If you’ve found yourself on this page, there’s a good chance you’re not searching for yourself. You’re searching for someone you love — a child, a sibling, a partner — and you’re trying to figure out how to get them the support they deserve.
First, can we just say: the fact that you’re here, doing this research, already says everything about the kind of person you are.
Navigating the NDIS as a parent or carer can feel overwhelming. There are plans to understand, providers to compare, funding categories to decode, and underneath all of it, a quiet worry that you might make the wrong call. We hear this from families every single week here on the Fraser Coast.
So this guide is for you. No confusing language, no pressure — just honest, practical information about what NDIS support in Hervey Bay actually looks like, and how to figure out what’s right for your family.
You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out Before You Call
This is the thing we wish more families knew. You don’t need to arrive with a perfect plan, a list of services, or a clear idea of what you want. Most of the families who reach out to us at Fraser Coast Disability Services start the conversation with some version of “I don’t really know where to begin.”
That’s completely fine. That’s exactly what we’re here for.
When you get in touch, we’ll sit down with you and listen. We’ll ask about your loved one, what their day looks like, what they enjoy, what feels hard, and what you’re hoping life could look like for them. From there, we help figure out what kinds of support might fit.
What Kinds of Support Are Available in Hervey Bay?
Fraser Coast Disability Services offers a range of NDIS supports for participants of all ages and abilities across Hervey Bay, Maryborough, and the wider Fraser Coast. Here’s a plain-English overview of what’s available:
Individual Supports
This is one-on-one support tailored completely to your loved one’s needs and goals. It might include help with personal care and hygiene, meal preparation, household tasks, getting to appointments, or building the daily routines that help life feel manageable and independent. Individual supports are flexible — they work around your loved one’s schedule, not the other way around. Learn more about our Individual Supports.
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
SIL is for participants who are ready — or working toward being ready — to live more independently, with support available around the clock. Our SIL homes in Hervey Bay and Maryborough are shared living environments where participants are carefully matched with compatible housemates and a support team who genuinely care. For many families, seeing their loved one thrive in a SIL home is one of the most emotional and rewarding moments of the whole journey. You can read Becky’s story — one of our participants who moved into SIL at 18 — to get a real sense of what that transition can look like. Learn more about SIL at Fraser Coast Disability Services.
Respite / Short Term Accommodation (STA)
Respite isn’t just for participants — it’s for you too. Short Term Accommodation gives your loved one a supported, enjoyable stay away from home while giving you the breathing room to rest, recharge, and take care of yourself. We also offer emergency respite at short notice when something unexpected comes up. Learn more about our Respite and STA options. You can also read our full guide on how NDIS Short Term Accommodation works in Hervey Bay.
Programs & Workshops
Beyond direct support, we run a range of programs designed to help participants build skills, confidence, and real community connection. The Rising Stars Program focuses on employment and entrepreneurship. The Get Ready Program helps participants who are thinking about living more independently. And our regular social events — Social Mix Nights, Ladies Night, Boys Night — give participants a genuine community to belong to. See all our programs.
The Question Every Parent Asks Us
“How do I know my child will be safe and actually cared for — not just managed?”
It’s the most important question, and we respect every family who asks it directly. Here’s our honest answer.
Fraser Coast Disability Services was built because of exactly this concern. Our founders had a family member who needed disability support, and the options available locally didn’t feel personal enough, flexible enough, or genuinely caring enough. So they built something different.
Our team isn’t just qualified — they’re the kind of people who remember your loved one’s favourite meal, notice when something’s off before anyone else does, and genuinely celebrate every small win alongside them. We match support workers carefully, we listen to feedback, and we treat every participant as an individual — not a shift to fill.
We’d also encourage you to read about how SIL transforms everyday life for NDIS participants — it gives a real picture of what life with quality support can look like over time.
What About the NDIS Plan Itself?
If your loved one already has an NDIS plan, we can help you understand what’s in it and how to use their funding to access the right supports. If you’re still working through the process of getting a plan approved, we can point you in the right direction and connect you with the right people.
You Deserve Support Too
This part often gets forgotten. The focus is always — understandably — on the person with the disability. But caring for someone you love is its own kind of marathon, and carers need support just as much as participants do.
Respite exists for this reason. Taking a break isn’t giving up. It’s making sure you can keep showing up, long term, as the person your loved one needs you to be.
If you’re feeling stretched, burned out, or just quietly exhausted — please reach out. We’re here for the whole family.
Ready to Have a Conversation?
There’s no obligation, no forms to fill out before you’re ready, and no pressure to commit to anything. Just a friendly conversation with a local team who genuinely wants to help.
Call Josie on 0418 22 84 52, email josie@fcds.net.au, or send us a message through our contact page and we’ll get back to you promptly.
We’re based right here on the Fraser Coast, and we’d love to meet you.
Fraser Coast Disability Services is a registered NDIS provider supporting participants and their families across Hervey Bay, Maryborough, and the wider Fraser Coast region.