Navigate the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) with our Resources
About the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government-funded program in Australia that provides support and services to people with disabilities. The scheme was introduced in 2013 to replace the previous disability support system, which was criticised for being underfunded and inconsistent.
The NDIS is designed to give people with disabilities greater choice and control over the support and services they receive. It aims to provide a flexible, individualised approach to disability support that focuses on the person's goals and aspirations.
Under the NDIS, people with disabilities are assessed based on their individual needs and goals, and they are allocated a budget to cover the cost of their support and services. This budget can be used to pay for a range of disability-related expenses, such as personal care, therapy, equipment, and home modifications.
The NDIS is funded by the Australian government, and it is overseen by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The NDIA works with people with disabilities, their families and carers, and disability service providers to ensure that the scheme is meeting the needs of all participants.
Overall, the NDIS represents a significant shift in how disability support is provided in Australia, with a greater emphasis on individual choice and control. It has been welcomed by many people with disabilities and their families as a much-needed reform of the disability support system.
For more information about the NDIS and to see if you might be eligible, click on the links below.
Assistance with ‘Household Tasks’
One of the key areas of support provided under the NDIS is ‘Assistance with Household Tasks’.
Domestic cleaning, housekeeping, in-home laundry, gardening and house maintenance services are all available to NDIS participants under this support category, as long as the supports are considered reasonable and necessary, and are directly related to your disability.
This means that the support must be related to the person's disability and must be necessary for them to achieve their goals and aspirations.
To receive assistance with household tasks under the NDIS, a person must have an approved NDIS plan that includes this support category.
Sistability provides a range of services that fall under this Core Support category including cleaning and in-home laundry for NDIS participants.
“You can use your NDIS support plan to pay for domestic cleaning services provided by Sistability with no gap. “
Stay In The Know…
When our domestic care specialists walk into a client’s home, we’re not just there to clean — we’re there to understand the space, the person, and what support is truly needed.
For many of our NDIS participants and aged care clients, their home environment plays a crucial role in their safety, health, and independence. That’s why the first few moments inside a home are so important.
We’re quietly assessing, observing, and identifying how we can best help — not just today, but ongoing.
Here’s what we’re really looking for.
This year at Ballina Duck Fest, Sistability is thrilled to take part in the fun by decorating our very own corporate duck… and we’ve named her Rosie.
But this Rosie is more than just colourful and spirited… she’s a tribute.
Cleaning in a home where someone is ageing or living with disability requires more than good technique. It requires empathy, patience and respect.
Here are practical and respectful cleaning tips for families, support workers and carers who want to maintain a safe, healthy environment while protecting dignity.
This year, we are incredibly proud to celebrate Olivia and Jenn reaching five years with Sistability, and very soon, our Services Manager Nic will also mark her five-year anniversary. Having three key team members reach this milestone is something we do not take lightly.
On Wednesday, 18 February 2026, Sistability welcomed our community to a relaxed and friendly Hiring Day at the Ballina RSL. It was a wonderful opportunity for people to explore roles in cleaning, gardening and support services with our growing team. This was not your typical job fair.
Choosing the right cleaning or in home support service can feel overwhelming, especially if you are navigating NDIS supports, aged care services or a major life transition. Many people come to us unsure of what help they need, what is included, or whether professional cleaning is the right choice for their situation.
Over the years, these are the most common questions people ask us about professional cleaning services, deep cleaning, NDIS cleaning services and aged care cleaning support. We have answered them clearly and honestly to help you feel informed, confident and supported.
For many people, cleaning is just another household task. But for others, having someone enter their home and touch their belongings, move furniture or open cupboards can feel deeply unsettling.
This is where trauma informed cleaning comes in.
Trauma informed cleaning recognises that a home is not just a physical space. It holds memories, routines, emotions and sometimes experiences of loss, illness, violence or instability. A trauma informed cleaner works with care, consent and empathy, not just efficiency.
For people accessing NDIS cleaning services, aged care cleaning services, or other forms of in home support, the way cleaning is delivered matters just as much as the result.
Summer in Northern NSW brings rapid growth, warm weather, and lush gardens, but it can also make outdoor maintenance feel overwhelming, especially in the heat and humidity.
For older Australians, people living with disability, and those supporting loved ones at home, keeping the garden tidy isn’t about appearances. It’s about safety, access, comfort, and dignity. A well-maintained garden helps people move around more confidently, reduces fall risks, and keeps outdoor spaces enjoyable rather than stressful.
The good news? Keeping your garden tidy during summer doesn’t have to mean heavy gardening or long, exhausting sessions. Here are some simple, realistic ways to manage outdoor spaces during the warmer months, without pushing your body too hard.
