SORRY LONG POST AHEAD

I’ve been working as a Disability Support Worker (NDIS) for the same company since July 2023. Recently they sent me a new employment contract to sign, listing my commencement date as 1 June 2026 — like I’m a brand new employee.

Looking back, I’ve actually signed “updated” contracts with them several times over the past 3 years, always with the same explanation — “updates to our policies, terms and conditions.” At the time I didn’t think much of it. In hindsight I probably should have questioned it sooner.

A few things stood out when I reviewed this latest one:

Casual employment + 6-month probation. Probation is normally for new hires. Doesn’t make sense for someone with 3 years’ tenure — and if this pattern of repeated “new” contracts has been resetting my start date each time, I may never have actually cleared probation on paper.

One-sided notice period. They only owe me 1 week’s notice during probation (or “per legislation” after) — but I have to give them 4 weeks to resign.

Confidentiality clause contradicts itself — one section says the duty lasts forever, another says only 3 years.

$10,000 flat penalty for any confidentiality breach, regardless of actual harm.

12-month non-compete — banned from working with any client I’ve had contact with, for a full year after I leave.

I emailed asking why I need to sign a new contract at all; they replied it’s due to “updates to policies, terms and conditions” — no specifics given, same as previous times.

I haven’t signed it yet, and I haven’t sent anything further. I’ve drafted (but not yet sent) an email asking them to confirm my actual start date (July 2023) is preserved and to detail exactly what’s changed from my original signed contract, before I consider signing anything.

What’s making me more alarmed: a few coworkers have recently started telling me stories about ongoing issues at this workplace — pay disputes, apparently even lawsuits. I don’t have details yet, but it’s making me take all of this a lot more seriously than I did before.

My questions:

Can they legally get away with resetting my start date like this every time I sign a “new” contract, if I never pushed back before?

Am I at risk if I refuse to sign this one and keep working under my original terms?

Should I send my draft email first, or go straight to Fair Work / a lawyer given what I’m now hearing from coworkers?

Has anyone dealt with something similar in the NDIS/disability support sector, or heard of this company having wider issues?

Hi there, I am a 18 year old currently stuck on my learners. I have been on my learners since I turned 16, and I have managed to cough up 3 hours across 2 and a half years with my grandma but other than that I have no one to take me. I don't have access to a car or a fully licensed person to supervise me while I do my 75 driving hours besides my grandma, who i dont see often enough clearly.

I have heard that there are driving volunteer programs out there that help people achieve their hours, but I have tried every single one of them I can possibly find and come up empty-handed because basically all of the programs are exclusive to people in low income brackets, people on centerlink or jobstart/seeker, disadvantaged children, youth living under the government, refugees and people living in rural areas (I am none of those) I'm just a regular girl with no one to take me.

My mother has ptsd from a car crash and can't drive herself. My brother is still on his p plates. All of my cousins are younger than me, live interstate, or don't have contact with me my father is out of the picture, I have one grandparent who I mentioned before which I don't see often enough to consistently drive with (like I said we managed to do 3 hours over 2 and a half years) and lastly all of my friends are only just on their p plates and none of their parents can take me understandably. Realistically, I could just wait 3 years until my brother or friends hold their full licenses for 2 years, but I am starting my new job at the end of the year and planning on moving out of my toxic household very soon. Having a license is essential to life.

For context (and anyone wondering how I currently get by) i live just outside the CBD, i work and go to school in the CBD so it's a very easy tram ride to work and school CURRENTLY, but when I get my new job and move out, that'll all change. Everyone just says, "Use public transport, but I can't possibly catch buses to my new job because I'll be starting work at 5 am my job will aslo be a hour long train/bus ride away and I'm pretty sure most buses don't run until 5:30-6am. Also, as someone who has been sexually assaulted and beaten up on public transport, I'd rather not retraumatise myself every day. I also can't carry home bags of shopping on a bus. I can't freely see my friends. I can't run errands by myself on an already tight schedule, i already struggle with time management as it is letalone having to calculate if a bus will get me to where i need in time. poeple always try and tell me otherwise but if it dosnt work for me it just dosnt work for me ive made posts like this in the past and had to prove myself to others and at the end of the day im no different to other people with different lifestyles would prefer to drive and others prefer to bike, walk, use public transport or fly idfk so if anyone with a license tries to tell me that public transport will work for me well, why don't you just live off public transport then.

