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Carer Solutions x 21 Gifts x frank green

When Ingerlise Svaleng welcomed her daughter Maia on a chilly autumn afternoon, she was as proud and joyful as only a new mum can be. Soon after, Maia was diagnosed with Down syndrome, and the room fell quiet.
&#8220;For a moment there, at diagnosis, everything went quiet. The room changed, but Maia didn&#8217;t,&#8221; Ingerlise says. &#8220;She was still exactly the same beautiful little baby. Now she&#8217;s this incredible 10-year-old, and I am the luckiest to be her mum.&#8221;
In that first week, someone delivered a red suitcase to their hospital room – a gift from other parents and their children with Down syndrome. For Ingerlise, it was everything. It became her guide to a future she was only just beginning to imagine, and the inspiration behind 21 Gifts.
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<h2 data-lfile-container="9c8e3470-fec1-4aa9-9046-4deb2a837456" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Changing the opening act</h2>
Today, Ingerlise is paying that gift forward across Australia and New Zealand. 21 Gifts delivers beautifully crafted suitcases to families following a diagnosis of Down syndrome or cerebral palsy. Each suitcase is a welcome gift: a way of saying congratulations, and a reminder of all the exciting possibilities ahead.
&#8220;I started 21 Gifts because I wanted to bring hope back into healthcare,&#8221; Ingerlise explains. &#8220;The suitcases are designed to change the opening act of a child&#8217;s disability diagnosis. I want it to be a room where every single baby is celebrated for who they are, and that focuses on all the opportunities ahead.&#8221;
For Megan, a midwife at St Vincent&#8217;s in Melbourne, handing over a suitcase is a special moment. &#8220;We get to be the ones that hand them this beautiful suitcase and say, you know what, this is just the beginning. There&#8217;s a world of opportunity out there for you.&#8221;
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<h2 data-lfile-container="9c8e3470-fec1-4aa9-9046-4deb2a837456" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Why this partnership matters</h2>
Carer Solutions was born from listening. More than 15 years ago, our founder Jane Morrell sat down with carers across Australia who simply wanted to choose the people who support their family. That idea grew into our Direct Employ model, which supports families to turn the relationships they already have into official employment arrangements, with people they know, trust and who share their values.
We share a simple belief with 21 Gifts: every family deserves to celebrate new beginnings, and to feel supported from day one. As Ingerlise and Jane put it, what we each do is two halves of the same thing. 21 Gifts welcomes families with hope and possibility from the very start, and when they&#8217;re ready, we support them to turn the people already in their lives into official, employed Support Workers – so their child can continue to feel supported as they grow up, surrounded by people they know and trust.
We&#8217;re proud to be covering the delivery costs of the next 300 suitcases to families across Australia, so even more families can celebrate their new arrival from day one.
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<h2>A journal for dreaming big</h2>
As part of the partnership, we&#8217;ve also co-created a special journal with 21 Gifts to go inside each suitcase. Inspired by Ingerlise&#8217;s background in positive psychology and her own experience as a mum, it encourages families to dream big about the life they want, and to notice the people in their lives who bring out the best in them. Because every family needs a village, the journal also invites parents to think about the people in theirs who can continue to support them as their child grows, and who share the values that matter most to their family.
<blockquote>We&#8217;ve made the journal available as a digital PDF, so any family can use it. <a href="https://carersolutions.com.au/knowledge-base/build-your-adventure-a-journal-for-dreaming-big/">Download your copy here</a>.</blockquote>
&#8220;If we&#8217;re going to give families a list of everything that can go wrong, we should also give them a list of what can go right,&#8221; Ingerlise says. &#8220;And that&#8217;s exactly what we&#8217;ve done with Carer Solutions. These journals are grounded in positive psychology, so parents can continue to dream and create the lives they want for their families.&#8221;
For Jane, the journal is a way of reminding families that support is there from the very beginning. &#8220;They have support from literally the minute they find out their child has a disability,&#8221; she says. &#8220;It tells them they&#8217;ve got a circle around them, and that they&#8217;re not going through something so significant alone.&#8221;
It&#8217;s a circle we see come to life every day. Take <a href="https://carersolutions.com.au/community-stories/a-creative-approach-to-building-a-support-worker-team-in-a-regional-area/">Anne and John Page from Birchip</a>, whose daughter Jo has Down syndrome. One of Jo&#8217;s Support Workers, Wendy, was once the friendly face at the local post office who always made time for a chat with Jo. Today, Wendy has been a valued part of Jo&#8217;s team for many years.
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<h2>A cuppa from frank green</h2>
Our friends at frank green also generously donated 300 reusable coffee cups to go inside the suitcases – because caffeine is a friend to most new parents!
For frank green founder Ben Young, it&#8217;s about more than coffee. &#8220;Coffee is a social lubricant. People can talk to each other, they can share stories,&#8221; he says. &#8220;21 Gifts really does bring about a celebration of the birth of a new human. I just think this is such a wonderful thing, and that&#8217;s why frank green wants to be part of it.&#8221;
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<h2>Here&#8217;s to every new beginning</h2>
So, if you spot a 21 Gifts suitcase in a hospital, know that it&#8217;s there to welcome a family, celebrate their new arrival and remind them they&#8217;re not alone.
To learn more about the incredible work Ingerlise and her team are doing, visit <a href="https://www.twentyonegifts.com/">21 Gifts</a>.