Summer in Northern NSW brings sunshine, humidity, and long warm days, but it also creates the perfect conditions for mould, bacteria, and odours to build up inside the home.
When the heat is on, deep cleaning isn’t about chasing a picture-perfect home. It’s about comfort, hygiene, airflow, and protecting health, especially for older Australians, people living with disability, and anyone with allergies or respiratory conditions.
Here are the five areas that matter most during a humid Northern NSW summer, and what to focus on when tackling a summer deep clean.
When daily cleaning is manageable but deep cleaning tasks become physically unsafe, structured intervention can make a significant difference. In this Evans Head case study, we supported an NDIS participant living with rheumatoid arthritis through a one-off specialised deep clean designed to restore safety and reduce physical strain.
This professional service focused on high-risk areas including bathrooms, kitchen surfaces and flooring, creating a manageable and safe living environment without compromising independence.
Read how specialised cleaning in Evans Head helped restore functionality and peace of mind.
Every year as Christmas rolls around, we’re hit with the same question: What do mums actually want for Christmas? And every year we seem to fall back on candles, pyjamas, bath bombs, shopping vouchers, slippers, or something novelty-shaped that will be forgotten by February.
But ask most mums (really ask them), and you’ll hear a very different answer:
“I just want the house cleaned.”
It’s not glamorous. It’s not shiny. And it probably won’t appear on a Christmas gift guide curated by a big-box retailer. But a clean, calm, stress-free home? Now that’s a present that actually makes a difference.
Because whether she’s a mum of young kids, a carer, a grandmother hosting the family, or a woman juggling work, home and a mountain of invisible labour, time, rest and ease are the real luxuries.
So this Christmas, let’s talk about why the gift of a clean house is one of the most thoughtful, appreciated presents you can give.
At Sistability, we work closely with people who support our clients’ rights, wellbeing, and independence. One of the most important supports available to people with disability is independent disability advocacy — a free service designed to help individuals navigate unfairness, discrimination, and complex systems that can often feel overwhelming.
A Disability Advocate is someone who stands beside a person with disability, helping them understand their rights, speak up, and be fully included in their community. This support can be the difference between feeling powerless and feeling confident to take action.
As the year draws to a close and the warmer months roll in across the Northern Rivers, many families, support coordinators, and aged care providers start thinking about how to help clients stay safe, cool, and comfortable at home. For older Australians, people with disability, or anyone managing health concerns, summer can bring additional risks such as heat stress, dehydration, mould growth, and increased fatigue.
A thoughtful year-end deep clean can make a world of difference. It helps reset the home, remove hazards, improve airflow, and create a fresh, cool foundation for the season ahead. At Sistability, we see this as more than just cleaning, it’s about safety, dignity, and supporting people to live confidently in their own home during the hottest time of year.
“Sandy” (name changed for privacy) is an NDIS participant living in government housing in the Northern Rivers. She lives with several complex medical conditions that affect her ability to manage her home environment. These conditions significantly influence her capacity to maintain hygiene, organisation, and general home upkeep on an ongoing basis.
Over time, the challenges of daily living became overwhelming, and Sandy’s living conditions deteriorated beyond what regular support services could manage. Her home had reached a level that presented health and safety concerns for her and those supporting her.
We’re still buzzing from the incredible night we had at the 2025 Regional NSW Business Awards at the Ballina RSL last weekend! Surrounded by inspiring businesses, community leaders, and plenty of cheers, our team came together to celebrate what has been a milestone year for Sistability.
And what a night it was. We were absolutely thrilled to take home the award for Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion and to receive a Highly Commended recognition for Employer of Choice (under 20 employees).
These awards are more than just shiny trophies — they reflect the heart of what we do every single day and the values we hold as a social enterprise.
Hoarding behaviours require a respectful, staged approach — not an abrupt clean-out. In this Ballina case study, we worked alongside an aged care client and their support team to implement a structured hoarding intervention focused on reducing environmental risk while protecting dignity.
Through gradual progress and consistent support, safety improved, tenancy risk reduced and the home became more functional over time.
Learn how our hoarding cleaning services in Ballina support sustainable, long-term outcomes.
For many people, a clean home is more than just a matter of tidiness — it’s about safety, health, dignity, and quality of life. For NDIS participants and older Australians receiving aged care support, regular cleaning plays an important role in day-to-day wellbeing. But before a regular cleaning schedule can be effective, a specialised clean is often the most powerful first step.
We are so proud to share that Sistability has been named a finalist in not one, but two categories at the 2025 Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards:
🏆 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion
🏆 Employer of Choice (20 Employees and Under)
This recognition is an incredible honour for our team, and it reflects both the work we do in the community and the culture we’ve built inside our organisation. At Sistability, we believe that inclusion, diversity, and genuine care aren’t just values on paper — they are guiding principles that shape how we show up every single day.