Now, back to the driving volunteer programs, here is a list of everyone I've tried

Drive for life

Salvation army

L2p program

Drive me p's

driving youth

Wheels in motion

Aus Drive

RAA

Adelaide School of Driving

Service SA

every church

Every salvation army

My local council

My friend who knows an instructor

And multiple driving instructors

The only one that said yes to me was wheels in motion they are amazing, and I'm so glad many others can access them. unfortunately don't have the time to get to them from the CBD they are located all the way in gawler I go to school all week they and close at 5 by the time I get there they'll be shut, i wont have any time to drive with them, as for weekends i work 9-5 all weekend.

Like i mentioned earlier I have asked this question before on reddit and alot of people said why don't you just do all of your hours with a driving instructor and frankly my response to anyone suggesting that was "that's ducking ridiculous"

reason number 1

Driving lessons range from 100-150 per hour, multiply that by 75 and I'm up for anywhere between $7500-13500 in fees who has that kinda money laying around and why should I pay that much for something I could get for freeReason number 2

Driving instructors aren't there to just cruise around and clock up hours with you they are there to sign you off on your checklist and direct you not go on road trips.

Reason number 3

Driving instructors dont operate at night. If 15 of my hours have to be at night, how am I supposed to complete them????

So, to anyone saying "just do your hours with an instructor" absofuckinglutelynot"

I have also had random strangers offer to take me driving. Sorry, I'm not getting in the car with strangers. i feel that as a young girl in this day and age, that's pretty reasonable

I'm still asking around, but I'm coming up empty-handed. I'm sure this post will get me nowhere, but please, if anyone has anything they can suggest apart from asking friends, catching public transport and doing all my hours with an instructor, please let me know.

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping someone here might have some ideas, advice, or maybe even know of a job that would suit me here in SA

I'm based in Adelaide, and after years of trying different jobs I've finally realised what I'm actually looking for isn't more money or a better title, it's a job where I can work almost completely on my own.

For context, the best job I ever had was doing security patrols. I'd head out on my own for the shift, complete my patrols and jobs, and often not speak to another person for the entire 12 hours. No meetings, no office politics, no constant phone calls just me, my work, and being trusted to get it done. I absolutely loved it.

The only reason I left was because the 12 hour overnight shifts just weren't practical for family life so i gave it away and attempted something new for better work family balance.

Since then ive had a few different jobs and really confirmed something about myself... i enjoy working alone. I don't dislike people at all. In fact, I generally get along really well with workmates, customers and clients, and I've often been put into customer facing roles because I'm friendly and communicate well.... i just dont really enjoy it all day. Constant social interaction and working closely with other people all day leaves me completely burnt out.

I've realised I do my best work when I'm left alone with a list of jobs to do. I enjoy driving, working outdoors, working with my hands and solving practical problems, but I'm open to almost anything if it means I can work independently.

My preference is to not do an apprenticeship type role where i spend several years learning from somebody before i reach the working independently stage. Im looking for something a bit more entry level or short training period.

I'm pretty flexible with hours. I'd ideally like 3-4 days a week, but I'd consider anything from 1-2 days through to full-time if the role was right. I'm open to working weekends, even open to nights again, just preferably not regular 12 hour night shifts. I'm happy to travel anywhere around Adelaide or beyond for the right opportunity.

So, does anyone know of jobs where you genuinely spend most of your day working independently with minimal social interaction? Or if you have one yourself, I'd love to hear what you do. I have a feeling there are jobs out there that I've never even considered. Any advice or recommendations appreciated.

Thanks all.

Hey all, father passed away a little while back, psych has been suggesting changing a lot of stuff up.

My father had a passing interest in fishing, I dont really know a lot about it but the psych has said changing uo activities is more about the experience not the mission objective.

Ive got a kmart entry starter kit and there's a heap of rods at my father house.

Nephew is interested in giving it a crack. Im based North with car no boat.

Any advice on spots, good times and what setups to try out?

Been fishing a handful of times in my life so no knowledge. I made the comment to my mate about just going to semaphore jetty and apparantly that's a terrible idea?

Genuine question how do I know where to go if I can’t use my phone and I don’t have the money for a car with a built-in navigation system. And please don’t say a directory I am not looking at a map in my lap while I’m driving.

