Hinterland mum pushes for NDIS care gap solutions

A Coes Creek mum is using her professional and personal experience to push for better support for people with disability, older Australians and families left waiting for help.

Nicole Montgomery, a Coes Creek resident and operations manager at Kel & Co Care,  has spent the past year advocating for practical changes to reduce the pressure caused by long NDIS and aged care wait times.

Her focus has been on the need for bridging support systems that could help families while they wait for permanent funding, services and care arrangements to be approved.

“As both a disability professional and someone with lived experience navigating disability within my own family, I’ve seen first-hand the stress, fatigue and burnout that many local families experience while waiting for support,” Nicole said.

“I’m passionate about raising awareness of these challenges and working towards practical solutions that strengthen our community.”

Nicole said two cases she had been involved with illustrated some of the challenges families can face when support needs change or services are delayed.

In one case, she volunteered her time to advocate for a Sunshine Coast man who spent almost 12 months navigating the NDIS access process.

During that time, he experienced repeated and lengthy hospital admissions because he did not have the supports he needed to safely return home.

His NDIS access was eventually approved after almost a year. Sadly, he passed away in hospital just one week later, meaning he never had the opportunity to access the supports that had finally been approved.

In another case, Kel & Co Care was providing daily living supports to a participant whose health was declining.

Nicole said it became clear he required two support workers to be safely supported, but he was not funded for that level of care.

An urgent Change of Situation request was lodged with the NDIS seeking additional funding, but while waiting for a decision he was admitted to hospital.

Although he was medically stable, he could not safely return home without the extra supports.

He remained in hospital for about six weeks because he could not safely return home without the additional supports. Sadly, he passed away before an outcome to the Change of Situation request had been resolved.

During that time, Nicole said his family endured significant emotional and financial distress associated with his prolonged hospital stay and the uncertainty surrounding his care.

“These examples highlight some of the challenges families can face while navigating complex support systems,” Nicole said.

“Every person’s circumstances are different, but lengthy delays can add significant emotional, physical and financial pressure at an already difficult time. They can contribute to carer burnout, prolonged hospital stays, loss of independence, financial hardship and, in some cases, place additional strain on family relationships.”

Nicole has met with Nicklin MP Marty Hunt to discuss the issue and has spoken with 7 News and 9 News about the impact of long wait times on Sunshine Coast families.

She has also raised concerns about accessibility in local communities, including the need for better footpaths and public infrastructure so people using wheelchairs, mobility aids and other assistive equipment can safely and independently get around.

Nicole said inclusive communities were built not only through services, but also through practical changes that allowed people to take part in everyday life.

Her advocacy has recently been recognised with nominations in six categories of the Above & Beyond Awards, acknowledging her work in disability advocacy and community contribution.

While she said the nominations were an honour, Nicole hoped they would help draw more attention to the challenges facing local families.

“My advocacy isn’t about criticising the NDIS or any individual organisation,” she said.

“It’s about recognising that there are gaps in the current system and encouraging conversations about practical solutions, such as bridging supports, that could help people receive the assistance they need while waiting for permanent funding and services.”

“The Sunshine Coast is a community that genuinely cares for one another. I believe that by continuing these conversations and working together, we can find practical ways to better support people with disability, older Australians and the families who care for them.”

Nicole Montgomery is advocating for practical solutions to help families waiting for disability and aged care support.