Aruga Āwhina

28/08/2026

🏁 What a day at Ability 1000! We had such a great time joining LME Care for a day filled with fast cars, big smiles and plenty of adrenaline! 🏎️💨 It was fantastic to see accessibility and inclusion at the heart of an event where people with disability could experience the thrill of V8 racing, hear and feel the power of a drag racer, and simply have a great day out. A huge thank you to LME Care for having us and for creating such a fantastic experience! We loved being part of it and connecting with so many wonderful people and organisations throughout the day. 💜 We can't wait to see what you do next! 🏁

We joined LME Care for Ability 1000 — an incredible day celebrating accessibility, inclusion and the thrill of motorsport. From V8 race cars and Lightning McQueen to drag racing and community connections, it was fantastic to see people with disability given the opportunity to experience the excite...

25/08/2026

25/08/2026

24/08/2026

Introducing RED FLAG or GREEN FLAG? 🚩💚 We're exploring what makes a good support worker in the disability sector. From reliability to respecting someone's home, we'll discuss what good support looks like. Share your thoughts! What makes a great support worker to you?
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"Support Worker Red Flag/Green Flag. Reliability & Consistency
RED FLAG: You never know who will be there; your support worker often cancels or is consistently late. Life happens. Support workers get sick. Emergencies happen. Sometimes a shift has to change at the last minute — and that's okay.

What isn't okay is being left wondering:
“Is someone actually coming?”
“Who is coming?”
“What time will they arrive?”

If a support worker can't make it, communication should be a normal part of the process. You should be told what's happening, who will be providing your support and whether someone is going to be late

GREEN FLAG: Your support provider communicates with you.

We understand that sometimes it’s not the news you wanted to hear. A support worker might be sick. Someone might have an emergency. A shift might need to change.
We can't always control what happens — but we can control how we communicate it.

We believe in being honest, transparent and keeping you informed, because you're not just waiting around for someone to turn up.
It's your life. It's your home. You deserve to know who's going to be part of it, and when they're coming through your door.

Good Support isn't about pretending everything will always go perfectly. It's about communicating when it doesn't."
www.arugaawhina.com.au

20/08/2026

Today is Daffodil Day! 🌼 Take a moment to prioritise your health: book that appointment, talk to your doctor, and check in with loved ones. Let's celebrate courage, remember those we've lost, and support cancer research. Take care of yourself and others today!
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Today we acknowledge Daffodil Day

— a day to raise awareness and support people affected by cancer, while helping fund vital cancer research and support services.

Take a moment to look after your health.
Make that appointment you've been putting off.
Book your screening.
Talk to your doctor if something doesn't feel right.
Check in with someone you love.
And remember — looking after yourself isn't selfish.
It's important.

Cancer can touch so many lives, whether through our own experiences or someone we love.

Today, we recognise the courage of those living with cancer, remember those we have lost, and celebrate the hope that research and community support can bring.

To everyone acknowledging Daffodil Day today:
If you're taking part in a fundraising event, wearing your daffodil, making a donation, taking a dip for Daffodil Day or hosting a morning tea — we hope you have a wonderful day!

Take the courage to start that health conversation.
Take the time to care for yourself.
Take the time to connect with others.

And if you're hosting a morning tea...
Enjoy that cuppa and something delicious

13/08/2026

New Blog Post! A must read for anyone on the Gold Coast!

A day of connection, discovery and a little bit of free coffee! Find out about the unique products & services we found!

10/08/2026

It's Myth Monday!

Myth #6: "Everyone's a little autistic."

It's super common for people to say this. This is due to increased awareness and acceptance; however, clinically, not everyone is autistic.

Yes, we may share some autistic traits, such as having a special interest, fidgeting, collecting Squishmallows, occasionally missing a social cue, or having a special routine, but it doesn't mean you're autistic.

For a formal diagnosis, these traits and more must be severe enough to cause significant challenges in daily life, communication, and social interaction on a constant basis.

The danger of saying "everyone's a little autistic" is that it dismisses the real struggles autistic people experience every day. Those struggles may include basic tasks such as maintaining personal hygiene or eating a meal. This phrase can cause real harm and, in some cases, may even be used as a reason to deny people the supports they need.

Website: www.arugaawhina.com.au

31/07/2026

New Blog Post!

Find out why people change providers!

27/07/2026

✨ MYTH MONDAY ✨
One of the biggest misconceptions about autism is that only boys can be autistic. For many women and girls, autism has historically been overlooked, misunderstood, or masked — leading to delayed diagnoses and years of feeling “different” without knowing why.

Autism can present differently in everyone, and many autistic girls become experts at masking their traits to fit societal expectations. The more we talk about these myths, the more understanding and acceptance we create 💛💜💙

Image Description / Adaptive Reading Text:

It’s MYTH MONDAY!

MYTH #5: ONLY BOYS CAN BE AUTISTIC

This is a common myth, I even believed it myself as a female adult, until I was diagnosed with Autism myself. There is a reason for this though and it stems across a few different platforms.

Firstly, most medical diagnoses were provided to males only back in the day. Early autism research was only conducted with male participants. As time has gone by, women and women’s health issues have become more prominent, but still have a way to go.

Autistic girls are often better at ‘masking’ or keeping things together, mimicking social behaviours to blend in and hide their autistic traits. Just call us chameleons!

Societal norms also have a part to play. If a male lines up their toys in an orderly fashion, people go ‘Oop, he could be autistic’ whereas a female lines up her toys, society says ‘Wow, she’s organised!’

The more we talk about these myths, the more they’re debunked, so get the word out!

17/07/2026

New Blog Post!

Confused about terms the NDIS use on your plan? Read our guide to get some help!