What Is the DVA Veteran Home Care Program?
The Veteran Home Care (VHC) program is one of the most practical, accessible supports DVA offers. It is designed specifically to help eligible veterans and war widows with day-to-day tasks at home: the cleaning, the laundry, the garden that keeps getting away from you. The kind of things that pile up quietly until they become a real problem.
If you or someone you care about has served, here is what you need to know.
From Our Founder: Why I Started Sistability and What Still Drives Me Every Day
Sistability was born in 2018 when my sister Holi and I watched two family members struggle to get the in-home support they needed. The services existed, at least in theory. But finding a provider who was reliable, genuinely caring, and capable of working with someone in a complex situation? That was another thing entirely. We kept hitting walls. We kept being let down. And we kept thinking: this can't be how it works for everyone.
It was. And in many ways, it still is.
Choosing People Over Profit: Our Commitment to Quality Care
There is a version of Sistability that could look very different to the one that exists today.
It could be bigger. It could operate across more regions. It could take on more clients, more contracts, more work. The demand is there. The opportunity has been there. And there have been moments where the path to rapid growth was genuinely available to us.
We chose not to take it. Here is why.
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.
Self-Managed vs Fully Managed Support at Home: Which One Is Right for You?
Getting approved for a Support at Home package is a relief. But it comes with a decision most families are not expecting: do you manage the package yourself, or hand that responsibility to a provider?
It sounds like a small administrative detail. It is not. How your package is managed affects who delivers your care, how much of your funding reaches you, and how much of your own time and energy goes into keeping it all running.
Here is an honest look at both options.
A Day in the Life: How Ella Helps John Live Well at Home
Not all support looks the same. For John, it looks like a trip to the shops, a lesson on his new phone, lunch out somewhere nice, and someone who genuinely enjoys his company. Twice a week, that someone is Ella.
Social support is one of the most underappreciated parts of aged care. It is not clinical. It is not complicated. But it matters enormously - because isolation, loss of independence, and the quiet accumulation of tasks that have become too hard are some of the biggest risks to the health and wellbeing of older Australians living alone.
When Leaders Gather: Sistability at the Northern Rivers Leadership Forum
Last week, Sistability CEO Jade Taylor took the stage at the Northern Rivers Leadership Health & Culture Forum, a full-day gathering hosted by Business NSW.
Alongside an outstanding line-up of regional speakers, Jade spoke to what Sistability sees on the ground every day, and why practical action, local employment, and working together are at the heart of building a healthier Northern Rivers.
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.
Sistability Named Finalist in Six Categories at the 2026 Ballina Business Awards
We are thrilled to share that Sistability has been named a finalist in six categories at this year's Ballina Business Awards, with winners announced on July 11th.
Excellence in Health, Care & Wellness Industries
Outstanding Employee, with our own Olivia Guy nominated
Employer of Choice (20 Employees and Under)
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
Excellence in Small Business (6-20 Employees)
Excellence in Workplace Health & Wellbeing
Connecting with Ballina's Seniors: Our Team at the Ballina Retirement Living & Senior Lifestyle Expo
Earlier this month, our team had the pleasure of attending the Ballina Retirement Living & Senior Lifestyle Expo, held at the beautiful Ballina Jockey Club on Racecourse Road. It was a wonderful morning filled with genuine conversations, warm connections, and the chance to help local seniors and their families understand the support available to them.
Our Aged Care Manager Jenn and CEO Jade were on the ground from 10am, ready to chat with the Ballina community about navigating the aged care system and how our services can make life at home easier, more comfortable, and more independent.
Balancing Care and Life: Tips for Family Caregivers
Caring for a loved one is one of the most meaningful things you can do.
But it can also be one of the most overwhelming.
For many family caregivers, the role doesn’t come with a manual. It often starts gradually - helping with a few tasks here and there, and before long, it becomes a significant part of daily life.
Balancing care with work, family, and your own wellbeing can feel like a constant juggle. And while it’s driven by love, it’s important to recognise that you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Here are some practical and supportive tips to help you care for your loved one, without losing yourself in the process.
How to Get Started with My Aged Care (Without the Overwhelm)
If you’re starting to think about aged care support for yourself or a loved one, you’re not alone.
For many families, the process begins with a simple question:
“Where do we even start?”
Between government websites, assessments, waitlists, and unfamiliar terms, My Aged Care can feel overwhelming at first. But the good news is, once you understand the steps, it becomes much more manageable.
Here’s a simple, clear guide to help you get started with confidence.
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.
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.
Why CHSP Is a Starting Point, Not a Long-Term Solution
For many older Australians, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (better known as CHSP) is their first experience with funded home care. It's a welcome lifeline. Help with the housework, a hand in the garden, maybe some transport to a medical appointment. For a while, it feels like enough.
But here's the reality that families and carers run into almost immediately: even when you're approved for CHSP, finding a provider who can actually take you on is a different challenge entirely.
How a Transition Clean Can Change Lives
For most people, cleaning is just another task on the to-do list. But in the work we do at Sistability, we see something very different.
We see homes where cleaning has become too much. Where things have slowly built up over time. Where life has changed, and the space someone lives in no longer supports them the way it used to.
And in those moments, a clean is not just a clean.
It can change everything.
At Sistability, we provide transition cleaning services across the Northern Rivers, supporting aged care and NDIS clients with respectful, high-quality home cleaning that goes far beyond the surface.
Helping Locals Navigate Aged Care Changes at Palm Lake Ballina
Last week, the Sistability team attended the Palm Lake Ballina Aged Care Information Session & Expo, a valuable community event focused on helping older Australians understand the Support at Home Program.
As aged care continues to evolve, events like this play an important role in making sure people feel informed, prepared, and supported through the changes. For many attendees, it was a chance to ask questions, gain clarity, and connect directly with local providers in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
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.
5 Signs Your Ageing Parent May Need Support at Home
As our parents get older, the changes can be subtle at first. A missed appointment here, a cluttered kitchen there… it’s easy to brush things off as “just ageing.”
But sometimes, these small signs are your early cue that extra support at home could make a big difference — not just for safety, but for dignity, independence, and quality of life.
Here are five key signs to look out for, especially for families across the Northern Rivers region.
Supporting Seniors at the Lismore Retirement Living & Senior Lifestyle Expo
On Friday 13th March, the Sistability team attended the Lismore Retirement Living & Senior Lifestyle Expo at the Lismore Workers Club. The event brought together a wide range of organisations and service providers dedicated to helping older Australians live well, stay independent, and access the support they need.
For our team at Sistability, it was a fantastic opportunity to meet members of the community face-to-face and talk about the ways we support people to stay safe, comfortable and independent in their homes.