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Simmonne, with her twin sons Matthew and Richard standing each side of her, with their supports workers, all looking at the camera

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Meet Simmonne, Matthew and Richard

By Simmonne Dyson-Holland
In August 2023, I moved my twin adult sons, who are both challenged by Autism and intellectual difficulties, into their own private rental property.  They were assisted (daytime and nighttime) by myself and support workers. I had planned to pay our support workers with my sons’ Core funding, until my sons were approved for Supported Independent Living (SIL) funding.
I never thought that I would still be battling for SIL funding sixteen months later.  In December 2024, I was preparing for my second appeal meeting with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which was set for January 2025.
During this journey I had to unravel an obvious question: which ‘i’ was not dotted, and which ‘t’ was not crossed, to cause our funding applications to be constantly rejected?
It began with the event of ‘Phonegate’.  The original Occupational Therapist wrote in her reports, which were supporting evidence for my sons’ SIL funding applications, that each of them had a mobile phone and were able to use their mobile phone.
The NDIA interpreted this to mean that my sons did not need funding to support them with non-active sleepovers, as they would be able to use their phones in an emergency to call for help.  If they did not need a support worker to sleep over every night, then they did not need SIL funding.
The Occupational Therapist did not emphasise in her reports that my sons’ problem-solving abilities were impaired, and that their communication would further deteriorate in a stressful situation, potentially resulting in reactive behavioural issues. Teaching them to refer to a social story to assist them in an emergency was not a realistic option either.
Our Support Coordinator at that time either did not read or detect this problematic detail in the reports. Additionally, a Roster of Care (the hours of support needed daily and weekly, and the estimated cost) had not been submitted with the SIL applications. No Roster of Care in our supporting evidence meant no approval of SIL funding.
Prior to my second ART meeting, I was told that the NDIA lawyer would send me the ‘Statement of Issues’ they had, regarding my sons’ SIL applications, at least 48 hours before we met online.  Instead, the Statement of Issues was emailed to me 5 hours before our meeting.
Whilst I was in an online work meeting, trying to look like I was listening and contributing, in reality I was frantically working through the lawyer’s ‘issues’ and developing an evidence-based response to their arguments.
The outcome of the ART meeting was that I needed new supporting evidence which specifically responded to the lawyer’s Statement of Issues and which also clearly upheld my arguments.
Upon picking myself up from rock bottom, I organised meetings with our new Occupational Therapist, and our ongoing Behavioural Practitioner and Speech Pathologist.  I asked them to use the NDIA lawyer’s sentences and language from the Statement of Issues, to weave into their responses, to directly address and rebut the lawyer’s arguments.
The Behavioural Practitioner had to provide Incident Reports of my sons’ behaviour, from the time they had moved into their new house, to prove their need for daytime and nighttime support.  In contrast, he also had to report upon skills they had learned or were learning in their new house, to prove ‘value for money’, regarding the NDIS’s financial investment in my sons.  The Speech Pathologist had to concentrate on the limits of my sons’ communication and problem-solving skills.
I gave our new Occupational Therapist the mission of blowing up ‘Phonegate’, once and for all.
Prior to submitting all the new Allied Health reports to the ART, I read every word of every page of these documents.  Our new Support Coordinator was supposed to check them too.  I discovered several significant errors, one of which accidentally supported an argument used by the NDIA lawyer, instead of disputing it.
Needless to say, it has been my experience that until systemic issues are improved, factors other than the NDIS (i.e. the other service providers we rely upon) will fuel perfect storms in the lives of people with disabilities and carers.
Sam Paior (founder and director of The Growing Space), in her video entitled ‘Lousy therapist reports wreck ART!  Butler v NDIS Sept 2025’, provides the following tips.
In summary:
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<li>AI should not be relied upon by therapists to write reports.</li>
<li>All reports should be checked, and errors should be corrected.</li>
<li>Therapeutic recommendations should be based on the therapists’ face to face observation of the NDIS participant.</li>
<li>The requested supports need to be linked to NDIS recognised disabilities, not to other conditions.</li>
<li>Therapists need to show how each requested support meets the new definition of Reasonable and Necessary supports.</li>
<li>Therapists should not write reports as an Advocate of the participant. Instead, therapists need to provide their expert opinion, based on their therapeutic background</li>
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The day before my second ART meeting, I still hadn’t received the NDIA lawyer’s Statement of Issues, regarding our new supporting evidence.  I contacted the lawyer, and she responded that we would not need to meet.
For I had provided enough information and evidence.  The lawyer would be ruling that my sons should be given the SIL funding I had requested.
My Perfect Storm had eased.  For now.
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Jane is standing in between two First nations men. Everyon is looking and smiling at the laptop which is sitting on a wooden outdoor table.

