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Screenshot 2026-03-24 at 1.59.13 pm

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Screenshot 2026-03-17 at 12.08.56 pm

juliepodcast_website

JuliePodcast_website

Our Founder and CEO, Jane Morrell, and Community Engagement Specialist, Tash Colangelo, recently joined RPP Radio’s The Unexpected Journey.
Hosted by author and advocate Julie Fisher, the segment explores her experience as a parent of a child with Down syndrome, while raising awareness about life with disability and highlighting the importance of inclusion and acceptance.
In this episode, Jane and Tash discuss:
<ul>
<li>Why choice and control are so important for families navigating the NDIS</li>
<li>How Direct Employ has been the solution for thousands of Australians</li>
<li>The value of looking to your own community and networks when seeking support</li>
</ul>
You can listen to the full episode <a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/LCRUI2646389054?selected=LCRUI1118824890">below</a>.
<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-2838-1" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2025/08/Interview_Jane-and-Tash.m4a?_=1" /><a href="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2025/08/Interview_Jane-and-Tash.m4a">https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2025/08/Interview_Jane-and-Tash.m4a</a></audio>

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CARER_SOLUTIONS_60MIN_MASTER_thumb

Trigger warning: This video contains references to themes of death and grief, which some individuals may find distressing.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="City of Hobart panel discussion: Invisibility" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RcRwV6BbeC0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
For International Day of People with Disability, we had the privilege of partnering with the City of Hobart to bring our Hobart community together for a special morning tea and panel discussion at their beautiful Town Hall.
We explored the often overlooked experiences of carers and people living with invisible disabilities, discussing the unique challenges they face, potential solutions, and the vital role of community support and advocacy.
<h2>Why these two groups?</h2>
There are approximately 3 million carers in Australia, making up 11.9% of the population. In Tasmania alone, 1 in 6 people are carers, with the average carer providing 100 hours of care per week over a span of more than 11 years.
While volunteers are often celebrated for their contributions to society, the tireless work of carers often goes unrecognised. These dedicated individuals, who provide essential support behind the scenes, are much like invisible volunteers.
Similarly, in Australia, over 5.5 million people live with a disability, with an estimated 80-90% having an invisible disability. Additionally, 12.6 million Australians live with a chronic health condition.
By shining a light on the experiences of those with invisible disabilities, we can challenge misconceptions, reduce stigma, and promote a more inclusive society.
Our CEO and Founder, Jane Morrell, was joined by an incredible panel from the City of Hobart, Carers Tas, Invisible Disabilities Australia, and our Carer Solutions partners.
A huge thank you to our panellists, attendees, and everyone who contributed to this important discussion. Let’s continue working towards greater recognition and support for all.

sick-of-it-podcast

Sick-of-it-podcast

Our Founder and CEO, Jane Morrell, recently featured on the Sick Of It podcast to explore the current opportunities and challenges facing the NDIS.
In this episode, Jane discusses:
<ul>
<li>The impact of change fatigue on providers and participants</li>
<li>Pricing concerns</li>
<li>Risk-proportionate registration</li>
<li>The alarming prediction that nearly 75% of providers are considering closing their doors</li>
</ul>
Jane also emphasises the urgent need for collaboration between government and industry to ensure the long-term sustainability of the NDIS.
You can <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aLztcT8SUbxWrfmmxx6k3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listen to the full episode</a>.

2024-highlights

2024 Highlights

This year, we’ve handed the mic to members of our team to share their individual highlights &#8211; the highs, the challenges, and ultimately, what drives us all to come to work each day.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Carer Solutions: 2024 End of Year Highlights" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HI3YDTw4Zg4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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National-Disability-Awards-winner

On Monday, 8th December, we attended the National Disability Awards at the Adelaide Exhibition Centre and were absolutely thrilled to win the Excellence in Regional and Remote Services – Organisation award!
This award recognises an organisation that has made a significant contribution to providing quality services, supports, and opportunities to people with disabilities living in rural and remote regions of Australia.
A massive thank you to our incredible team for all your hard work, to our Partners, and to all the organisations we’ve had the pleasure of working with over the past 13 years. A special shoutout goes to Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation for our collaboration in East Arnhem, which featured prominently in our award submission.
Carer Solutions was founded to provide solutions for families struggling to find the right Support Workers. With the current workforce shortage, these challenges remain very real, and it’s critical that the 31% of NDIS participants living outside major cities aren’t left behind.
We’d like to acknowledge our fellow finalists, including Guide Dogs Australia, My Pathway Disability Supports, and Catholic Care NT, for the incredible work they do.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2655" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2024/12/Image-15-e1734498663238.jpeg" alt="" width="800" height="1067" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2654" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2024/12/Image-14-e1734498580238.jpeg" alt="" width="800" height="1067" />