Hey random question,
I went to avcon today and parked my car down a side street near the Adelaide show grounds. When I got back I noticed my speaker and charger were stolen and my driving license was on my chair of my car. There doesn’t seem to be any cameras around so I am not sure whether or not I should report it? What would you do in this scenario ?

Pauline Fowles is joining other pensioners criticising the SA government's promotion of Origin Energy's concessions scheme ahead of the March election.

The government sent letters to concessions holders early this year promoting Origin's 20 per cent discount on electricity usage, but in the new financial year Origin introduced an increase of 53 cents a day on the daily supply charge.

The government says it does not set the energy prices for companies.

Hello, as title says. I’ve called about 5 places and they all said they’re not playing it/open too late so thought it would be easier to ask here. Thanks in advance!!

Has anyone noticed a change in the taste of water recently? Particularly around the Barossa region, in the last week or two.

Got a chlorine kind of taste to it which I properly noticed after cleaning my bottle which didnt get rid of the chemical taste, and drinking out of a glass had the same flavour.

I dont really expect others provide and answer but just curious.

Now since this change, im not losing teeth, hair, or rising to my feet in a salute when I hear Grant Denyers voice, so all is generally well.

I am losing my goddamn mind though. It feels like how I imagine it would feel if every time I blinked I suddenly started seeing a smiling man rather than the usual brief darkness. Or if I started hearing glass break every time I closed my mouth. Or if I would bark instead of laugh.

Every time I take a drink of water, my preconceptions of what reality is meant to feel like gets suddenly shattered because it doesn't taste like how its been tasting as long as I remember.

Anyways

It's not even centered.

Hey there,

Been helping my BIL look for a rental and have noticed a surprising amount of the houses I click on are advertising a 6 month lease. These are freestanding 4+ bedroom family homes, unfurnished, and even often make a big deal about school zones in their ads.

It's been 5+ years since I looked at rentals but IIRC 6 month rentals were usually furnished (and rare).

Anyone have any insight into the logic behind this? Is it more normal to renew contracts every 6 months these days? Or is it likely any 6 month contract won't be renewed? Obviously no one can speak to individual properties, but any insights are appreciated.

Does anyone know what the public mental health hospitals are like to stay in? I’m new the the state and don’t know what to expect I’m scared

Been looking for a new daily driver around the city and the quotes I'm getting from dealerships are absolute daylight robbery. They’re acting like 12% is a favor, and that’s before you even get to the "documentation fees" they try to slide in.

I’m considering skipping the banks entirely and looking for a local broker to see if they can actually shop the market. Has anyone here in SA used a broker service? I just want a straightforward rate without the high-pressure sales tactics you get on the lot.

Hey Reddit

So me and my girlfriend are over travelling around on a working holiday visa and we’ve been in Adelaide for a couple of weeks now (planning on staying for a while with family) and just can’t seem to hear anything back from anywhere regarding jobs, both me and my girlfriend have over 10 years in hospitality and I’ve got labouring experience but neither of us seem to hear back from anything.

We’re about to go hand out CVs to local hotels and coffee shops but I’ve read that that’s often pointless but we’re running out of ideas at this point. If anyone has any good websites, forums, recommendations or even any good job centres I’d be really grateful.

We do also RSAs and I’m about to go get a white card this week.

Thanks

Hello.

Can anyone who has had their 20 week scan done at Benson Radiology please let me know about your experience. I was referred through Lyell Mcewin and I am just wondering what to expect. I don't think they provide video to keep afterward.

The guy who originally posted this deleted his post and account for some reason, seems odd..

I really liked the thread he started, so I've decided to restart it.

 

One rule though: Don't post your own business, your mate's business, or your family's business; keep it honest.

 

I'll share mine again:

Galligans mattresses.

I stayed at an Airbnb a few years ago and loved the amazing sleep on the mattress across multiple nights, pulled back the sheets and saw the Galligans label.

Wound up buying one of their mattresses a couple of years later, and have loved it every night since.

I'm taking extra good care of this mattress, keeping a mattress protector on it (top and bottom), and flipping/rotating at regular intervals.

Don’t drink coffee nor tea so on the hunt for a decent mug of hot chocolate within the CBD, used to go to Chocolatree after the footy but it’s a bit of a hike from Rundle Mall during lunch breaks!