September 2025 No 10
From the Director’s Desk
Hello Everyone, see? – I told you Spring was coming! Phew! It is almost too hot already. In visiting several participants over the last few weeks, I have decided we are an ‘animal-friendly’ service with so many of us enjoying our little furry friends! Read about Josh in this newsletter who just loves the pet companions who live with him.
I have also been thinking about our long-term goals and strategic planning for up to the next ten years and been talking with our management team about it. You are welcome to contribute your thoughts as to the direction and value of Proactive Support. We came up with some ideas of how our business adds value for participants and some of the positives were: ‘being available, flexible, and having lived experience’.
We have just received lots of copies of participant packs – a booklet explaining all things NDIS for participants. We even have Easy Read Versions and Provider Packs. Over the next couple of months we aim to upgrade our Welcome Pack to be more user friendly and will include this booklet in it. However, if you are a current participant and would like one, I can post it out to you.
Drop me a line, or a text on: info@proactive-support.com.au 0406940123.
See you around!
Beatrice
Participant Focus: Meet Josh!
Hi, my name is Josh. I live at home with my mum, dad, and my younger sister, Rose.
I also have three dogs and two cats. My support dog, Scottie, is my best friend. He sleeps on my bed and stays with me when I am sad or upset. I love animals of all kinds—sometimes I think animals are better than people!
I have a busy week with lots of activities. On Mondays, I go swimming at the Nanango Pool. On Tuesdays, I play indoor bowls in Yarraman. Wednesdays are for cooking at home and cleaning my two rooms—my bedroom and my Xbox room. On Thursdays, I do something different each week: one week I play darts at the Blackbutt RSL, the next week I go to woodwork, where I am making a special table for my Warhammer 40k army. Fridays are also different: one week I go to Gamez Knight in Kingaroy to play Magic: The Gathering, and the next week I do shopping and have speech therapy.
I enjoy many hobbies like ten-pin bowling (my best score is 106!), playing darts, pool, golf, chess, fishing, and Xbox. I also like walking around the community to play Pokémon Go and catch Pokémon. I’m very competitive and like to gloat when I win! I enjoy making new friends, but I also like routine and familiar meeting places. If I try something new, I usually like someone to come with me.
When it comes to food, my favourite meal is steak, chips, and mushroom sauce. I love fresh strawberries with cream, and sometimes strawberry-and-cream lollies or mud cake. I don’t really like sweets, and I don’t like things like cream or dirt on my body—I panic and need a shower. For a treat, my favourite fast food is Hungry Jack’s and a Pepsi Max.
I don’t like being out in the sun because I burn quickly, and I don’t enjoy loud or crowded places. If things get too noisy, I put on my headphones and find a quiet corner. But with Scottie by my side, my games, animals, and fun activities, I keep busy and happy!
Send your photos and short videos to Bea on 0409 460 123 or via WhatsApp.
Don’t forget – hold your phone upright when snapping pics or filming so they look their best!
Staff Focus
Child Safe Organisations – Changes Coming in October
From 1 October 2025, new laws called the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 will come into effect in Queensland. These laws are all about making sure children and young people are kept safe and supported wherever they receive services—including here at Proactive Support. The Act introduces 10 Child Safe Standards, which are practical steps organisations need to follow to make sure children are listened to, respected, and protected. A second stage of the changes, called the Reportable Conduct Scheme, will start from July 2026. This will make sure any allegations of harm are reported and followed up properly.
For us as a disability supports company, this means weaving child safety into everything we do—not just in policies, but also in how we work with families and participants every day. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some MANDATORY training and resources with staff to help everyone understand what these changes mean in practice. It’s about building on what we already do well - creating an environment where children and young people know they are safe and valued. Together, we can make sure we’re not only meeting the new rules, but building a culture where child safety is second nature to all of us.
WHS Update: “Stay Hydrated — Stay Safe”
Dehydration can affect your focus, energy, and reaction time — which increases safety risks. - Drink plenty of water, especially in warm weather or when working outdoors. - Watch for signs like headache, dizziness, or dry mouth. - Encourage participants to stay hydrated too. Small steps like regular water breaks help prevent fatigue and accidents.
Tab’s Talking
How quickly the days fly by—it’s already time for another Proactive Support newsletter! I have to say, I always look forward to seeing it pop up in my inbox. With all the spam, ads, and invoices we usually get (I know both my inboxes are full of them), it’s nice to have something fun to read.
Now I love a good browse through an OP shop … and boy oh boy have I found some cool things in there. Take these kitchen gadgets for example . I got them dirt cheap and so much fun. With one device you place the vegetable on a sharp metal grate and push down. The other holds the vegetable and pushes it up against a sharp blade while the operator turns a handle and creates these super long vegetable slinkies. One we measured the other day was 1.3 metres long! Making Taco fillings was never so much fun!
Another fun pastime is puzzles. I’ve been working on 100-piece ones with a client at our local café—we grab a bigger table, enjoy a drink, and piece it together until it’s complete. She loves to put the last piece in place, and then writes her name inside the lid… we’re up to the 16th time!! She loves it and feels empowered as she is getting faster. I’ve now introduced her to another 100 piece Puzzle as I know she can do it!
Finally from one support worker to another - if you get the chance to attend a psychology assessment, speech therapy or occupational therapy session, or support coordinator meeting with any of your clients, I highly recommend it.
I’ve learnt so much from being there, and because we spend the most time with our clients, those professionals often value our input, with things like feelings or habits, likes or dislikes. Together you can make it to be a fruitful and quality session for that person!
Until next time,
Love, Tabs
NDIS Focus
Understanding Supported Decision-Making
Supported Decision-Making is about giving people with disability the right support they need to make their own choices. Instead of others making decisions for them, participants are encouraged and supported to express their own will and preferences. This might include help from family, friends, support coordinators, or other trusted people who can explain options and make sure the participant’s voice is at the centre of every choice.
The NDIS recognises that everyone has the right to be heard, even if they need some extra assistance to understand information or explore their options. Supported decision-making is flexible—it can look different for everyone. For example, some people might need help understanding written information, others might prefer visual supports, or they may want someone to go through the pros and cons with them before deciding. The focus is always on independence, dignity, and respecting what the participant wants. To make this easier, the NDIS has created a Supported Decision-Making Policy and a new online Hub with tools and resources –
Supported decision making | Disability Gateway.
These cover areas like housing, health, employment, and daily living. The hub is designed for participants, families, carers, and professionals so that everyone can work together to support people with disability to live the life they choose.
You can learn more on the NDIS website:
Supported decision making policy | NDIS
and
New Hub available for Participants’ Supported Decision Making | NDIS
Joke
What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nacho Cheese!
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Joke
What do you get when you cross a snowman and a dog? Frostbite!
Free Community Event In Kilcoy!
If you’d like to join in the fun at the Able Retreats Annual Mini Olympics, let us know! We may be able to arrange a group shift.
Please call or email Geoff at 0448389324 or geoff@proactive-support.com.au
From Tanja
Hi to everyone from our wonderful support worker TANJA, who is in beautiful Kassel, Germany. She is having a great time catching up with family.
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