registration-update

Registration update

Last month, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced that NDIS registration with the Quality and Safeguards Commission will soon be mandatory for Platform providers, Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, and Support Coordinators.
Since the announcement, we’ve received questions about what this means for our Direct Employ service. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.
<h2>What does it mean to be NDIS registered?</h2>
Currently, to be registered with the NDIS, a provider must meet certain requirements set out by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
These typically include providers who offer complex supports or work with Participants who have regulated restrictive practices, such as Traditional agencies.
These providers are directly responsible for meeting set requirements, which include:
<ul>
<li>Monitoring incidents that occur during a support shift</li>
<li>Completing audits with the NDIS</li>
<li>Ensuring all Support Workers comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct</li>
</ul>
<h2>Is Carer Solutions a registered provider?</h2>
At Carer Solutions, we offer two services. Our Plan Management service is registered, whereas our Direct Employ service is not.
<h2>Do these changes affect using your Direct Employ service?</h2>
No, this announcement will not impact your experience or ability to continue utilising our Direct Employ service, as we are not a Platform provider, Supported Independent Living (SIL) provider, or Support Coordinator.
<h2>What is a Platform provider?</h2>
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission defines a Platform provider as: ‘A fee-based app or website a NDIS Participant may use to connect with workers to deliver their NDIS services and supports.’
<h2>What does this news mean for the future of Direct Employ?</h2>
The Government will soon begin consultations to implement broader changes to registration, as recommended by the NDIS Review and Taskforce.
We welcome these changes and are optimistic that they will include us. Our goal has always been to have our Direct Employ service registered; unfortunately, the current registration framework does not fully recognise the unique nature of what we offer (as a category in its own right). After all, we are still the only Direct Employ service in Australia!
We will keep you updated as things progress, but for now, it’s business as usual.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to <a href="tel:1300729839">give us a call on 1300 729 839</a>.
(Banner Image Credit: Designed by Freepik)

Jane is wearing a white shirt and teal pants, she is standing on a balcony with the city behind her. She is smiling at the camera

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News & Events 1080 x 720 - 3 (5)

When the Australian government pioneered the NDIS in 2013, it paved the way for the greatest nation-building scheme of a lifetime. A decade on and the NDIS is at the mercy of politicians who are too busy weighing up the economic value of the scheme rather than the human value of the 650,000 people who rely on it.
At what point in the past 11 years did we start to measure the worth of people by their financial return on investment?
People living with disability should never be made to justify the support they require to be included in everyday life. Rather than using the NDIS as a political football, it’s time we recognise that its value isn’t determined by its contribution to Australia’s productivity or economic targets.
The NDIS is inherently valuable because the people who depend on it make it so.
Far too often, the idea of ‘benefiting’ in the context of social services attracts cynicism, but the NDIS was not created to weigh up the economic value of its participants. The NDIS exists to safeguard and support people living with disabilities. Determining the scheme’s worth by its economic contributions says more about who we are as a society than it does anything else.
That’s not to say that we shouldn’t strive for an efficient and resourceful NDIS. I welcome the government taking a firm stance on issues like fraud, negligence, or misconduct that take advantage of the scheme and its participants. I also welcome innovation that not only improves the lives of participants and their families but also improves the scheme’s efficiency and resourcefulness.
What the government needs to understand is that investing in people first and foremost will always be a better path to achieving these goals.
The nationwide Support Worker shortage is the most pressing example. The disability sector is currently grappling with a severe shortage of around 128,000 workers, with recent reports showing that an additional three-quarters of NDIS providers are considering shutting their doors due to the financial strain of the NDIA’s continued price freezes.
As these shortages continue to impact the lives of participants and their families, the government continues to question the value of investing in the sector’s workforce, and others question if the care economy will boost productivity. By counting pennies before people, they are preventing the NDIS from becoming the crown jewel it could be.
I have witnessed first hand how innovation thrives when people are put at the heart of the care economy. Our organisational model, known as “direct employ”, is the only service in Australia that enables participants to employ people that they already know and trust as their support workers. In doing so, we’re helping to address the support worker shortage. This is just one example of how a people-first approach can generate innovative, sustainable solutions for the benefit of participants and the scheme itself.
The NDIS is something that Australia should be proud of. It should be a testament to what can be achieved when we put people first and prioritise the creation of a more inclusive and safer community for all. Unfortunately, the government’s support does not always represent this, and it will continue to fall short so long as we put dollars first and people second.
It’s time we stop looking for economic justification to care for people and instead choose to do so simply because we care.
Every person has value. That should be motivation enough.

