EPIC Assist (EPIC) is a leading not-for-profit organisation which has been operating for over 25 years. EPIC has grown to 400 employees and 50 service centres, assisting people with disability to prepare for, find and maintain meaningful employment. EPIC also delivers education and training, and provides services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). EPIC operates along the East Coast of Australia with offices in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, while also delivering a range of disability services in Europe. EPIC is the first organisation in Australia to achieve Disability Confident Recruiter Status, and we are passionate about workplace diversity and creating disability-confident workplaces. We provide a personalised service to assist people with disability or disadvantage to achieve their goals. EPIC stays with them on their journey until our assistance is no longer needed, resulting in success for all - participants, employers and the community. EPIC also works closely with employers, taking the time to understand their business and its unique needs. We then identify an effective solution that meets those needs, leading to sustainable employment.

My journey started in 2016 with volunteering as a family support worker with CYMHS, while studying Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science. I could see a great need for supports in the Moreton Bay region in the areas of mental health and residential care. I moved onto to a Master of Social Work and completed my placement in a long-term residential facility for Mental Health when the NDIS was rolling out in Queensland, and this planted a seed for me. I began employment in 2018 as a Youth Worker for Churches of Christ and continued in this role for three and a half years. I absolutely loved building relationship with the young people that I worked with and watching them overcome the challenges they face. Over this journey, my daughter has watched and showed a desire to be involved in a support role. Fast forward a few years and I was ready for a new challenge. An opportunity presented itself to establish a family business bringing our future son in laws onto the team as well. So, in November I registered our Company and took a leap. Disability is a new domain for me, but I have not looked back. It is so rewarding to work with all our participants and connect them with support workers to help them achieve their goals. They become like family over time Within two weeks we had a contract. Justin and I came and met the owners and found out that they had been Fostering young people in this house and at that moment I just knew that God was involved in this. This house has been a place of love and respite from the day it was built, and I plan to continue this legacy with Your Care Hub’s first Respite Home ‘The Lake House’. On the opening night we cut a ribbon for Disability, Mental Health, and Domestic Violence. Within one week of opening, we were able to provide crisis accommodation to a beautiful family in need. It has been a joy and pleasure to have them living at ‘The Lake House’. They bring the element of home to a house and are thriving here.

Northside Respite is a family owned and operated disability support service. Our service include: STA/Respite, community access services, academic support, social skills groups, individualised support and after school activities. Our mission is to provide high-quality support and care services to individuals, of all ages and all abilities. We are an independent registered business who have the capacity to take on NDIS participants who are either self managed or plan managed. We believe that EVERYONE deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we are committed to helping them do so. We take a collaborative and inclusive approach in all we do with the emphasis of compassion and self-empowerment.