Supporting Each Other Through NDIS Changes and Uncertain Times

There is a lot of change and uncertainty happening within the NDIS right now.

For many participants, families and caregivers, these changes may feel scary, frustrating and uncertain. Occupational therapists, support workers, support coordinators and other service providers are also trying to understand and adapt to what these changes may mean for the people we support.

Within my own circle, I am already seeing the impact.

Several people I work with have received new plans with significantly reduced OT and Capacity Building budgets, and in some cases reductions to other supports as well.

For some people, this means we are already having conversations about reducing the frequency of OT sessions or finding different ways to make the available funding stretch further.

I want to acknowledge that this is hard.

When you have built trusted relationships with therapists and support people, and those supports are helping you participate in everyday life, maintain your independence, manage your health and wellbeing and work towards meaningful goals, the possibility of losing or reducing those supports can understandably bring up fear, frustration, grief and uncertainty.

For those of us working within the NDIS, there may also be uncertainty about what these changes mean for our work and the people we care deeply about supporting.

But I don’t want this to create another wave of fear or panic.

I want you to know that we will continue to support you as best we can.

There is a quote I often come back to:

“There is a way through every block.” — Yogi Bhajan

We can adapt. We can be creative. We can keep talking with one another and find new ways of working together.

And that is what I am beginning to do.

New group-based supports

One of the ways I hope to continue supporting more people is through regular, accessible group programs.

If you have previously worked with me individually, for example, you may be able to shift to less frequent 1:1 sessions while participating in a regular group to continue building skills, maintaining your wellbeing and staying connected.

Parkinson’s & Neurological Conditions: Yoga, Movement & OT Group

I will be offering a specialised yoga, movement and exercise class for people living with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions.

These classes will incorporate key Occupational Therapy areas alongside accessible movement and yoga, including:

• balance, mobility and functional movement
• fine motor control and dexterity
• cognitive skills and practical strategies
• nervous system regulation
• relaxation and sleep support
• communication and connection
• creativity, enjoyment and fun

The aim is not simply to exercise, but to support the whole person, including the body, brain, nervous system, everyday function and connection with others.

Nervous System Regulation: Accessible Yoga & Self-Regulation Group

I will also be offering a weekly accessible yoga and nervous system regulation class.

This will bring together many of the supportive practices I use within my Embodied OT and yoga work, including gentle movement, breath, grounding, somatic practices, interoception, relaxation and self-regulation.

It will be a supportive space to develop practices you can return to in everyday life, particularly during periods of stress, anxiety, overwhelm, fatigue or change, and to support your own regulation and recovery journey.

And for therapists and practitioners

I also want to remind my fellow OTs, therapists, support coordinators and practitioners that I continue to offer a range of free resources and guided somatic practices for practitioner wellbeing.

Free Somatic Nervous System Regulation Reset

A guided somatic practice to support regulation and reconnection.

Access it here:
https://www.sunshineotandyoga.com.au/free-somatic-regulation-reset-optin

Navigating Stress in a Changing World Masterclass

A free masterclass exploring stress, nervous system regulation and sustainable practice.

Watch the replay here:
https://www.sunshineotandyoga.com.au/navigating-stress-masterclass-free-replay

Women’s Wellspring Meditation

A guided meditation for rest, reconnection and wellbeing.

Access it here:
https://www.sunshineotandyoga.com.au/womens-wellspring-meditation

Please use them.

These practices aren’t just for our clients.

When there is uncertainty, fear or loss around us, it makes sense that our own nervous systems may become activated too.

We may notice worry, overwhelm, frustration, urgency, exhaustion or a feeling that we somehow need to hold everything together for everyone else.

We need spaces to resource ourselves as well.

So take some time for the practices.

Ground. Move. Breathe. Rest. Reconnect with yourself and with the people around you.

A simple 5-minute practice for stressful and uncertain times

Perhaps this is also a good opportunity to pause together for a moment.

Research has found that just five minutes of structured breathwork each day for 28 days may support mood, reduce physiological arousal and help with feelings of anxiety and stress.

One of the practices studied was cyclic sighing, based on the physiological sigh.

You might like to try it now.

The physiological sigh

Breathe in gently through your nose.

At the top of the inhale, take a second, smaller breath in through your nose.

Then slowly and gently breathe out through your mouth, allowing the exhale to be longer than the inhale.

Pause naturally, then repeat.

Think:

Inhale → little top-up inhale → long, slow exhale.

There’s no need to force a huge breath. Keep it comfortable and easy.

You can practise this for a few breaths when you’re feeling activated, or gently continue the pattern for up to five minutes as a daily practice.

As you breathe out, you might remind yourself:

I am here.

I can take this one moment at a time.

Right now, I can soften and breathe.

We may not be able to change everything happening around us, but we can continue to practise how we meet ourselves within it.

Let’s stay connected

Most importantly, let’s keep the conversations open.

Please reach out and let me know how we can best support you moving forward through this time.

I am currently taking expressions of interest for:

• In-person groups in Noosa
• Online groups via Zoom

If you are interested in either the Parkinson’s & Neurological Conditions Yoga, Movement & OT Group or the Nervous System Regulation Yoga & Self-Regulation Group, please get in touch and let me know:

1. Which group you are interested in
2. Whether you prefer in-person in Noosa or online via Zoom

We will add you to the expression-of-interest list and let you know as soon as dates and times are available.

There is much we cannot control about what is changing around us.

But we can continue to connect, communicate, adapt, and find new ways forward together.

Wishing you well.

May you be well.
May you feel safe.
May you be at ease.
May you feel at peace.

Namaste,
Sarita
Sunshine OT & Yoga