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The NDIS Needs Change — And Pretending Otherwise Helps No One

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I know this is controversial. I know there are people who will read this and immediately become defensive. Some will say the NDIS is under attack. Others will insist the system is fine and only needs “minor improvements.” But honestly? That simply is not true. The NDIS changed lives. It gave many people with disability opportunities, choice, support, dignity, and independence they had never had before. For many families, it was life changing in the best possible way. But somewhere along the way, the conversation stopped being about people and started being about packages, hours, funding, and profit. And that should concern every single one of us. Because the NDIS was never supposed to become an industry. It was supposed to become a support system. Now before anyone twists this — yes, there are incredible providers doing extraordinary work. There are hardworking support workers, therapists, coordinators, advocates, and organisations genuinely changing lives every single day. But we also...
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This Is Not the Time for Hate

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  There are moments when the world should fall silent. Not because there is nothing to say, but because what has happened is so devastating, so deeply wrong, that the usual noise of politics, blame, opinions, and outrage feels almost obscene. The death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby is one of those moments. A little girl. Five years old. At five, a child should be learning, laughing, playing, asking questions, making mess, being cheeky, being cuddled, being loved. At five, the world should still feel safe. Instead, a family is grieving something no family should ever have to survive. A community is hurting. And a little girl who deserved a whole lifetime has become a headline. As a grandmother, I cannot sit with that lightly. I cannot read her name and move on. Because every child is somebody’s baby. Somebody held her. Somebody loved her. Somebody imagined her growing up. There should have been birthdays. There should have been school photos. There should have been scraped ...
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Fuck the World… But I Still Choose Kindness

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  There’s a point in life where you think you’ve seen enough of the world to understand it. You’ve raised children, held families together, worked hard, paid your dues, and believed—maybe quietly, maybe stubbornly—that people are, at their core, decent. That even when things get hard, we find our way back to kindness. And yet here I am. Angry. Not a passing frustration or a fleeting irritation, but a deep, bone-tired anger that sits heavy in my chest. Because this is not how the world is supposed to be. Somewhere along the way, it feels like things have tipped. Conversations have turned into arguments. Differences have turned into divisions. And truth… well, truth feels harder and harder to find. I wake up in the morning and there’s this strange pull—half dread, half compulsion—to turn on the news. To see what’s happened overnight. What’s been said. What’s been done. And too often, it feels like the people who should know better—the ones trusted to lead, to protect, to think beyond...
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I Miss the Footy, the Washing, the Oranges — All of It

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  I Miss the Footy, the Washing, the Oranges — All of It This week in Adelaide,   Gather Round   has brought the city alive. Everywhere you look, there are families in scarves and guernseys, kids with painted faces, parents carrying snacks and jumpers and drink bottles, and that familiar rush of people all heading somewhere together. There is noise, excitement, complaints about parking, children asking for chips, and parents pretending not to calculate exactly how much the day is costing them. And as I watch it all, I find myself smiling. Because I miss it. I miss taking my kids to the footy. I miss weekend sport. I miss weekday sport. I miss being on the sidelines. I miss being in the stands. I miss being the one yelling encouragement, carrying bags, hunting for missing drink bottles, and somehow holding everyone together while pretending I was not completely exhausted. I miss being their biggest cheerleader. Not just in the big life moments. In the small ones too. The r...
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You’re Not Failing as a Parent

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  Many parents quietly carry the same worry. “Am I doing this right?” Parenting can feel overwhelming at times. Social media often shows carefully curated snapshots of family life, which can make it seem like other parents have everything under control. But the reality is much different. Every family experiences difficult days. Children have emotional ups and downs. Parents juggle responsibilities, stress and unexpected challenges. Feeling uncertain does not mean you are failing. In fact, the very act of reflecting on your parenting shows how deeply you care about your children’s wellbeing. Parenting is not about perfection. It is about persistence. It is about trying again after difficult moments, learning from experiences and continuing to support your children through every stage of growth. Children do not need flawless parents. They need parents who are present, responsive and willing to keep learning.
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What Your Child Is Really Saying When They Misbehave

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When children misbehave, parents often focus on stopping the behaviour as quickly as possible. But behaviour is often a form of communication. Children do not always have the emotional language to explain what they are feeling. Instead, those feelings appear through actions. A tantrum might mean: “I’m overwhelmed.” Refusing instructions might mean: “I feel powerless.” Attention-seeking behaviour might mean: “I need connection.” Understanding behaviour as communication allows parents to respond more thoughtfully. Instead of reacting only to the behaviour, parents can ask what emotion might be driving it. This approach does not mean ignoring behaviour or removing boundaries. It simply means addressing the emotional need as well as the behaviour. When children feel understood, they become more open to learning healthier ways to express their feelings. Over time, this helps children build emotional intelligence and stronger self-regulation skills.
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The One Thing Kids Need More Than Discipline

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  When parents think about guiding behaviour, discipline is often the first thing that comes to mind. Rules, consequences and boundaries are important parts of parenting. They help children understand expectations and develop responsibility. But discipline alone rarely produces the long-term results parents hope for. Children need something even more powerful. Connection. Connection is the foundation that makes discipline effective. Without it, discipline can feel like punishment. With it, discipline becomes guidance. When children feel emotionally connected to their parents, they are more likely to cooperate, listen and learn from mistakes. Connection does not mean removing boundaries or avoiding discipline. It means building a relationship where children feel safe, valued and understood. This sense of safety helps children regulate emotions and accept guidance more easily. Connection is built through everyday interactions. Listening when children want to talk. Showing empathy whe...
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