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Compared With What? A question our mental health system needs to answer. I have walked alongside people experiencing profound psychosis, overwhelming voice-hearing experiences and other distressing perceptual disturbances. Not only through my work as a nurse and now leading a psychosocial disability service, but beside someone I love most - my own son. There is a profound difference between understanding psychosis professionally and living alongside it as a parent. I have had

A conversation I had this week reminded me why human connection matters. Someone I support looked at me and quietly said, "Aside from my mum before she died... there's no one else I trust except you. I'm sorry... you've kind of become my support person." What struck me most wasn't the words. It was the apology. As though trusting another person was something they should feel guilty about. As though feeling safe enough to lean on someone was a burden they were placing on me.

I’m incredibly honoured to be joining Keeleys Cause as a director 🩷💙 Over the last couple of years, I’ve watched Keeley Johnson and Sharon Murphy turn unimaginable grief into purpose, advocacy and real change for children and families living with disability 🙌 Those who know me know that I don’t say yes to much these days. Between family, T and K Support Services and the people we walk alongside every day, my plate is pretty full. But some causes are simply too important n

At T & K Support Services, our people are what make us special. Every team member brings their own experiences, passions, and personality to the work they do, helping us create meaningful connections with the people we support every single day. This month, we'd like to introduce one of our fantastic team members, Luke Curnow. From the Kitchen to Community Support Before joining the disability sector, Luke spent an incredible 18 years working as a chef in childcare, preparing

2026 Addictionz Conference

By Lachy Hartup. Music has always been a huge outlet for me. I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by music and it stuck, in the best way possible. My Grandpa, a guitarist, exposed me to all kinds of music from a young age. Then later my step Dad shared his passion and talent with us daily. Part of the Melbourne metal scene, I was lucky enough to spend time with some absolute legends my step Dad simply calls his mates. These men have shaped my love of music, and the respe

By Prue Anderson - Community Services manager “One safe and supportive person can change someone’s world.” Mother’s Day has always been complicated for me. For many people, it is a day of celebration, connection, flowers, family lunches, and gratitude. But for those of us who grew up without a mother’s love and presence, it can also carry grief - not necessarily grief from death, but grief for what never was. My mother chose to leave when I was five years old. At that age, I

At the heart of T & K Support Services is a story - one built not from theory, but from lived experience. For founder Kym McMinn, leadership has never been about titles or hierarchy. It’s about understanding people, walking alongside them, and creating spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and genuinely supported. Recently, Kym shared her insights as a panel speaker at an International Women’s Day event - a reflection of her growing voice in the sector and her commitment

Getting to Know You (Lachy Hartup) What inspired you to pursue support work? My own lived experience. I’ve spent years navigating systems that didn’t always know how to support people like me, and I know how isolating that can feel. Support work, for me, is about showing up differently - walking alongside people, not trying to “fix” them. Why did you choose to join T & K Support Services specifically? T & K genuinely lives the “Identity Before Diagnosis” mindset. It’s not jus

💜✨ NEW PROGRAM COMING TO BALLARAT ✨💜 Starting Friday 8th May, we’re excited to share an incredible opportunity for our community 👇 Introducing The Date-Ability Program – a 4-week interactive course designed specifically for NDIS participants, focused on building confidence, connection and real-life relationship skills. 📅 When: Every Friday for 4 weeks 📍 Where: T and K community hub - 173 Albert st Sebastopol 3356 Over the 4 weeks, participants will explore

At T & K Support Services, not all impact happens on the frontline - some of the most important work happens behind the scenes. Georgia plays a key role in ensuring everything runs smoothly, supporting both staff and participants through her work in accounts and payroll. Part of the Journey from the Beginning Georgia has been part of the journey since the early days, back when T & K operated as Universal Support. “I really connected with everything T & K stood for,” she share

At T & K Support Services, our team is made up of people who genuinely care - and sometimes, that passion starts long before a career even begins. Mackenzie Conroy , a proud Ballan local, brings a natural compassion, positive energy, and a strong drive to make a difference every single day. A Natural Calling to Care For as long as she can remember, helping others has come naturally. “I have always been drawn to a career in care services,” Mackenzie shares. “Growing up, helpi

What if addiction isn’t the problem - but the coping strategy? Not a good solution. Not a safe one. But a solution nonetheless. What is this doing for the person? • a way to cope • a way to regulate • a way to survive Remove it without understanding why, that’s where things unravel. I was sitting by a local lake recently while someone I support went for a swim. We’re pretty spoilt with choices of beautiful spots like this in regional Vic 👌 For them, swimming in fresh water i

At T & K Support Services, the heart of what we do is connection - creating spaces where people feel valued, supported, and part of something meaningful. Nicole plays an important role in helping make that happen through her work in communications and community engagement. Nicole is passionate about sharing the stories, achievements, and everyday moments that make the T & K community so special. As our very own Content and communications creator - through social media, team f

International Women’s Day 2026 #BalanceTheScales #GiveToGain Last week I had the privilege of sitting on a panel of extraordinary women at the Leading Ladies Club IWD event 🙌 Real and raw accounts of running businesses. The good. The hard. The slightly chaotic lives of us. Strong women. Women who’ve broken glass ceilings. Women whose voices already carry in rooms. Nicole Makin-Doherty Belinda Toohey Sarah Heriot And that matters. But this IWD, what I want to hear loud

At T & K Support Services, our Day Program thrives because of passionate team members who genuinely care about the people they support. Danielle Jones brings warmth, experience, and a deep commitment to empowering others - helping create an environment where participants feel safe, respected, and inspired to grow. Inspired to Make a Difference Danielle’s journey into support work began with encouragement from a close friend - but it was her own heart for helping others that t

At T & K Support Services, some team members have been part of the journey since day one - and Alannah Leheny is one of them. Over the past 4.5 years, she has grown alongside the organisation, building skills, confidence, and meaningful connections with the people she supports. Stepping Outside Her Comfort Zone Alannah didn’t enter the disability sector with years of experience - she entered it with courage. “I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, try something completely