Men’s Health Week: It’s okay to talk about it

Being seen and supported: Why LGBTQIA+ inclusion matters in allied health Every person deserves to feel safe, understood and valued—especially in the spaces where they seek support. For many LGBTQIA+ Australians, however, healthcare and support settings can be places of misunderstanding, misgendering or exclusion. At helpz, we’re committed to changing that. Why inclusion matters in allied health Healthcare and therapy should be safe spaces—but for LGBTQIA+ individuals, they too often are not. Research shows that LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to avoid or delay seeking medical or allied health care due to fear of discrimination or past negative experiences. When care is not inclusive or affirming, people may feel unsafe, unsupported or unseen. And for LGBTQIA+ individuals living with disability, neurodivergence or mental health challenges, this compounds layers of vulnerability. That’s why affirming care is not optional—it’s essential. Our commitment to inclusive practice At helpz, we recognise that people bring many parts of themselves into the room. Gender identity, sexuality, neurodivergence, cultural background, trauma history, disability—all of these are part of the whole person. Our clinicians are trained in neuroaffirming and trauma-informed approaches and are committed to ongoing learning around inclusive practice. We support LGBTQIA+ participants with a wide range of goals, from exploring independence and communication to managing anxiety or navigating relationships. That might mean a psychologist offering gender-affirming mental health support, or an occupational therapist helping someone feel more confident in everyday activities. Our commitment includes: Respecting pronouns and preferred names Creating visibly inclusive spaces (e.g., rainbow badges, inclusive language) Continual staff education and reflective practice Partnering with LGBTQIA+ organisations where relevant Understanding intersectionality We work with many participants whose identities sit at the intersection of LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent and disabled experiences. For example, an autistic non-binary young person may experience sensory overwhelm, social anxiety, and fear of discrimination all at once. Our job is to listen deeply, collaborate respectfully, and co-design supports that empower—not pathologise. By acknowledging the unique experiences of each person, we create space for genuine connection and progress. What inclusive care can look like Inclusive allied health is more than a set of policies. It’s a practice of compassion and curiosity, of checking our assumptions and leading with respect. For example, our practitioners might: Ask and confirm someone’s pronouns, then use them correctly Understand how dysphoria might affect sensory needs or social situations Help a young person rehearse coming out conversations in a supportive space Work with families to create affirming environments at home Respect and support someone’s journey—wherever they are on it Looking ahead: support that celebrates every person This Pride Month, and every month, we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ people we support—and the courage it takes to show up as yourself in a world that doesn’t always make it easy. We believe in building systems of support that truly reflect the diversity of the people they serve. That means listening, learning, and growing—together. 

Managing your NDIS budget can be tricky – especially when all your funding arrives at once. That’s why the NDIS is introducing funding periods from 19 May 2025 to help you better manage your supports across the life of your plan. So what’s changing? And how will it affect you? Let’s break it down. What are funding periods? Funding periods are a new way of releasing your NDIS funding in smaller chunks (usually every 3 months). This gives you more flexibility while helping you make sure your funding lasts for your whole plan. You’ll still receive the same total amount of funding – the only change is when you can access it. Why is this happening? The goal is to: make sure supports are available when you need them reduce the chance of running out of funds too early It also helps people track their spending more easily using the my NDIS app or participant portal. What do I need to do? Nothing will change until your next new or reassessed plan. When that happens, you’ll have a chance to talk to the NDIA about your circumstances and get support to understand the changes. Once funding periods apply, you’ll be able to see: how much funding you have how much you’ve spent when your next funds will be released Any unused funding within a funding period will roll over to the next one – but it won’t carry over into a brand new plan. So budgeting well is still really important. What can I spend NDIS funds on? It’s also important to remember the NDIS has clear rules about what it can and can’t fund. These rules were updated last year and split into two lists: supports the NDIS can fund supports the NDIS cannot fund Before you spend your funding, check that the support is part of your plan and aligns with these rules. If you claim something that isn’t approved, you might need to pay it back. You can read the full lists at What does the NDIS fund? What if my situation changes? You can always request a change to your plan if your needs change – and your current plan will stay the same until it’s reassessed. Need more info? You can find all the details about funding periods, what you can claim, and how to manage your plan at the official NDIS website .  Or check out their FAQs on legislation and sign up to the NDIS newsletter to stay in the loop.