Novita

05/11/2024

9-year-old Soccer fan Brooklyn just achieved something amazing! He was awarded a Child and Youth Award for his courage, strength, and determination at school 🏆⭐

For the past three years, Brooklyn has been working hard with his speech pathologist, Eliza, to improve his language and speech skills.

Brooklyn rarely complains and shows determination when faced with challenges during his sessions where he works on pronunciation and letter formations, which assists him with his schoolwork.

All of his hard work led to the proud moment when he received his award at Government House with his family there to celebrate!

Congratulations, Brooklyn! Keep up the hard work as you meet your educational goals! 🎉



[Image descriptions - Image 1: The boy is writing at a desk, while the young woman beside him smiles and watches. A Novita laptop and an award are on the table. Image 2: Close-up of the boy’s hands as he writes, with a young woman pointing to his paper. A whiteboard and markers are in the background. Image 3: A boy with short blonde hair smiles holding an award. Image 4: A boy with short blonde hair smiles at a young woman across the table in a classroom setting.]

23/10/2024

Sarah is full of life with a bubbly personality that lights up every room. Whether it’s family gatherings, community activities, or outings with friends, Sarah is always the life of the party 🎉💃

Recently, she had a fantastic day at the nail salon 💅🏻 with one of her best friends who she met through Novita.

With support from our staff, Sarah is working towards some exciting goals. As she builds new friendships, Sarah is becoming more aware of personal space and why it's important to respect boundaries. She's also exploring employment opportunities with the Novita coffee van as she works towards becoming more independent.

Through fun activities like art and crafts, Sarah is identifying more colours and gaining confidence in making choices. Sarah’s favorite phrase is, “Give everything a go, and try your best!” which truly reflects her determination and positivity.

Keep up the awesome work, Sarah!

[ (image one): Sarah and her best friend are enjoying a foot spa session. (image two) Sarah in a pink t-shirt smiling brightly. ]

16/10/2024

Meet Tristan, a bright and cheerful 16-year-old with cerebral palsy who is working towards his dream of becoming a professional model 🌟

With the support of his physical and occupational therapists, Tristan has been working hard to build his independence to achieve this goal.

During an intensive period of therapy over the school holiday’s, Tristan has learned to buckle his seatbelt on his own 🚗 and can now use adaptive tools to make mealtimes easier 🌭🥦

These small steps are making a BIG difference. With every new skill he masters, Tristan is gaining more confidence and independence as he looks forward to the future.

We're so proud of how far you’ve come in such a short time, Tristan! We’re sure we’ll see you on the cover of a fashion magazine soon.

26/09/2024

Say hello to Millie, a talented 18-year-old artist with a passion for illustration and creativity! 🎨✨

Like many others in the creative community, Millie has faced challenges with imposter syndrome and self-doubt. However, since joining Novita, she has embraced her artistic side thanks to guidance from her Novita support workers and encouragement from her peers.

Millie's hard work and dedication to her art led her to participate in her first SALA art exhibition this year with Novita, where she proudly sold her very first original art piece!

Millie’s artistic journey began in primary school where she would draw her favourite anime characters. Anime continues to be a source of artistic inspiration for her, from early favourites like “Little Witch Academia” to her current obsession, “Demon Slayer.”

“My next goal is to run my own art business," Millie shares, inspired by the friends she’s made in the Transition To Work program and her love for art. 🖌️💖

While she hasn’t started selling her work just yet, Millie is planning to establish her online presence on Instagram soon under the handle - https://www.instagram.com/justwisteriaartz/ . She looks forward to creating and selling posters, keychains, tote bags, and more - both online and at local events like Adelaide’s Anime and Video Game Festival.

We’re incredibly proud of Millie and can’t wait to see where her artistic journey takes her next!

18/09/2024

From finding it difficult to use the right-side of her body to now walking, running, climbing, hopping, and skipping with confidence, Montanna has been on journey of growth and achievement since joining us in 2020 🌟

As she lives with cerebral palsy, Montanna's therapy goals have been centered around developing her movement skills, improving her posture, and building her independence in everyday tasks – like cooking delicious pancakes 🥞

Montanna's therapists say her hard work and commitment to therapy mean she can now join in with her active family life, play with her two older sisters, and participate fully in the classroom 😊🎉

Montanna's next goal is to master riding a 2-wheel bike independently - an exciting milestone for any kid! 🚴‍♀️

We are so proud of Montanna and can’t wait to see all the amazing things she will continue to achieve ✨💪



[image description: (image one) A young lady in a floral dress is eating a pancake, (image two) three young ladies are smiling at the camera against a yellow background, (image three) A young lady in a floral dress is smiling against a yellow background.]