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Jane computer

With over 50 per cent of First Nations people living in regional and remote areas, access to the right disability Support Workers is becoming increasingly challenging.
Due to the growing Support Worker shortage in these communities, the Carer Solutions team have been working hard to advocate on behalf of First Nations participants, to ensure they can access culturally appropriate support, regardless of where they live.
Last year our team travelled to Milingimbi (also known as Yurrwi) which is approximately 500km off the coast of Central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. We made the long journey to onboard NDIS participant Veronica, to our Direct Employ service.
Our unique service has enabled Veronica who is living with cerebral palsy, to directly employ Janita, a member of her Yolngu clan, as her Support Worker.
With Milingimbi having a population of around 1,400 people, where English isn’t even a first or second language, it was extremely important for Veronica to receive culturally appropriate support from someone she trusted and who understood her cultural needs.
She had previously been sent support workers from overseas who didn’t speak her language or respect her cultural values. A family member had to provide unpaid support which resulted in carer burnout. When Veronica’s family carer was unavailable, it meant that Veronica went without support altogether.
After hearing about Veronica’s situation, our Founder and CEO, Jane Morrell knew that Carer Solutions’ Direct Employ service was the solution Veronica so desperately needed.
“We were approached by The Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation when they heard about our Direct Employ model. Finally, they had an option which enabled Veronica to directly employ someone from within her own clan and receive dignified support from someone she was comfortable with,” Jane explains.
This meant that Veronica could finally receive culturally appropriate support from someone she already had a connection with. It also provided much needed relief to Veronica’s family member who had taken on the role of her unpaid carer for far too long.
<blockquote>“We are delighted that our unique service model and our extensive relationships with government and on-the-ground health providers made this happen, but it needs to happen more.”</blockquote>
Jane says giving individuals like Veronica and their families choice and control over who works with them, needs to become the “norm, not the exception”.
“I am excited to see what impact our Direct Employ service can continue to make across Australia – especially in regional and remote communities, where they urgently need access to innovative services like ours.”
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Veronica is wearing a pink top and is seated on the right in a wheelchair. Janita is seated to her left and is wearing a blue tshirt. Jane is standing up between them both.

