Upper Coomera Classes About Us

As a NDIS provider, Upper Coomera Classes was founded to address a significant gap in local services in northern Gold Coast for people living with disabilities fostered at building social connecting and independence. Our mission is to provide structured Programs of Support that foster genuine connections, lasting friendships, and a clear pathway to greater independence and community participation. We are committed to a person-centered approach that prioritises the wellbeing and personal growth of every participant.

We deliver structured and planned Programs of Support in craft and art, life and daily living options, employability skills, and social community engagement. These programs are designed with measurable deliverables and learning outcomes that directly align with NDIS and My Aged Care criteria for social engagement, establishing sustainable connections and friendships, effective communication skills, and lifelong learning.

Our Approach

Our social group programs are designed to nurture social skills, build friendships, and foster independence. We use arts and crafts as our primary medium because we believe it provides a powerful channel for creativity and self-expression. Every program is carefully structured to help you develop the skills you need for greater social engagement and community participation. We believe in the power of conversation. That's why our crafts are designed with creativity in mind – no two creations are the same. With lots of different moulds, colours, and scents, everyone makes something unique. This promotes participants showing off what they made, which helps to start conversations and build connections.

Small Class Environment

We keep our classes to a maximum of six participants. This small group setting allows us to provide focused support, ensuring every individual has the space to interact and receive the attention they need. It also gives us the opportunity to build a strong one-on-one bond with each participant, which is essential for effectively monitoring their growth and helping them thrive throughout our social programs.

Our Impact

We've seen incredible progress and growth from our participants. We've seen an increase in the mindset and wellbeing of many who have joined our programs, and they've shared that their new hobbies have even helped them move past trauma. Many have established and maintained friendships, shared their new skills with others, and gained the confidence and empowerment to move into their own independent living spaces. For example, we've had a participant who now makes tens of soaps each week, selling them at car boot sales. She loves coming back to our classes to meet new friends and improve her skills by learning from what others are creating.

Support for Independent Living and Skill Development

Our commitment to independence extends beyond our classes. We offer a comprehensive skill-building program that includes:

  • Empowering Independence: Our goal is for you to use the skills you've learned at home, either for personal enjoyment with your new friends or to run a small business. We provide links and information to help you purchase everything you need to make your own creations at home, which you can then sell with us at our market days.
  • Computer Literacy: We provide computer literacy classes to help you build an online presence and use social media to connect with your new friends and find more. We also teach essential internet security skills, like how to spot scams, to keep you safe online. We show you how you can turn your new hobby into a small business, with help on selling on marketplaces, creating an online shop with platforms like Shopify, or selling at physical markets.
  • Skill Building & Entrepreneurship: We run our programs with a focus on your personal growth, including the skills needed to build a small business. We can even help you learn how to package, market, and launch your own online shop.
  • Meaningful Connections: Our goal is to create a safe and calm environment where you feel confident to be yourself. We've seen firsthand how this leads to meaningful friendships and a renewed sense of purpose.
  • Market Opportunities: You can join us at no charge at the monthly market days at Carrara Markets, where we help you sell your creations to the public. When you're ready, we help you progress your skills to create an online presence and an ecommerce shop.

Our Pricing & Progress

The price you pay for our classes is all-inclusive, covering all non-face-to-face (NF2F) hours, such as our time spent on planning, preparation, and administrative tasks. To ensure full transparency and monitor your growth, we can share a profile of how each participant is progressing with family members or their social worker.

Our Team

We strive to stay informed of current NDIS changes and best practices through continuous professional development, ensuring our services are always of the highest quality. We are dedicated to working alongside you to help NDIS participants and their families achieve their goals. We look forward to the opportunity to connect and collaborate.

Cheers, The Upper Coomera Classes Team