This online, self paced NDIS program helps to develop skills to be able to live more independently (growing your own food).

This may help you develop skills for employment (fish care, routines, structures, responsibility, problem solving, following instructions) if it is aligned with your goals.

Improving life choices helping you learn how to have responsibility of gold fish and choosing healthy food options.

Increase independence by learning how to grow healthy food at home

This is a perfect, ongoing activity that you can be doing with your support worker. From watching the videos together, taking notes, learning how to sustainably source the parts you need (Most can be got at a hardware store ~ reducing costs, Marketplace and a landscaper), building it, selecting fish, and caring for the fish and lpants. Harvesting the veggies.

It's an online program that you can watch in your own time, as many times as you like, in your own safe space when you are in the right space. It gently pushes you out of your comfort zone to learn something new, gain new skills, in a time and place that feels comfortable for you. You don't need to force yourself to function to fit in with someone else's time.

You get to be active within the online Facebook group when you choose. It's self paced so you choose when you watch it and when you build it.

With the help of your NDIS support worker, the aquaponics system is easy to maintain once built.

The first question is, "Does this program align with the NDIS goals of the participant?"

This program is designed by a participant with lived experience with autism, PTSD, anxiety and depression, with the intention to help other participants achieve their NDIS plan and life goals.

Common goals have been focused on with the development of the program such as:

• Development of daily living skills.

• Increasing Motor Skills.

• Increasing Executive functioning.

• Ability to follow instructions.

• Maintain attention for task completion.

• Independent living skills by growing food.

• Social interaction and connecting with others in the community.

Unlike NDIS programs with set days/ times that may not suit when a participant is most functional, this self-paced, online program is available from the participants safe place, to do when they have the capacity to absorb the videos. They can watch the videos as many times as they need, at their own pace.

This makes it more valuable ~ as the participant chooses when they can be mentally present to learn.

This program provides lessons to practice skills ongoing in the home environment. It is ongoing value and learning to manage for the participant.

The program assists the participant to learn new skills, and increase their confidence in life. This program covers everything A-Z in a simple to understand way to build and look after your aquaponics system. There is no guess work, just simple guidance.

The online program cost $600, which includes a fish keeping package that will be shipped to the participant.

It can be covered under either:

'Core' Social & Economic Participant: Access Community Social & Rec Activity

'Capacity building' Increased Social & Community Participation: Skills Development & Training

The cost of building the aquaponics system can be covered in under $100 for parts, sourced with the help of a support workers.

This should only take an hour for experienced people with tools.

Any handyman or maintenance person will have the tools and can help to physically build the aquaponics system if needed. There are instructions included for a third party to build, if necessary.

This is the purpose of the NDIS specific Facebook Group that participant will have access to.

They can post anonymously if they want, and can ask questions about the building, running and care for the fish and veggies.

Participants also have access to the main aquaponics support group on Facebook which they can interact with others around the world doing similar courses.