12/09/2024

17-year-old Lachlan has his eyes on the prize 🥇🏸

Since 2023, Lachlan has been playing para-badminton and has competed in tournaments around Australia and on the international stage. Initially a cricket star, Lachlan decided to give para-Badminton a go, and excelled 🏆💯

‘I enjoy being active and have always wanted to play sport at a high level,’ Lachlan says. 🏸🏸

On perfecting his form and athleticism, Lachlan says that attending Novita since a young age has supported his passion and ability to play sports at a high level 🏆💜

Reaching his goals to be an elite athlete hasn’t always been easy but has been ultimately rewarding for Lachlan who won two gold medals in the Australia Para Nationals earlier this year 🥇🏸

‘Novita has supported me throughout my life. I’ve had a lot of physio and serial castings – with orthotics as well. Utilising these services has supported my legs to grow as strong as possible,' Lachlan says 🏆💜

‘My advice for young para-athletes would be to find a sport you enjoy both training and competing in. The right coaches will also help you reach whatever stage you want to compete in.’ 🏆💯

Next on Lachlan’s checklist is to win a medal at the Japan Para badminton International being held at the end of October. After that, the sky is limitless 🥇💯

‘My long-term goal is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.' 💯🏸

And we can’t wait to see you there, Lachlan! 💜🦅

Image description: [Image one: a young man in a white t-shirt and green shorts plays badminton. Image two: a young boy is being fitted for orthotics in a white room. Image three: a young man smiling in front of a blue background wearing two gold medals around his neck.]

11/09/2024

“One of my goals is to become a chef!” Campbell says 🌟

Over the past few months, Campbell has been perfecting his cooking skills as part of our Transtion To Work program which supports people with disability to achieve their employment goals.

Not only is Campbell gaining valuable work experience and building job-ready skills as part of the program, he’s also discovering the satisfaction of cooking independently. Recently, he mastered his favourite meal - Spaghetti Bolognese with Meatballs 🍝 - made completely from scratch.

Since joining us, Campbell's confidence has grown, and he’s now feeling empowered to explore and excel in future job opportunities.

We’re incredibly proud of Campbell’s journey so far and we’d love for you to share your message of support in the comments below as he continues to work towards his goals of joining the hospitality industry 👨‍🍳🔪🥕



[image description: (image one)a young man in a beige, branded t-shirt is smiling at the camera against a yellow background, (image two) a young man in a beige, branded t-shirt is serving brownies in a cafe.]

04/09/2024

Last Friday night at the MOD. museum, DJ Deb aka DJ Dibbles hit the decks performing a set for The Heart Beat Club by Tutti Arts, a club night run by and for people with disability. 🎛️🎵

Deb has been working towards her goal of becoming a DJ as part of our ‘Stepping into the Future’ initiative which supports people who live with disability to achieve their individual goals while making friends and feeling part of the community.

What Deb enjoys most about being a DJ is exploring different venues, seeing people happy and dancing, and listening to other DJ's perform. 🎼💃

Keep the energy going, Deb! We can't wait to see where you perform again soon.

01/09/2024

The 2024 Paralympics begin this week in Paris, and we can’t wait to see the green and gold compete with the best! This year’s Australian Paralympic Team motto is , showcasing the diverse abilities of our elite para-athletes, and inspiring us to dream what our team could do with the full weight of the nation behind them.

Angus Hincksman will represent us at the Paralympics for the first time, having secured his place in the T38 class 1500m metre athletics event 🏃💛💚💜

Angus has received physio and orthotics support from Novita recently, alongside speech pathology when he was younger. He also received advice about undergoing classification so that he could compete against others with similar abilities, putting him on an even playing field with his peers.

Angus has been hard at work for many years chasing his Paralympic dream, making tough decisions and sacrifices along the way, but he believes it’s all been worth it.

'Who could turn down trips to altitude training, or trips to the USA, London, Switzerland and Paris? These experiences have helped me to develop both as an athlete, and as a person' Angus says.

’I love Para Athletics because we help one another, and you get to learn about other disabilities, we have a good culture of acceptance and caring.’

‘My advice is to give everything a go, you don’t truly know what you are capable of until you try. People (even well-intentioned people) will try to tell you what you can and can’t do. Yes, as a para-athlete you can get on a bicycle even with no core control, yes as an amputee you can run, jump and throw. My movement has improved with the repetition of my training, don’t be afraid to do sports it’s actually the best physiotherapy (and way more fun!)’