drag-ndis-through-mud

Drag-ndis-through-mud

An opinion piece by Jane Morrell, CEO and founder of Carer Solutions. 
Disclaimer: This piece was written before the latest NDIS Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament. We will continue to monitor the ongoing process, what it means, and share updates in the next e-news edition.
The NDIS is the greatest nation building scheme we’ll experience in our lifetime. Since its inception in 2013, millions of Australians have benefitted from the biggest social reform since Medicare.
Far too often, the idea of ‘benefitting’ in the context of social services, attracts cynicism. This paired with the constant negative headlines surrounding budget, fraud and negligence, is doing the NDIS no favours.
Let’s be clear, the safeguarding of vulnerable people should always remain a priority, with appropriate action taken against any persons guilty of negligence or misconduct. And I welcome the government taking a firm stance on this issue.
However, on the contrary, this narrative has gone too far. We are starting to witness how this level of fearmongering is having the reverse affect for our disability community. Daily, we’re being told ‘all that is wrong’ with the NDIS, but where is the coverage on ‘all that is right?
Today, over 646,000 Australians with a NDIS plan can benefit from a better quality of life. This includes &#8211; better health outcomes, the opportunity to participate in their community, employment, education…the list goes on. These are “ordinary things” that can be monumental to someone’s confidence and general well-being, but also things that so many of us take for granted every day.
The care and support economy accounts for <a href="https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/care-and-support-economy-reform-glance">15% of Australia&#8217;s workforce and is Australia&#8217;s largest employer.</a> Yet, we are still facing a disability support worker shortage crisis, with around 128,000 more workers needed.
We must be doing more to attract people into the workforce, instead of putting potential prospects off. Our workforce is filled with passionate people, dedicated to providing better outcomes for the people they support, and so it is critical that we don’t allow the mainstream narrative to tar everyone with the same brush.
Pre-NDIS, I met countless families who were frustrated and exhausted by the lack of significant options when it came to their supports. To ease the burden, I created Carer Solutions in 2011 &#8211; the only service in Australia that enables individuals with disability to directly employ people that they already know and trust as their support workers.
Another example of an NDIS provider achieving great outcomes for Participants through an innovative model is Hireup, a technology platform that connects people with disability to support workers who meet their needs and share their interests. Since its inception in 2015, Hireup has facilitated over 128,000 unique connections, and driven measurable improvements in their clients&#8217; quality of life.
Jordan O&#8217;Reilly, co-founder and Executive Director of Hireup agrees that there’s no doubt the NDIS has faced some significant challenges. ‘We support the government&#8217;s efforts to bring more oversight and protections into the NDIS &#8211; we think it is critical for a safe and sustainable scheme.&#8217; Jordan says.
Following the Independent Review, this will be the most critical time in the history of Australia’s largest social reform scheme. A time of additional scrutiny and whilst so much is still yet to play out, as a sector we must unite and brace for the only certainty and constant – change.
In doing so, we need to be commended and celebrated for all that many of us have created, in a bid to benefit the lives of Australians living with disability. Continually painting the sector in a negative light does nothing for the sustainability of a scheme that fully relies on providers committed to honouring and operating in the spirit of all that it stands for.

Media & Events

Built Different Episode 2: The sector no one talks about

Built Different Episode 1: Being the only one

The Unexpected Journey

City of Hobart panel discussion

Sick Of It: Navigating the NDIS

Wrapping up 2024!

Winners at the 2024 National Disability Awards!

The latest update on registration

Canberra Times: The value of the NDIS is in its people, not its economic benefit

NDIS: A call to stop dragging us and it through the mud