Connecting you to a range of resources, websites and organisations to support your business.
The disability support sector is one of the fastest growing in Queensland. We are here to help you navigate the market and develop your business.
Small business and sole traders already play a significant role in this market. The projected growth of this market offers small businesses and sole traders the opportunity to grow their business and expand their services.
Information and connections to help you better understand and navigate the NDIS market
Information to establish and grow your small business
Resources and contacts to help you plan and develop your workforce
Information and connections to help you better understand and navigate the NDIS market.
Queensland Government – Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and
The Queensland Disability Reform Framework – The Next Chapter (Framework) provides a cohesive approach for considering disability reform in the context of the Disability Royal Commission and NDIS Review, which have many intersections across their findings and recommendations.
View the Queensland Disability Reform Framework – The Next Chapter to understand the key focus areas and initial reforms that fall under 3 broad objectives:
Subscribe to the Queensland Government Disability e-News for the latest news from the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child about all things disability in Queensland, including the NDIS, disability policy, events, consultation opportunities and initiatives.
Australian Government – Department of Social Services
View the Australian Department’s Disability Reform Roadmap that highlights the key actions all governments will take in 2024 and 2025 to build the foundations and deliver on commitments for the disability and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reform agenda. The Roadmap outlines current activities planned for 2024 and 2025 and will be updated regularly.
The NDIS Commission regulates NDIS services and supports with nationally consistent systems, protections and education.
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) data and research
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) provides detailed information and data about the NDIS to make sure participants, their families and carers, advocates, researchers, policy makers and the general public can find out more about the Scheme and how it is working. NDIA conduct and publish research and evaluations to support positive participant outcomes by ensuring policies, practices and priorities are informed by trustworthy and robust evidence.
Head to the NDIS data and resource webpage to look at key insights about participant experiences, outcomes, demographics, payments, and other provider data.
National Disability Insurance Agency Roadmap
The NDIA 2021-25 Corporate Plan is the Agency’s roadmap to deliver a high-quality NDIS, with strategic direction. The Corporate Plan outlines the five aspirations covering this period, being:
Document: NDIA 2021-25 Corporate Plan
The NDIS Commission regulates NDIS services and supports with nationally consistent systems, protections and education. Review the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website regularly for updates or read topical articles all on the NDIS. The site additionally provides currency on how to enter, NDIS processes and expectations to work in the NDIS space.
Popular pages to view:
Worker Training Modules – free online training modules that help NDIS workers understand their role and obligations and better support people with disability. There are 8 modules that will assist new workers with specific information to start working in the disability section.
Applying for Registration – provides all the information that you need to know and steps you through the application process.
NDIS Code of Conduct – helps providers, key personnel and workers respect and uphold those rights by defining expected conduct, behaviour and culture.
Document: NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: what does this mean for providers?
National Disability Services (NDS) is the Australian peak body for disability services. It is committed to a sustainable and diverse disability service sector, underpinned by the provision of high-quality, evidence-based practices and supports that strengthen, safeguard and provide greater choice for people with disability in Australia.
The NDS releases a State of the Disability Sector report that provides an overview of issues, challenges and future projections in the sector. The latest report was released December 2024.
Disability Services Consulting (DSC) aims to simplifying the NDIS, with real-talk training, conferences, briefings and consulting. It delivers online courses and events each month on pressing topics. It is a membership-based service that entitles you to eLearning courses, webinar recordings, tools and resources to ensure you stay up to date with anything relating to the NDIS.
Queensland Disability Network (QDN) is a state-wide organisation run by and for people with a disability. It has a focus on disability rights and advocacy.
QDN’s activities, programs, and projects bring together Queenslanders with disability to forge relationships, build knowledge, lead change, and influence policy to build a more inclusive Queensland.
QDN is a membership-based organisation, it is free to sign up. This gives you access to a state-wide network of people to discuss big issues, share lived experience and being part of leading and implementing change. Membership ensures you receive their monthly eNews keeping you up to date on the sector in Queensland.
The Disability Gateway assists all people with disability, their families and carers to locate and access services across Australia. You can list your service free of charge on this platform for people to learn more on what you offer. Sections include: financial, employment, aids and equipment, housing, transport, health and wellbeing, everyday living, education, leisure, rights and legal. The Gateway is funded and maintained by the Australian Government, Department of Social Services.
Request to have your services listed by submitting a form to add a service through Ask Izzy.
This site additionally hosts the Australia’s Disability Strategy Hub. This hub provides information on Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031, the national disability policy framework driving action at all levels of government to improve the lives of people with disability. It includes the Strategy at a glance, key actions under the Strategy, the rights of people with disability, data and research, and how you can be kept informed.
The Care Sector Demand Map is an interactive tool that provides information to help plan and grow your business in the NDIS and aged care sector. You can use this map to view NDIS and Aged Care participation levels, spending, identify existing services in your location, and areas where services and supports are needed. The Map offers forecasted information on:
Funded by the Australian Government.
Jobs Queensland aims to help Queensland maintain and to develop a highly skilled and resilient workforce. It provides independent industry-led expert advice on future skills needs and future work to the Queensland Government under the Good people. Good Jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.
Jobs Queensland Anticipating Future Skills (AFS) series is a planning tool for businesses to identify regional jobs growth through detailed employment projections to help understand the future labour market. It allows you to view state-wide, regional and industry profiles.
Supported Accommodation Providers Association is the peak body for improving the quality of services and safety of supported accommodation service environments.
Queensland Aboriginal and Island Health Council is a peak body for Disability Services in Queensland. They support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations that are delivering or planning to deliver culturally appropriate First Nations disability supports and services in Queensland.
Information to establish and grow your small business.
