Clearing the Way Home: Sarah's Story
Cleaning, Support Services, NDIS Jennica Fernstrom Cleaning, Support Services, NDIS Jennica Fernstrom

Clearing the Way Home: Sarah's Story

Sarah is an NDIS participant who had been living in community housing in the Lismore area. When her safety and wellbeing required her to be urgently relocated, the property she left behind did not stay empty for long.

Squatters moved in. What followed was the kind of damage that is difficult to describe without seeing it firsthand. The residence was left in a state of severe hoarding and squalor, with biohazard contamination throughout. Sarah's belongings, including clothing, personal items, and irreplaceable family mementoes, were buried beneath the debris left behind by people who had no regard for the space or the person it belonged to.

Once the occupants were removed, the call came to Sistability.

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Biohazard Cleaning: What It Is andWhen You Need It

Biohazard Cleaning: What It Is andWhen You Need It

Biohazard cleaning is the safe removal and decontamination of biological matter that poses a risk to human health. This is specialist work that requires personal protective equipment, industry-approved cleaning agents, strict disposal protocols, and a team trained to manage both the physical environment and the human circumstances surrounding it.

It is intense work, and we do not shy away from that. Our team is trained and experienced in managing these environments…

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A Guide for Professionals: How to Refer a Client for Specialised Cleaning
Aged Care, NDIS, Specialised Services, Cleaning Jennica Fernstrom Aged Care, NDIS, Specialised Services, Cleaning Jennica Fernstrom

A Guide for Professionals: How to Refer a Client for Specialised Cleaning

If you work in disability support, aged care, community housing, or health services, you will have encountered this situation. A client's home has deteriorated to a point where it is no longer safe or liveable. The environment is affecting their health, their dignity, and their ability to function day to day. A regular clean is not going to fix it. What they need is a specialist.

Knowing who to call and what to expect when you do makes a significant difference in how quickly and smoothly a situation can be resolved. This is a practical guide to referring a client to Sistability for specialised cleaning, and what happens from there.

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Disability Pride Month: What It Means to Us
NDIS, Accessibility, Carers Jennica Fernstrom NDIS, Accessibility, Carers Jennica Fernstrom

Disability Pride Month: What It Means to Us

Every July, the disability community and its allies around the world come together to mark Disability Pride Month - a time to celebrate, raise awareness, and advocate for a world that truly includes everyone.

At Sistability, this month holds real meaning for us. Because the work we do every single day is rooted in the same values that Disability Pride Month stands for: dignity, independence, and the belief that every person deserves to live life on their own terms.

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Five Years of Nicole: The Heart Behind Sistability

Five Years of Nicole: The Heart Behind Sistability

There are people who come to work, and there are people who show up fully, consistently, with everything they have.

Five years ago, Sistability gained the latter when Nicole joined the team. And if you've had the privilege of working alongside her, or being supported by the organisation she helps shape, you already know exactly what we mean. As our Services Manager, Nicole has been central to ensuring the people we support receive the highest standard of care, each and every day

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Connecting, Learning and Growing: Our CEO at the Norco Primex Business Leaders Luncheon

Connecting, Learning and Growing: Our CEO at the Norco Primex Business Leaders Luncheon

There's something really special about stepping out of the day-to-day rhythm of running a business and sitting down with other regional leaders who get it: the challenges, the wins, the deep sense of purpose that keeps you going. That's exactly what our CEO Jade had the pleasure of experiencing at the Norco Primex Business Leaders Luncheon on Friday 22nd May, held at Norma's Kitchen at the Lismore Showgrounds.

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The Emotional Side of Accepting Help at Home and Why It's Okay

The Emotional Side of Accepting Help at Home and Why It's Okay

There's a conversation that happens in a lot of families, often quietly and over a long period of time. It's the one where an older parent is clearly finding things harder, where the house isn't quite as tidy as it used to be, where the garden has started to get away, where a son or daughter is beginning to worry. And yet, when the idea of getting some help is raised, the answer is almost always the same.

"I'm fine."

"I don't need anyone coming in here."

"I've been looking after myself for sixty years. I think I can manage."

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Why Autumn is a Great Time to Deep Clean Your Home

Why Autumn is a Great Time to Deep Clean Your Home

In summer, doors and windows are open, the house breathes, and life happens mostly outside. By the time autumn arrives, the evidence of a busy summer is everywhere: salt air residue on windows and fly screens, cobwebs in corners and around light fittings, outdoor furniture that has taken a beating, and the general build-up that comes from months of heat and humidity.

Autumn is the natural moment to address all of it. The weather is more comfortable to work in, surfaces dry quickly, and it is far easier to clean a home thoroughly before the evenings start closing in.

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Social Procurement: How Working with Sistability Creates Real Community Impact

Social Procurement: How Working with Sistability Creates Real Community Impact

There's a shift happening in the way organisations think about spending.

It used to be enough to deliver a good service at a fair price. Increasingly, the organisations we work with, whether councils, not-for-profits, businesses or healthcare providers, are asking a different question. Not just "does this supplier do good work?" but "does working with this supplier do good in the world?" That shift has a name. It's called social procurement.

