Disability Know How in Action: How the Right Support Changed Everything for one of our Brisbane clients

At Nextt, we know that meaningful progress doesn’t always start with big milestones. Often, it begins with a single decision or a small step forward that builds confidence over time. 

For one of our clients Amy in Brisbane, that step was as simple as walking down the street. 

Amy lives in a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) setting and is supported by the Nextt team who are focused on building her confidence, independence, and daily routine.  

Living with a learning impairment and muscular dystrophy, she had at times experienced low motivation and self-doubt, making it difficult to engage in everyday activities. 

In this article, we explore how the right support approach has helped Amy move from hesitation to independence, featuring insights from one of her Support Workers, Tracey. 

Building confidence through the right support

When Tracey began supporting Amy with community access in late 2025, she recognised early that confidence was the main barrier. 

“You could tell just by the looks on her face, the shrug of the shoulders,” Tracey says. “She was a little scared to actually go and do things.” 

Tracey’s focus was on building trust first by creating a supportive environment where Amy felt comfortable to try, without pressure. With muscular dystrophy, keeping the body moving is important and Tracey worked with Amy at her own pace to help her understand why staying active mattered for her long-term health. 

“She needs to be doing what she can while she still can and we’re there to help her with that,” Tracey says. 

Supporting the first step

One of the first goals was simple: getting out of the house. 

It took time to get there. Together, they agreed on something manageable: a short walk down the street. 

That walk became a turning point. Amy chose to go out to watch the sunset, overcoming her initial hesitation and proving to herself that she could do it. 

“It was more of a ‘quick, get your shoes on, let’s go’ while she was in the mood to want to do it,” Tracey says. 

Amy later told her Client Experience Manager, Bianca, that she’d been afraid of falling, and that doing it anyway had made her feel incredibly proud of herself.   

Turning progress into routine

From that point, the focus shifted to consistency. 

With ongoing encouragement and clear guidance, Amy began to understand the importance of staying active and maintaining mobility. Walking became part of her routine, and she started tracking her progress using a personal checklist; reinforcing a sense of achievement and independence. 

“There’s been a few days when I come on and she’s already sitting there with her shoes on, her walker, and her water bottle and she’s ready to go,” Tracey says. “I’ve got to tell her to wait while I sign in.” 

This shift from hesitation to readiness shows growing confidence and ownership. 

Putting confidence into practice

As Amy’s confidence grew, it extended beyond community access. 

She began to take a more active role in daily activities at home, showing initiative and asking to be involved. 

“She’ll be like, ‘Can I help? Can I do that?’ and just jump in,” Tracey says. 

Amy also explored new interests with the support of her team. She worked with Nextt staff to plan and build a garden, growing vegetables and sunflowers, and has begun to incorporate what she grows into her meals. She has also started swimming at a local accessible pool, building strength in a way that suits her needs. 

Amy has also built strong relationships within her home, creating a positive and inclusive environment with those around her. 

“Amy has built lovely relationships with her support workers and her co-tenant. Although her co-tenants are differently abled, Amy often thinks of ways they can do activities together and all be included. It’s been lovely to see that they have built caring relationships with one another,” Bianca says. 

The impact of personalised support

Amy’s progress reflects the value of tailored, consistent support. 

Tracey’s approach – understanding Amy’s needs, working at her pace, and encouraging her to take steps forward – created the conditions for meaningful change. 

“It makes me excited, makes me happy and makes me think I’m actually making a difference in somebody’s life,” Tracey explains. 

While Amy’s journey is ongoing, her progress so far highlights what can be achieved with the right support in place. 

Amy’s story is a good reminder that progress in disability support rarely looks like a single breakthrough. It’s built through consistency, trust, and someone who genuinely gets to know the person they’re supporting. 

At Nextt, we take that seriously. Our Client Experience Managers and Support Workers are carefully matched to participants based on personality, goals, and individual needs; because we know that the right fit is where real progress begins. 

If you’d like to learn more about how we support people to get more out of life, we’d love to hear from you. 

Interested in learning more about how Nextt can support you or your loved one to live more independently and confidently every day? 

Learn more about our Core Supports services here or get in touch with our team here.