Business Chamber Queensland is an independent, not-for-profit membership-based organisation dedicated to supporting Queensland businesses to thrive. The Business Chamber understand that businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and the heart of communities. They provide advocacy and information to develop and manage your workforce, guide business and provide connection with other businesses through networking and events.
Pulse Survey
The Pulse Survey has been measuring Queensland business confidence and expectations for more than 30 years. It is completed quarterly and provides a sentiment of business to provide advocacy to shape state and federal policies on behalf of business.
Business Evolve
This service is offered through business evolve membership. It provides individual expert guidance on how to streamline operations with business health checks and audits as well as pre-built templates and policies to support your flourishing business. They look to open doors to valuable connections with industry leaders at networking and business events.
Through the Workforce Connect Fund, you may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 for new and innovative human resource solutions. To access this funding, you need to have engaged with an Industry Workforce Advisor and developed a Workforce Plan.
The Industry Workforce Advisor program, a free workforce initiative from the Queensland Government, aims to provide workforce planning assistance that enables you to address workforce challenges, diversify your workforce, and support workforce growth.
Learn more on the Workforce Connect Fund
Business Queensland is a government initiative that looks at making it easier to start, run and grow your business. It provides this through assistance with what you need to know to help you start your business including licences and permits required, attracting staff, marketing and digital presence, planning, finances, legalities to growing your business.
Business Queensland provides services to support small business to find grants and prepare and write your grant application.
Learn more on the grant webpage for information on support programs, grants and services for Queensland small businesses.
Business Queensland provides free small business and rural financial counselling, wellness coaching for one on one support and resources to look at your wellbeing as you run your business, and other support services designed to help you and your business.
Business Queensland drive the Mentoring for Growth (M4G) program that offers eligible businesses free access to volunteer business experts who provide insights, options and suggestions relating to challenges and opportunities you are experiencing in your business.
Connect with a mentor on the Mentoring for Growth webpage.
The Small Business Friendly (SBF) Program is a commitment by government and large enterprise to work collaboratively with small businesses to enable our local economies.
It is driven by the Queensland Small Business Commission (QSBC) who provide a range of services for small and family businesses focussed on enhancing the operating environment reducing the time and costs associated with resolving disputes involving small businesses.
Many Rivers supports people to start, stay and thrive in business through business coaching, business planning tools, access to legal support and small business loans.
Funded by government, companies and donors to help people who are financially disadvantaged, for example people who receive welfare support or those who identify as Indigenous Australians.
Learn more on the Many Rivers website
Self-Employment Assistance can help you turn your business idea or existing small business into a viable business. Offering Exploring Self-Employment Workshops, Business Plan Development, free accredited Small Business Training, Business Advice Sessions, Business Health Checks; Small Business Coaching. Learn more on the Self Employment Assistance webpage; it is funded through the Australian Government.
Offers initial advice to business owners on their responsibilities and rights under the Fair Work Act in Australia.
The Queensland Government Business Concierge connects small and family business owners with the right information on programs and services to support their unique situation. Representatives available across Queensland ready to assist.
Resources and contacts to help you plan and develop your workforce.
The Industry Workforce Advisor program aims to provide workforce planning assistance that enables you to address workforce challenges, diversify your workforce, and support workforce growth.
Industry Workforce Advisors can help you find solutions to employment challenges, and connect with programs, incentives and funding opportunities.
This program is funded through the Queensland Government.
CheckUP hosts the workforce advisor roles for the following sectors
For more information on the program and to connect with an Industry Workforce Advisor visit our website.
Jobs Queensland’s Workforce Planning Connect resources can support you in planning for your future, regardless of your experience. It can also help position your business to attract employees and skills, now and into the future. This is especially important during times of change.
Anticipating Future Skills provides data to assist you in workforce planning. Job’s Queensland has developed a range of profiles or you can explore the data yourself using their data portal and data explorer.
Business Chamber Queensland is proud to deliver Workforce Evolve, a free program funded in partnership with the Queensland Government and open to employers across the state. This program is designed to equip business owners with the tools to build a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Through online modules and tailored business coaching, Workforce Evolve will transform your approach to attracting and retaining talent, both now and into the future.
The NDIS Commission has created free self-paced online training modules that help NDIS workers understand what the NDIS is; the role of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission; your role and obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct and how to better support people with disability.
These modules were co-designed and developed in consultation with the sector, including people with disability and NDIS providers and workers.
NDP focusses on supporting you to support others!
NDP provides you a one-stop-shop where you can access information, develop your career and make the right connections. Membership costs apply.
The NDP site has a dedicated section aimed at supporting Sole Traders providing services and supports to people with disability.
This is a process that checks a person’s criminal history against specific criteria to determine their suitability to work with people with disability. It is an important safeguard that protects the rights and safety of people with disability. Screening is combined with ongoing national monitoring.
If you are planning to work with children, a combined application with blue card can be made.
State and Territory Government are responsible for screening the workers in their jurisdiction, however the check is applied nationally with information shared across jurisdictions.
For more information regarding Worker Screening Checks – Visit NDIS QSC site
To access the Disability Worker Screening unit in Queensland – Visit site
Access a range of free short courses developed by TAFE Queensland that support businesses to recruit and retain employees.
Topics include recruitment for small business, workforce management and becoming an employer of choice.
Over 70 industry-recognised courses to choose from.
Gain in-demand skills in high-priority areas with a range of skill sets, certificates and diplomas available.
Whether you are looking for training in starting a new business, business practices or disability support there are options available to support your professional development.
To learn more about how we can support your business and to sign up to our newsletter complete the below form or contact us by emailing ndisconnect@checkup.org.au
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