How a Disability Advocate Can Help You Get a Fair Go in the Community
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.
Surviving the Silly Season: Easy Cleaning Tips for a Tidy Home
The Christmas season is a beautiful time of year. Families visit, friends drop by, kids are home from school and the days are filled with celebrations, shared meals and precious moments. But with all the joy comes the reality that the house can get messy very quickly. For many people, especially older Australians, NDIS participants, parents and carers, December can feel like a juggling act. There is food to prepare, visitors to manage, presents to wrap and appointments to fit in, all while trying to keep the home tidy and welcoming.
The good news is that the house does not need to be perfect to feel comfortable. With a few smart routines and low-effort cleaning tricks, you can keep your home looking fresh throughout the holidays without spending hours scrubbing and organising. Here are some of the best time-saving tips that help reduce stress, keep things running smoothly and make your home a warm, inviting space during the busiest time of year.
How Cleaning and Support Services Can Help You Start 2026 on the Right Foot
As the year comes to a close, many of us find ourselves reflecting on what worked well, what felt overwhelming, and what we would like to change in the year ahead. For older Australians, people living with disability, and families who provide care, these reflections are more than a yearly ritual. A safe, clean and well-supported home can make everyday life easier, safer and more enjoyable.
At Sistability, we see every day how domestic cleaning, gardening and in-home support can transform the way people live. As a social enterprise, our work goes beyond tasks. It is about helping people stay safe, maintain dignity and feel genuinely supported. With 2026 approaching, now is the perfect time to think about how a little extra help could make next year calmer, more organised and more enjoyable.
Care With Purpose: The Journey to Social Enterprise and Our Vision for 2026
In 2025, Sistability reached an important milestone in our journey: we became a certified social enterprise. For us, this was not a marketing label or a strategic pivot. It was the formal recognition of who we have always been at heart. From day one, Sistability has existed to support people who are often overlooked, create meaningful employment for those who need a hand up, and deliver care with dignity, fairness, and respect.
Now, as we move into 2026, becoming a social enterprise is more than a badge we wear. It is a promise to our clients, partners, staff, and the entire Northern Rivers community that we will continue to put people first. It is a commitment to purpose, not just profit, and to quality care, not shortcuts.
Year End Deep Clean for a Safe, Cool & Comfortable Summer
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.
How to Get the Most from Your Support at Home Program
From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government will roll out the new Support at Home Program, which will replace the current Home Care Package (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support programs.
The goal is to make the system simpler, more flexible, and fairer for older Australians — giving you greater choice in how you use your funding. But like any new system, it pays to understand how it works so you can make every dollar count.
At Sistability, we believe your support should work for you — helping you live safely, comfortably, and independently at home. Here’s how to make sure it does.
Why a Clean Home Is an Essential Care Need, Not a Luxury
When people think about “care,” they often picture medical appointments, medication management, or mobility aids. But there’s another side of care that’s just as important — and often overlooked.
It’s the comfort and safety that come from living in a clean, well-maintained home.
At Sistability, we see every day how much a tidy, hygienic space can improve someone’s wellbeing — not just physically, but emotionally too. For older Australians and people living with disability, cleanliness isn’t a luxury. It’s a fundamental part of care.
The Ripple Effect: How Your Clean Home Creates Local Change
When you book a cleaning or support service, it’s easy to think you’re just getting a sparkling kitchen or a tidier home. But when you book with a social enterprise like Sistability, you’re doing something much bigger — you’re helping change lives right here in the Northern Rivers.
A social enterprise is a business built for purpose, not just profit. It exists to make a meaningful difference — using trade, training, and community connection as tools for good.
Hope in Action: Sistability’s Specialised Cleaning Service for “Sandy”
“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.
Sistability Earns Social Enterprise Certification: What It Means for Our Community
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.
Deep Clean vs Spring Clean: what’s the difference - and which do you need?
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.
Sistability Takes Home Two Awards at the 2025 Ballina Business Awards!
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.
Why ADHD Makes Cleaning a Challenge: The Brain Science Behind It
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.
Cleaning for Life’s Changes: Understanding Transition Cleaning
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.
Four Cheers for Sistability: Finalists in Four Categories at Ballina Business Awards 2025
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.
Winter-Specific Cleaning: How to Prepare Your Home for the Cold Months
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.
Case Study: A One-Off Specialised Deep Clean for Our Client, Kirby N.
About Kirby: A busy mum of two, active in her community and living with her disability makes deep-cleaning tasks painful and difficult.
The Challenge: Although Kirby keeps on top of basic tidying, heavier jobs—like scrubbing the bathroom, degreasing kitchen surfaces, spot-cleaning walls and thorough floor work—were triggering arthritis flare-ups. These tasks left her fatigued and posed slip hazards for her and the kids.
“I really struggle to do deeper cleaning like the bathroom… I can manage basic daily tasks, but long sessions on my feet or hard scrubbing just aren’t possible for me.”
A Fresh Start: Why More Support Coordinators Are Organising One-Off Deep Cleans
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.
The Unsung Heroes: How Our Domestic Care Specialists Support Aged Care and NDIS Clients' Wellbeing
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.
On the Road with Ella and Molly: A Day in the Life of Sistability Cleaners
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.