’Don’t limit yourself, give things a go, and challenge yourself!’

Keep an eye out for Angus when he takes on the world this Paralympics! We’re sure you’ll do us, and Australia proud 💛💚💜

[Image description]: A man in a blue and white running top and blue shorts is running around a blue track, in front of one man also wearing a blue and white running top, and in front of another man wearing a white and green singlet and black shorts. There is a stand full of spectators in the background, and a photographer taking photos of other racers.

28/08/2024

To our Australian Paralympic Team athletes, we're cheering you on from home in so many ways!

Some of us might say it out loud, some of us might sing it, while others might use a communication device to turn our words into speech, or a sign to encourage you to do your best!

These are just a few of the many ways we communicate, but no matter how we show our support, know that we’re all behind you - encouraging you to at the Paralympic Games.



[Video description: Novita clients send a message of support to the Australian Paralympic Team using different types of communication.]

22/08/2024

Declyn's smile and positive energy are infectious to the community in Kadina 😀💜

In his therapy sessions, Declyn works towards being more independent by learning to complete day-to-day tasks and regulating his emotions. A friendly face around our Novita hub, Declyn enjoys working with his support team to find ways to reach his goals 🧩🎲

'One of my goals is to access the community and be better at everyday tasks,' Declyn says.

'I see my support worker Lucy for two hours every Friday to go out into the community. We also play games that help me work on therapy goals including emotional regulating, independent living skills, and understanding winning and losing.' 😀💜

A creative way Declyn learns about independence and care for others is through his love for animals 🐇🐈🐕

'I love being able to access the community and by visiting the local pet store and the Wallaroo Holiday Park petting zoo,' Declyn says 💜🐇🐈

'I also regularly look after my uncle's dogs after school or therapy, which has been great for working towards independence and learning to care about others.'

Declyn's kind and caring nature is what makes him a valued part of our Novita community. We are so proud of what he has accomplished, and look forward to seeing him continue to reach his goals in the future 💯💯💜

[Image description: (image one) a boy wearing a black jumper stands in front of a purple wall while holding a pink stuffed toy, (image two) a boy wearing a black jumper plays a game of cards with a woman in a purple polo shirt.]

15/08/2024

Tom has a strong passion for football and his dream is to become a professional AFL commentator in the future. This Saturday, he has been chosen to represent Novita at the Central District Football Club Novita Charity Match 🏈💫

'I love football, so having the opportunity to participate in this way is something I'm very proud of,' Tom says.

Since joining our Transition to Work program, Tom has made remarkable progress by actively building his skills and confidence, pursuing a part-time job, and engaging with the community. Through the program, he’s been able to gain the confidence to showcase his skills on the radio too 📻💬

'Being on the radio was great fun,' Tom says 🏈💫

The Central District Football Club has proudly partnered with Novita since 2009 to promote inclusivity in the world of sport. We are excited to see Tom represent Novita on the field and can’t wait to see him continue to achieve his goals! 🌟🙌

[Image Description One: Two young men are sitting in a grandstand. One of them has his arms folded, while the other is holding an AFL football. Image Description Two: A young man, wearing a blue, red, and white striped AFL jersey, is preparing to kick a football. Image Description Three: Two young men are passing an AFL football to each other.]

07/08/2024

One thing to know about our Novita client Louise is that she absolutely loves her footy and is passionate about including everyone on the team. No matter their ability, Louise believes that everyone deserves a fair shot and opportunity to participate in sports 🏈💜

'While I love my footy, I am fully aware that I do have more difficulty playing than my peers - and this is something I want to see changed,' she says 🏈💜

'The gap between inclusive and mainstream sports is glaringly obvious and I'm working towards bridging this by finding opportunities for athletes to play in mixed and inclusive leagues' 💪💜

In 2021, Louise helped establish the ROOSQUAD an inclusive football team at the Morphettville Park Football Club to encourage athletes of all abilities to have a go on the field 🦘👟

'I was really happy to work towards my goal of creating an inclusive team where people of all abilities could feel included in a sport that I am passionate about' 💯⭐

Continue to kick goals, Louise, we can't wait to see what you accomplish next! 🥇🏈

[Image descriptions: Image 1: a smiling woman wearing a black t-shirt stands on a bridge holding a football in her right hand. Image 2: a smiling woman wearing a black t-shirt holds a football towards the camera. Image 3: a smiling woman wearing a black t-shirt is leaning back against a red brick wall with her arms crossed.]

