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With a successful international film and television career taking him around the world, a beautiful, loving wife and a grown son, Ade Djajamihardja was living a dream life. Knowing how lucky he had been and wanting to share his good fortune, he joined the voluntary board of Disability Media Australia in 2011 in an effort to make a difference in the lives of people in his industry with a disability. Three days later, at the age of just 42, Ade suffered a massive haemorrhagic stroke requiring life-saving brain surgery and acquired a life-long disability – turning him into the “most dedicated board member” that had ever served according to the Disability Media Australia CEO.

Family of a young male NDIS participant say the National Disability Insurance Scheme has been such a relief. It now funds weekly speech therapy, occupational therapy and a continence nurse to help their son with toileting at home and at school, with the goal being to keep him in a mainstream classroom. “Before the NDIS, I found it frustrating all the literature says early intervention is key to allow children with NF to integrate into mainstream society. If I can’t pay for it, how am I supposed to do it! It was a frustrating battle,” mum, Shelly, said. “The NDIS has alleviated the financial pressures. To go from receiving nothing, to Alex having all of his therapy costs paid for, it means so much to our family. I feel like doing cartwheels!” she said.

Two years ago, Tiffney French couldn’t see a future for her three year old son Axel. Axel couldn’t speak well or comprehend language, struggled with his fine motor skills, and was so frustrated by his inability to communicate that he was violent and had frequent meltdowns. He didn’t want to play with his older brother and sister and would only rarely say ‘mum’ and ‘dad’. He frequently escaped from home through locked doors and over 6-foot high fences, and had no understanding or awareness of danger. His frustrated parents had tried everything to get his behaviours under control, but nothing was working. After much trial and error, Tiffney finally found a group therapy program that seemed to work when Axel was three years old, and he slowly but surely began to show progress. Joining the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) shortly thereafter was the cherry on top, giving the family the funds to allow Axel to continue in their chosen program, fully funded by the Scheme. The result, Tiffney says, is a thriving five year old boy who is looking forward to starting prep in a mainstream school next year – something she never thought would be possible a few years ago.

Family learned about the NDIS and were able to get son into scheme and improve his life, utilising the right supports to meet his needs.

NDIS was able to help a family whose son was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Catching a wave in the sparkling Gold Coast surf is just one of the feats Megan Turner has accomplished in the past nine months, as the Ipswich woman enjoys a new lease on life after joining the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in July last year.

37-year-old Rebecca Biddle says she has a new lease on life now she is with the NDIS and the best part is her mum can now get a break.

A female NDIS participant in her 20s got funded for assistive technologies in her plan. They have helped to change her life and make her feel safer as she looks to live independently.