/09/2023
Irabina - you suck.
Four Corners: Series 2023 Careless How the NDIS fails to protect our most vulnerable. Anne Connolly and the Four Corners team expose criminals, opportunists and registered providers who have been busted exploiting loopholes to overcharge and defraud the NDIS.
24/09/2023
This nurse has had to rescue clients 'abducted' by unscrupulous NDIS providers People living with disabilities are being coerced into rented accommodation by unscrupulous operators who can drain their NDIS funding and leave them with little, if any, support.
19/02/2022
MS megaswim was a huge success yesterday. My team raised over $7000 and I have raised almost $2000. If you are wanting to donate, please follow the links and donate to my page. The link is accessible for a few more weeks.
Anne-Marie Becket I'm raising money for a cause close to my heart and would love your support. Please give your support.