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Jane Veronica and Janita

Support Worker is seated at a table with two young boys

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Have you ever dreamed of a holiday without your kids? No one to pick up after, no meals to cook, no lunch boxes to pack. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?
There’s no doubt that every parent dreams about going away on a solo holiday, but for parents of children with disability, the idea of travelling on their own can seem completely unobtainable.
Carer Solutions Partner and mum of two, Lauren, has been a stay-at-home mum for the past eight years, while caring for her two autistic boys, Archer 9, and Oliver, 7. Her husband Derek works long hours to support the family, which means Lauren was at home with the boys all the time.
Lauren’s sister lives in England, and when she gave birth, Lauren never in her wildest dreams thought she would ever be able to visit her and meet her new niece. She had trialled many support workers over the years to help with Archer and Oliver, but she was never able to establish any trust with the support workers she had been sent via an agency,
But, after discovering Carer Solutions and their Direct Employ service, Lauren was able to employ her own support worker after a friend highly recommended Laura to the family.
Laura already had experience as a support worker and onboarding her as Archer and Oliver’s support worker marked a pivotal point for Lauren and the whole family.
Carer Solutions assists families like Lauren’s to set themselves up as formal employers and employ people they may already know. Carer Solutions take care of all the time-consuming stuff such as payroll obligations and insurances, giving families all the support they need, to employ their dream support team.
“It totally eased my mind, having Laura onboard. She is firm but fair, and she is capable of reining the boys back in so that they keep their routine – they just love her,” she explains.
Not only does the Direct Employ service provide respite and peace of mind for Lauren, it has also afforded her the freedom to take a three week holiday to the UK to visit her sister and niece. She had not seen her sister for more than three years and was finally able to meet her baby niece for the first time.
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“Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever though that this could even be possible – but with the support of Laura it totally is.”
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Another Carer Solutions Partner, Elizabeth, who is mum of three autistic kids, was also able to travel overseas for the first time since becoming a mum over 21 years ago. Thanks to Carer Solutions, she was able to employ her favourite support worker, Sebastian, who was able to support Elizabeth’s children while she enjoyed the trip of a lifetime in Europe.
The trip was such a success, that Elizabeth has recently returned from her second solo European vacation, thanks to the support of Sebastian.
The unique service also provides flexibility for families to holiday together and employ a support worker at their holiday destination. That way they can avoid paying high overnight pay rates by bringing a support worker from home on the holiday with them.
“I encourage other mums to reach out to Carer Solutions and get the support that I now have. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and it is totally life changing.” Lauren says.

Woman sitting with her back to camera with a blue backpack on her back. She is looking out to the ocean.


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Image of a man sitting on a chair with his legs crossed. He is wearing dark rimmed glasses and has grey hair and beard. He is wearing a white tshirt with an orange heart on it, and a navy blazer on top.

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Craig Bridge, Head of Business

Picture of two men in all-terrain wheelchairs on a beautiful beach.

