Plumtree Children's Services

13/10/2026

STARTING SOON

Ever wonder what's really going on behind the tears, frustration, meltdowns or worries?

Young children are still learning about their feelings. They often need help to understand what they're experiencing and what to do next.

Tuning in to Kids is a practical parenting course that helps you:
• Notice the early signs of how your child is feeling
• Understand what big emotions might be telling you
• Respond in ways that strengthen connection
• Support your child to manage feelings and solve problems
• Build confidence and resilience over time

Through everyday moments at home, you'll learn simple strategies to help your child feel safe, understood and supported.

Places are limited.
Register today: https://www.plumtree.org.au/event/tuning-in-to-kids-t426/

12/10/2026

Join us for the first MyTime Vietnamese session of the term!

Come along for a chat, a moment to pause, and time to connect with others in a welcoming and supportive space.

💻 Can’t make it in person? Join us online
📅 Thursday 15 October
🕚 10am – 12pm
📍 or online
➡️ https://www.plumtree.org.au/event/vietnamese-my-time-fy2627-2/

07/10/2026

The latest Plumtree Families newsletter is here.

With changes ahead through Thriving Kids, this edition shares what we know so far, along with practical resources, upcoming programs and ways for families to stay connected and have a say.

Take a look when you have a few minutes: https://mailchi.mp/plumtree/staying-connected-through-change_sept2026

If you’d like to receive our family newsletter each term, subscribe here:
https://www.plumtree.org.au/newsletter/

We hope you find something useful for you and your family.

06/10/2026

School inclusion is something families and schools build together.

Family Advocacy is offering free workshops for families of children with disability who are approaching or already in the school years. Explore practical classroom adjustments, communication and planning, preparing for school meetings and ways to advocate for your child.

Sessions are available in Rouse Hill, Ashfield and Chatswood this October.

Learn more and register:
https://family-advocacy.com/events/

04/10/2026

We’re sorry for any inconvenience. We look forward to seeing you next week.

If you are a new family and would like to join our group, you can find more information here: https://www.plumtree.org.au/event/explorers-play-in-the-park_2026/

04/10/2026

There’s still time to have your say

If you’re the parent or primary caregiver of an autistic child, young person or adult, there’s still time to add your experience to the 2026 National Autism Parent and Caregiver Survey.

Families’ experiences can help strengthen the evidence used to inform autism policy, supports and services across Australia.

The survey takes around 30 minutes and is completely anonymous.
It closes tomorrow, Monday 5 October, at 11.59pm AEST.

If you’ve been meaning to take part, now is a good time.

Share your experience here:
https://uwa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0oZipmkFo5nSUpo?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=social

02/10/2026

If your child is already receiving NDIS support, you may be wondering what the recent NDIS changes mean for your family.

One important thing to know is that the new NDIS access arrangements for children do not begin until 1 January 2028.

Children aged 8 and under who are accessing the NDIS before this date will continue to have their eligibility reassessed using the criteria that were in place before 1 January 2028.

Once they turn 9, they may be reassessed under the new eligibility criteria based on functional capacity.

This means there isn’t an immediate change to how your child accesses the NDIS because of the new eligibility arrangements.

We also know that reading about future changes can bring up lots of questions: What does this mean for my child? Will their support change? Do I need to do something now?

There are still details being worked through, and families will be given information before changes take place.

We’ll continue to follow the changes and share information with families as it becomes clearer.

➡️ Read the Australian Government information about the changes
https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/ndis-legislation-changes/amendments/ndis-amendment-securing-the-ndis-for-future-generations-bill-2026/about-the-changes-to-the-ndis?language=en

30/09/2026

It was great to be part of the CBCC Autism & Disability Forum in Belmore yesterday.

Kylie joined the evening to represent Now & Next, connecting with families, community members and local services.

We loved being part of the conversations, sharing what we’re learning alongside families, and meeting Ronan from ABC and Netflix docusieres Love on the Spectrum.

29/09/2026

Squishy toys are popular with lots of children, so this is a useful article to be aware of.

You don’t need to stop children playing with them. The advice from experts is simple: use squishy toys as intended and don’t heat them in the microwave.

Squishy toys are a must-have for many kids, but dangerous counterfeits are entering the market, with a social media trend causing severe burns.

28/09/2026

You may have started hearing the name “Thriving Kids”. So, what is it?

Thriving Kids is a new Australian Government initiative for children aged 8 and under who need extra support with their development, and their families.

It is being developed for children with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs. Children will not need a diagnosis to access Thriving Kids support.

The idea is to make it easier for families to:

• learn about their child’s development
• identify concerns earlier
• find clear information and advice
• build their skills and confidence to support their child
• connect with the right support when they need it.

Support will mostly be available in the everyday places where children live, learn and play, including at home and in the community.

Thriving Kids will begin rolling out from October 2026 and grow over time, with full rollout planned by 1 January 2028.

There is still more to learn about what Thriving Kids will look like for families in NSW. We’ll continue to share information as more details become available.

➡️ Learn more about Thriving Kids: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/thriving-kids/about-thriving-kids
➡️ Thriving Kids Program | Plumtree: https://www.plumtree.org.au/for-families/thriving-kids-supporting-children-to-grow-and-thrive/