31/07/2024

Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of creating an NDIS plan? 😫 You're not alone!

Participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) need an NDIS plan to receive support and services. This plan typically outlines your needs and goals, while also including the services and support you need to achieve these.

Creating a NDIS plan can be very difficult and time-consuming as there are many details to consider. To support you through this, we have created a thorough set of steps that you can use as a guide when putting your plan together.

From preparing to meet with the NDIS to receiving and reviewing your approved plan, our guide has everything you need to make an NDIS plan that is perfectly tailored to your needs.

👉 [Read the full article here: https://www.novita.org.au/helpful-information/everything-you-need-to-know-about-creating-an-ndis-plan/]

Helpful Information Helpful Information | Tags: NDIS Everything you need to know about creating an NDIS plan access_time15min read The National Disability Insurance Scheme or ‘NDIS’ is a funding scheme operated by the Australian Government designed to support the needs and goals of people living...

25/07/2024

Look at Lia go! 💜💜

Lia has had challenges since birth and earlier this year, she joined Novita to work on her big and small movements through different therapies including swimming and exercise💪👶

Lia has made some great strides since her initial sessions. Now, with the skills and confidence she has gained from the work with her therapists, Lia can pull herself up to stand, move around the room, engage in play, and begin to wave - all with a big smile on her face. Lately, she has been enjoying playtime with others and has been less reliant on Mum for some movements 😀💜

We look forward to seeing Lia continue to kick goals with her team. Her enthusiasm and infectious energy will always make our day 😀💜



[Image description: image one: a woman and a small child are kneeling on the ground and smile at the camera, image two: a woman in a blue jumper is holding a small child who waves at the camera]

18/07/2024

Gardening Guru Aidan is loving his work experience at GLG Green Life Group 🪴🌱

A pro on the whipper snipper, leaf blower and ride-on mower, Aidan knows how to get the job done 💚✅

The GLG team, who have nicknamed him 'Big Doss' enjoy the enthusiasm, dedication and care Aidan brings to each shift 🌵🛠️

'We wouldn't be the same without Aidan,' the GLG crew said 💚✅

'He adds so much to the positive dynamic and comradery of the team.' 🪴🌱

Aidan is completing his work experience through Novita's Transition to Work Program, an initiative aiming to support people with disability to gain skills towards finding meaningful employment. Aidan's goal is to become a professional gardener and through his experience at GLG and support from TTW, he is fast making it become a reality🌵🛠️

'I love working at GLG because I enjoy gardening and hanging out with the crew,' Aidan says 🐛💚

'I definitely want to do this for the long term!'🪴🌱

And we have no doubt he will! We're proud of you Big Doss 💚🌱

[Image description]: (image one) five men in high vis share a laugh a man wearing high-vis operates a whipper-snipper, (image two) five men in high vis share a laugh, (Image three) two men smiling at the camera

11/07/2024

Keeping active and spending time with others is one of the most popular goals here at Novita 🏃👫

Recently, our Whyalla Fitness crew visited Anytime Fitness to flex their muscles in a fun and motivating group class 👟🏋️‍♀️

They brought the purple power to the gym and enjoyed using the machines while working on their fitness skills 💜

'Working out with the Whyalla crew is great because I can be with my friends while keeping healthy and strong,' one participant said 💜👫

'I enjoy the fun environment. It's good for both my physical and mental health.' 💜🏋️‍♀️

We hope our Whyalla crew keep going for gold in the lead up to the Olympics! 🥇💯

[Image description: (image one) a group smiles in front of the camera in front of a purple wall (image two) a young woman wearing a yellow jumper smiles at the camera

05/07/2024

Don't know where to start? No stress! As the school holidays approach, it's important to find creative ways to keep the kids busy and away from the screen 🧑‍🧒‍🧒💻

We have created a handy guide of the top five alternatives to screen time these school holidays 💃🏻🍳

Dancing, cooking, crafting and more, kids will be spoilt for choice with a range of fun and stimulating activities 🏃‍♂️🧒

To read the full list, click below

[Image description: a child is colouring in a picture in front of a yellow background]

https://www.novita.org.au/resources/5-alternatives-to-screen-time-this-school-holidays

Resources Resources | Tags: School Holidays Five alternatives to screen time during the school holidays access_time15min read Top five activities to stay away from the screen these school holidays Staying away from the screen during the school holidays can be difficult – especially because of the ...