A Passion for Empowerment

05/03/2026

Did you know people living with disability are twice as likely to be impacted in an emergency or disaster?

This Connected in Crisis program has been specifically developed to support people living with intellectual disability to increase their skills and confidence.

Arrange a session and receive your free Emergency Kit !

Free Emergency Kit + mentoring support for people with disability in Bundaberg. The Connected in Crisis program is offering free one-on-one mentoring sessions to help people with emergency information, access health apps and services, and know who to contact during a disaster.

Every participant receives a free Emergency Preparedness Kit valued at $85 to help them stay safe and connected during emergencies. Organisations can host a sessions at their location for clients or we come direct to you.

Learn more: widebaykids.com.au/connected-in-crisis-free-emergency-preparedness-kit

This project is supported by the Resilient CARE program, a Country to Coast Queensland and Australian Business Volunteers partnership, with received funding from the Australian Government.

05/03/2026

Reminder about those pesky private number calls — don’t get caught off guard.

☎️ If the NDIS calls you unexpectedly (often from a private number), you still have options.

✨ You can ask them to call back later.
✨ You can ask to have a support person present.
✨ You can postpone the conversation until you have support.
✨ You can ask for communication to be redirected to your Support Coordinator.

You don’t have to answer complex questions or make decisions on the spot.

⏸️ This applies to check-ins, plan reassessments, and internal reviews as well.

Take the time you need.
Get the support you deserve.

⚠️ Don’t feel strong-armed by off-the-cuff calls.

It’s okay to pause, get support, and respond when you’re ready.

04/03/2026

Lived experience matters. Deeply. 🤍

But in the NDIS space, lived experience on its own is not a qualification.

When you engage a Support Coordinator or a Psychosocial Recovery Coach, you are not just hiring someone who “gets it.”
You are engaging someone to uphold your rights under the National Disability Insurance Agency and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission framework. ⚖️

These roles exist to:

🧭 Navigate complex systems
📚 Understand legislation and funding boundaries
⚠️ Manage risk and duty of care
🗣️ Advocate effectively within policy
🌱 Support capacity building without creating dependence
📝 Document and report appropriately
🛡️ Recognise safeguarding concerns

That requires more than empathy.

Psychosocial Recovery Coaching is grounded in recovery-oriented practice principles aligned with National Disability Insurance Scheme guidelines.
Support Coordination requires knowledge of service systems, compliance obligations, and ethical practice standards.

Lived experience can enhance the work. 🤝
It can build trust.
It can reduce shame.
It can create connection.

But qualifications, supervision, and professional development are what protect participants. 🔒

You have a right to ask:

🎓 What training do you have for this role?
👀 Who supervises your work?
⚖️ How do you manage conflicts of interest?
❓ What happens if something goes wrong?

This is not about gatekeeping.
It is about safeguarding.

Participants deserve support that is compassionate and competent.

Your funding is not a favour.
Your supports are not doing charity work.
Your plan is built on your rights. ✊

Choose people who honour that.

02/03/2026

Check out the free parenting group run by local OT Allison Foster! Great opportunity to get some support, ask some questions and get some help with service navigation 🌼

I'm excited to offer a free parent group — a supportive space to connect, share, and learn together. Parenting can feel overwhelming at times, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. This group is designed to provide practical strategies, meaningful conversation, and a safe environment where all experiences are valued.

Come as you are, bring your questions, bring your kids and join a community that understands.

01/03/2026

Learning to ask for accommodations 🩵

Here I am, set up on the floor at poetry society on a cushion, with another one to hug and my weighted fidgets — because sitting still in a chair was almost impossible for me last time.

I’ll be honest: in this instance, it was a good friend who spoke up on my behalf. I’m grateful for that support. Maybe next time, I can find the courage to ask for what I need myself.

It’s a learning process. Asking for accommodations isn’t weakness — it’s knowing what helps you participate and be present. I’m getting better at it, one small step at a time.

💬 If you’ve ever needed support to participate, I’d love to hear what helps you show up as you.

27/02/2026

Grateful to have shared my morning with a bunch of like minded people 💕

27/02/2026

Why we don’t wear uniforms.

Because our role is partnership — not power.
For some, uniforms represent authority.
Compliance.
Systems that haven’t always felt safe.

We don’t want to add to stigma.
We don’t want to create hierarchy.

We want you to feel comfortable enough
to be yourself — not who you think services expect you to be.

Because disability support should protect autonomy,
not control it.

26/02/2026

Don't forget - we will be at The Nest tomorrow from 9.30am.
We know the world of disability and supports can be overwhelming, come and pick our brains with any questions you may have!

All Abilities Alliance members will be on hand at a Disability Information Session at The Nest on Friday 27 February from 9.30am.

Enjoy a FREE morning tea while you chat with NDIS Local Area Coordinators from the IWC, NDIS service providers, support coordinators and plan managers, local health and other services that support carers.

Other services and providers also welcome!

26/02/2026

🩵

25/02/2026

There is something powerful about watching someone reclaim a piece of themselves.

For Laura it was the piano. 🎹

Years had passed. Confidence had wavered.
But the moment their fingers touched the keys… the body remembered.

Muscle memory is incredible.
Joy lives in the body. Sometimes it just waits for permission to return.

Reclaiming joy — one note at a time. ✨

19/02/2026

✨ Celebrating Melissa ✨

Today we celebrate a special milestone — Melissa’s 2 years with Passion for Empowerment — and an exciting new chapter as she steps into her new role as Team Leader.

Melissa brings a gentle, genuine presence to everything she does. Her work is grounded in strong values, authenticity, and a deep commitment to empowerment and supporting others with compassion and respect. She leads with kindness, integrity, and a person-centred approach that truly reflects who we are as an organisation.

We are incredibly proud to recognise Melissa’s growth, dedication, and the positive impact she continues to have within our team and the wider community.

Congratulations Melissa — we are so grateful to have you walking this journey with us and can’t wait to see you thrive in this next chapter 💛

19/02/2026

✨️Passion for Empowerment is excited to be apart of this upcoming information session, open to the community ✨️

All Abilities Alliance members will be on hand at a Disability Information Session at The Nest on Friday 27 February from 9.30am.

Enjoy a FREE morning tea while you chat with NDIS Local Area Coordinators from the IWC, NDIS service providers, support coordinators and plan managers, local health and other services that support carers.

Other services and providers also welcome!