Motivational interviewing
Collaborative, non-judgemental conversations that explore personal goals, strengths, barriers and readiness for change.
Talk about your goals → Independent, NDIS-focused capacity-building supports
Build confidence.
Develop skills.
Create opportunities.
Personalised, practical support for self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants. We combine social and interpersonal skills, motivational interviewing techniques, hands-on STEM activities and mentoring to build confidence, independence and meaningful pathways towards participation, learning and work.
For self-managed & plan-managed participantsHighfields & Toowoomba
DISCOVER · DEVELOP · DOFrom ideas
to action.
✦ Confidence⌘ STEM projects↗ Work pathways◎ Connectionto action.
Real skills for everyday life and new opportunities.
THE CONNECTIONS APPROACH
More than learning a skill. Finding a way forward.
We believe progress happens when people feel heard, have opportunities to practise, and can see how their strengths apply to everyday life. Our approach blends motivational interviewing techniques, interpersonal skill development and practical STEM projects into purposeful steps shaped by each person's goals.
Whether the next step is building confidence in social situations, trying a new activity, exploring self-employment or preparing for the workplace, we focus on practical progress rather than one-size-fits-all programs.
See how a pathway works →WHAT WE DO
Support that connects people and possibilities.
Goal-led support, with activities tailored to participant interests and capacities.
Social & interpersonal skills
Build communication, active listening, teamwork, confidence, self-advocacy and skills for engaging with others in everyday settings.
Explore social supports →Hands-on STEM skills
Use electronics, design, engineering, digital technologies and problem-solving projects to develop useful, transferable capabilities.
Discover practical projects →Microbusiness mentoring
Explore an idea, plan simple products or services, practise costing and marketing, and develop small enterprise skills step by step.
Explore an idea →Work readiness & pathways
Develop routines, organisation, task completion, reliability, communication and confidence for training, volunteering or work.
Plan your next step →Participation & independence.
Practise communication, decision-making, social participation and everyday independence in meaningful community and practical settings.
Let's make a plan ↗THE JOURNEY
A pathway that starts where you are.
01
Connect
Have a conversation about interests, strengths, challenges and what matters to you.
02
Explore
Choose achievable goals and engaging practical activities to support those goals.
03
Practise
Build confidence through supported projects, real-world tasks and social experiences.
04
Move forward
Review progress and explore the next step in community participation, enterprise, learning or work.
PRACTICAL SKILLS. REAL-LIFE RELEVANCE.
Imagine the possibilities of making something that matters.
From designing a product to solving a technical problem or starting a tiny enterprise, projects provide natural ways to practise decision-making, collaboration and persistence.
NDIS PARTICIPANTS & REFERRALS
Support that connects with your goals.
Clear information for participants, families, support coordinators and plan managers.
Self-managed participants
We welcome enquiries from participants who manage their own NDIS funding. We discuss goals, proposed supports and agreed prices before getting started.
Plan-managed participants
We also welcome plan-managed participants. Invoicing arrangements can be discussed with the participant and their plan manager before services commence.
Support coordinators & families
Discuss a potential referral, ask about availability or explore how tailored projects could support a participant’s stated goals. Please avoid sending sensitive details initially.
. Supports are offered subject to suitability and applicable NDIS rules. Not every service, expense or participant arrangement is automatically NDIS claimable. We are not a registered clinical therapy or specialist behaviour-support provider. Make a referral enquiry →
PROJECTS & PATHWAYS
Practical activities, meaningful skills.
These are illustrative possibilities, not real participant testimonials or guaranteed outcomes. Activities are chosen to fit each person's interests, goals and agreed supports.
Create a small product
Plan and make a simple item using design or manufacturing tools, practising sequencing, safe tool use, persistence and problem-solving.
SKILLS: PLANNING · TASK COMPLETIONExplore a microbusiness idea
Try product costing, photography, presenting an idea, communicating with customers and understanding the steps involved in a small enterprise.
SKILLS: NUMERACY · COMMUNICATIONWork together on a project
Practise asking questions, negotiating roles, meeting agreed times, resolving challenges and reviewing what worked.
SKILLS: TEAMWORK · CONFIDENCEREFER A PARTICIPANT
A straightforward first conversation.
Participants, carers, family members and support coordinators can contact us to explore a suitable pathway.
- Tell us who is enquiring and the broad support area.
- We'll discuss availability, participant goals and suitability privately.
- We agree on supports, pricing and relevant funding arrangements before commencing.
Privacy first: Do not send NDIS numbers, diagnoses or clinical records through the public enquiry form.
Ready to enquire?
Use the contact form below and choose Participant referral. Or contact us directly.
Make a referral enquiry ↗Referrals are an enquiry only; no participant information is stored in a website database.
GOOD TO KNOW
Questions before getting started?
Every person and plan is different. We can discuss what is suitable before arranging any services.
Who can STEM Connections support?
People seeking to develop confidence, social connections and practical skills, including those exploring a path into training, volunteering, employment or microenterprise. Suitability is discussed individually.
Do I need to be interested in science or technology?
Not at all. Hands-on activities are matched to your interests and abilities. STEM is a flexible way to practise confidence, communication, planning and problem-solving.
Is this psychological or clinical therapy?
No. These are practical capacity-building and participation supports, not medical or psychological treatment. Motivational interviewing is used as a conversational approach, not as a claim to offer clinical therapy.
Will you find me a job or establish my business?
We support skill-building, planning and exploration of pathways. Employment, business income or any particular outcome cannot be guaranteed.
LET'S CONNECT
Start with a conversation.
Tell us a little about your interests or what you'd like to work towards. We'll help you explore whether STEM Connections is a good fit.
Send an enquiry
Please use only your own contact details and a general description of the enquiry. Do not include NDIS numbers, diagnoses or sensitive participant information.
Privacy and enquiry information
Contact details and the message you provide are used to respond to your enquiry or referral enquiry. The form sends your message to STEM Connections by email; email is not a secure channel for sensitive information. We do not ask for medical records, NDIS numbers or detailed diagnoses through this website. Please request the full privacy policy and preferred secure communication method before sharing sensitive information. This short notice should be reviewed and expanded before publishing.