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June & Norman - From Overwhelmed to Supported: A Journey through the Aged Care System

June & Norman - From Overwhelmed to Supported: A Journey through the Aged Care System

When June and Norman Lane first came to Sistability, they were like many seniors facing the gradual reality that daily life was becoming harder to manage on their own. Both in their 80s, this warm and independent couple had spent decades keeping their home in order, but with mounting health concerns and the quiet accumulation of everyday challenges, tasks like cleaning and gardening were starting to slip beyond their reach.

What made their situation particularly stressful was not just the physical difficulty, it was the overwhelming complexity of the Australian aged care system itself. June and Norman had no idea where to begin. The terminology was unfamiliar, the application process daunting, and the prospect of navigating government assessments felt far beyond what they could take on alone.

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Who We Help: A Guide to Sistability's Clients and the Services We Provide

Who We Help: A Guide to Sistability's Clients and the Services We Provide

At Sistability, we believe everyone deserves to live safely and comfortably in their own home — regardless of age, ability, or circumstance. But not everyone arrives at our door the same way, and that's exactly why we don't offer a one-size-fits-all service.

From older Australians navigating the aged care system for the first time, to NDIS participants needing specialist cleaning support, to veterans who've given so much and deserve reliable help in return — each person we work with has a unique story, unique needs, and a unique pathway to accessing our help.

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Why Support Coordinators Trust Sistability With Their Clients

Why Support Coordinators Trust Sistability With Their Clients

For support coordinators, choosing the right service providers is a critical part of the role.

It’s not just about organising supports. It’s about ensuring every provider involved is reliable, safe, and genuinely aligned with the needs of the participant.

Because at the end of the day, your reputation is on the line too.

At Sistability, we understand that trust isn’t given lightly. It’s built over time through consistency, communication, and care.

Here’s why support coordinators across the Northern Rivers trust us with their clients.

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How We Vet Our Cleaners for Your Safety and Peace of Mind

How We Vet Our Cleaners for Your Safety and Peace of Mind

Inviting someone into your home is a big decision.

For many of our clients, that decision carries even more weight. Whether it’s an older Australian living independently or an NDIS participant receiving support, trust, safety, and consistency are everything.

At Sistability, we understand that we’re not just providing a service—we’re entering someone’s personal space, often at a vulnerable time in their life.

That’s why we take our hiring and vetting process seriously.

Here’s how we ensure every member of our team is someone you can feel safe, comfortable, and confident welcoming into your home.

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Can the NDIS Cover Deep Cleaning? Here’s What You Need to Know

Can the NDIS Cover Deep Cleaning? Here’s What You Need to Know

If you or someone you support is on the NDIS, you might be wondering:

Can my plan cover a deep clean?

The short answer is yes. The NDIS can fund cleaning, including deeper or more intensive cleaning, but only when it meets the criteria of being reasonable and necessary and directly related to a participant’s disability.

This aligns with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (formerly the NDIS Price Guide and Addenda), which outline what supports can be funded and under which categories.

Here’s what that means in practice.

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When Does a Home Need a Deep Clean? 6 Signs to Look For.

When Does a Home Need a Deep Clean? 6 Signs to Look For.

For many NDIS participants and older Australians, keeping a home clean isn’t just about appearance. It’s about safety, comfort, and being able to live independently.

Regular cleaning plays an important role. But sometimes, before ongoing support can truly make a difference, the home needs a proper reset.

At Sistability, we often find that a deep clean is the best starting point, especially when a home hasn’t had consistent support or when circumstances have changed.

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Hidden Warning Signs Our Cleaners Are Trained to Spot in Aged Care and NDIS Homes

Hidden Warning Signs Our Cleaners Are Trained to Spot in Aged Care and NDIS Homes

When most people think about cleaning, they picture tidy surfaces, fresh-smelling rooms, and a job well done.

But in aged care and NDIS homes, a good clean is about so much more than presentation.

At Sistability, our domestic care specialists are trained to look beyond the obvious. For many of our clients, we’re one of the only regular visitors in the home. That puts us in a unique position - not just to clean, but to notice subtle changes that could indicate something isn’t quite right.

These are the hidden warning signs our team is trained to look out for.

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Aged Care & NDIS Home Cleaning: How We Assess Safety, Cleanliness and Support Needs

Aged Care & NDIS Home Cleaning: How We Assess Safety, Cleanliness and Support Needs

When our domestic care specialists walk into a client’s home, we’re not just there to clean — we’re there to understand the space, the person, and what support is truly needed.

For many of our NDIS participants and aged care clients, their home environment plays a crucial role in their safety, health, and independence. That’s why the first few moments inside a home are so important.

We’re quietly assessing, observing, and identifying how we can best help — not just today, but ongoing.

Here’s what we’re really looking for.

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Cleaning With Care: Supporting Independence and Dignity for NDIS and Aged Care Clients
Cleaning, Aged Care, Aged Care Navigation, NDIS Jennica Fernstrom Cleaning, Aged Care, Aged Care Navigation, NDIS Jennica Fernstrom

Cleaning With Care: Supporting Independence and Dignity for NDIS and Aged Care Clients

Cleaning in a home where someone is ageing or living with disability requires more than good technique. It requires empathy, patience and respect.

Here are practical and respectful cleaning tips for families, support workers and carers who want to maintain a safe, healthy environment while protecting dignity.

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