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<h4>The best accessible trails Australia has to offer</h4>
The summer heat is now behind us, and stunning autumn days are ahead. So, what better way to make the most of this gorgeous season than get outdoors, breathe in clean, fresh air and admire some breathtaking scenery.
Our version of Australia’s top eight wheelchair-accessible trails is inspired by a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/wheelchair-hiking-best-trails-perth/100793746?fbclid=IwAR2GicR3i9QOLM4s5SabrPFwfYtnTH9EwkOC7twb5G1pHJ273Du7AYHvwZQ">recent article</a> featuring West Australian hiking enthusiast, Robbi Flynn.
Here are our top picks for some of the best wheelchair-accessible trails our beautiful country has to offer.
Wilson’s Prom (VIC)
This picture-perfect Victorian jewel offers the trifecta – beautiful bushland, mountain ranges and gorgeous sea views. What’s not to love!?
There are many suitable trails for all-terrain wheelchairs, which are also available to hire if required. To make it easier for people with limited mobility to see the accessible experiences on offer, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x3fJ6k_R4k">Parks Victoria released this video</a> &#8211; produced and narrated by park visitor and wheelchair user, Ryan Smith.
For more info, <a href="https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park">click here</a> 
Three Sisters Walk (NSW)
We know it’s an overused term, but this trail really is breathtaking. This trail is a sensory treat with the ever-changing views of the grand Three Sisters rising nearly a kilometre above sea level.
The trail is wheelchair friendly to the Oreades Lookout &#8211; although some sections have a 10 per cent slope and may require some assistance. Access beyond Oreades lookout is not recommended for wheelchairs as it involves several steps.
For more info, <a href="https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/blue-mountains/katoomba-area/katoomba/attractions/three-sisters-walk">click here</a>
Burleigh Heads National Park (QLD)
In the heart of the Gold Coast, this National Park offers the most idyllic trail flanked by the foreshore and rainforest.
The gorgeous Oceanview trail offers wheelchair assisted access and, if you’re lucky, you may get the chance to spot some whales and sea eagles, or even the most mesmerising birdwing butterflies.
It’s a 2.4km round trip and picnicking in the stunning scene post-hike is strongly suggested! Unfortunately, the other tracks within the park are not wheelchair accessible.
For more info, <a href="https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/burleigh-head">click here</a>
Lorikeet Loop Walk (SA)
This 3km, flat loop trail is located within the Belair National Park in the gorgeous Adelaide Hills and offers an ideal opportunity to fully immerse yourself in nature. You can also meet the park’s resident lorikeets and rosellas, who are equal parts noisy and attractive. The trail takes around 90 minutes and provides easy wheelchair access, and also allows dog walking.
For more info, <a href="https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/find-a-place-to-walk/lorikeet-loop-walk-belair-national-park/">click here</a>
Kuljak Island (WA)
As voted by Robbi Flynn, Kuljak Island is Western Australia’s best nature-viewing trail. Centrally located and easy to access, this beauty has an abundance of pelicans and swans.
The area is also surrounded by various paved paths with easy access from the carpark for wheelchairs and/or prams.
It’s worth noting that there are no toilet or BBQ facilities on the island and being a wildlife sanctuary, fishing is not permitted. While it is dog-friendly, your furry friend must be on a leash.
For more info, <a href="https://trailswa.com.au/trails/kuljak-island-walk-ascot">click here</a>
Russell Falls Track (TAS)
This picturesque short trail is through a lush rainforest in Mount Field, Tasmania, and is best suited to wheelchair users who have someone to assist them.
The 1.4km tranquil hike to the beautiful Russell Falls may even present a special opportunity to spot a platypus in the creek. It’s a relaxed walk with no bushwalking experience required. It has a flat, even surface with no steps or steep angles.
For more info, <a href="https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/mount-field-national-park/russell-falls">click here</a>
Territory Trails (ACT)
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in the Australian Capital Territory is a must see, with a stunning tapestry of trails and wetlands which are populated by cute and friendly wildlife. Tidbinbilla offers mobility access to many popular locations including The Sanctuary, the Eucalypt Forest, Sheedy’s Picnic Area and the Visitor Centre. These locations have accessible toilets, designated parking areas and paved footpaths allowing independent wheelchair access.
There is an awesome playground that has a bird’s nest swing suitable for very young children and people with limited mobility. TrailRider all-terrain wheelchairs are available for free day hire from the Visitor Centre. A TrailRiders are a cool way for mobility-impaired visitors to explore and enjoy all that the bush capital has to offer.
For more info, <a href="https://www.tidbinbilla.act.gov.au/do/walking-trails">click here</a>
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (NT)
As for the Northern Territory, nothing compares to exploring the base of Uluru, with its natural beauty and rich culture. Most of the tracks are wheelchair accessible and range from easy to moderate. Uluru and Kata Tjuta hold great spiritual significance as they are places where many creation stories converge.
At Uluru, there are two trails that are accessible for wheelchairs. The Mala Trail is 2 km return and the Kuniya Trail is a leisurely 1 km return.
For more info, <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/do/walks/">click here</a>
If you know of any great Wheelchair Accessible Trails, please let us know at <a href="mailto:care@carersolutions.com.au">care@carersolutions.com.au</a> we&#8217;ll add them to the list!
Banner Image Credit: © Parks Victoria 2019

Building Community

Celebrating every new arrival: our partnership with 21 Gifts

My Perfect Storm: ‘Phonegate’, the NDIS, the ART and me

First Nations participant receives life-changing disability support

Direct Employ service making solo holidays for parents a reality

Craig Bridge Chats with ABC Northern Tasmania

Wheelchair Friendly Trails to Explore This Autumn