At Sistability, we believe that everyone deserves more than just a roof over their head—they deserve a home. A space that feels safe, warm, and comforting. Yet for many people in our community, starting over often means doing so with almost nothing. That’s why we’ve launched our new Clean Start Program, an initiative designed to help vulnerable community members create homes filled with dignity and comfort.
Through this program, we collect donations from the community—things like bedding, mattresses, towels, and home goods—and deliver them to those who need them most.
Every person deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. Yet too often, people in our community quietly carry challenges on their own—whether it’s feeling isolated, uncertain about how to access services, or unsure where to turn for help.
At Sistability, we believe no one should have to face those challenges alone. That’s why our team is more than a group of service providers. We’re companions, advocates, and connectors—standing beside people so they feel supported, valued, and confident to take the next step forward.
We’ve got some exciting news to share with you—Sistability has officially been certified as a Social Enterprise! 🎉
This milestone is more than just a badge for us. It’s a recognition of the way we’ve always operated: putting people and community first while delivering high-quality domestic care services. As one of only a handful of social enterprises in the Northern Rivers, we’re proud to be showing what’s possible when business success is linked directly to social good.
Not sure whether to book a spring clean or a deep clean? You’re not alone. Both leave your home feeling fresher, but they serve different purposes and suit different stages of life.
Here’s a clear guide—written with Northern Rivers homes in mind—to help you decide.
We’re still buzzing from Saturday night’s incredible celebration at the 2025 Ballina Business Awards—and we couldn’t be more proud of the recognition Sistability received. On that exciting evening, our small but mighty team was honoured with TWO awards:
🏆 Employer of Choice (under 20 employees)
🏆 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion
These awards are more than just trophies on a shelf—they’re a reflection of everything Sistability stands for and everything we’ve worked so hard to achieve since our founding. As a company that was built on heart, hard work, and a deep mission to do things differently, this recognition means the world to us.
For many people with ADHD, keeping a home clean can feel like climbing a mountain in bare feet. It’s not a lack of willpower or caring about a tidy space—it’s the way the ADHD brain is wired.
Understanding the neuroscience behind these struggles can be the first step toward solutions that work, whether you’re tackling the dust bunnies yourself or calling in professional reinforcements for a specialty or deep clean.
Transition cleaning is a deep, supportive cleaning service tailored to people experiencing a major life transition. It might look similar to an end-of-lease or vacate clean on the surface—but the intention, delivery, and client support are very different.
We’re thrilled to announce that Sistability has been named a finalist in four prestigious categories at the Ballina Business Awards, taking place at the Ballina RSL on Saturday 2 August 2025. This recognition is a testament to our team’s unwavering dedication to quality, inclusion and genuine care—and we’re so proud to be celebrated alongside the outstanding businesses that make our region so vibrant.
As the cooler months are now here, winter cleaning becomes essential to prepare your home for the challenges that come with the season. From the increased moisture in the air to the heavy use of heating systems, winter brings a unique set of cleaning tasks to address. If you want to ensure your home stays warm, dry, and hygienic during the colder months, it’s time to get your cleaning routine ready for winter.
In this guide, we’ll cover key winter-specific cleaning tips that will help you maintain a healthy, safe, and comfortable home throughout the season.
In the world of disability and aged-care support, ensuring a safe, hygienic living environment is non-negotiable. Regular ongoing cleans are invaluable for day-to-day upkeep, but an increasing number of Support Coordinators are discovering that an intensive, one-off deep clean can deliver far greater benefits—both for physical health and for overall wellbeing. Here’s why deep cleans are rapidly becoming the preferred choice for those managing complex care needs.
In the world of aged care and NDIS support, there are many dedicated professionals working tirelessly to ensure individuals with diverse needs lead fulfilling lives. But there’s one group of workers who often go under the radar yet play a crucial role in the lives of many: our domestic care specialists, also known as cleaners.
While their main job is to provide essential cleaning services, their role often goes far beyond just tidying up a home. Our domestic care specialists are often the only professionals who step into the homes of aged care and NDIS clients, and their services are about more than just cleaning. These specialists are, in many ways, the "eyes and ears on the ground," observing the wellbeing of clients and raising the alarm about potential issues or concerns.
Every day, our domestic cleaners at Sistability quietly change lives. They're not just tidying homes — they’re lifting spirits, checking in on wellbeing, and making everyday life a little easier for people who need support.
Meet Ella and Molly — two of our team members who work side-by-side, supporting NDIS and aged care clients across Ballina and Lennox Head. Here's a look into one of their workdays.