Terms of Reference

Cairns Disability Network – Terms of Reference (Policy)

Helping the NDIS community thrive in Cairns where providers can network their services and participants have the choice and control.  We’re excited to have you join our community.

 

To ensure that everyone has a positive experience, please take a moment to review our Terms of Reference and Facebook Rules

It is our policy to feature providers with a full-time presence in and around the Cairns and Far North Queensland region. 
We are referencing to: 
Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/ndiscairns
Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/disabilityfnq
Facebook page www.facebook.com/CairnsDisability 
Website www.cairnsdisability.net.au

  1. Purpose

The purpose of the Cairns Disability Network (CDN) is to connect, support, and share information among permanent, year-round disability service providers who are committed to consistent and reliable service delivery in the Cairns and FNQ community. This group aims to foster collaboration, promote high-quality standards, and ensure that people with disabilities and their families have access to trustworthy and stable support services. 

CDN is run by volunteers who organise monthly provider networking meetings, host additional events throughout the year, and coordinate a premier disability services expo for the Far North Queensland region.

  1. Membership Criteria

To maintain the integrity and focus of the group, membership is strictly limited to:

  • Registered or non-registered disability service providers with an ongoing, permanent presence in the community.
  • Providers must offer services year-round (not seasonal, telehealth only, temporary, or pop-up).
  • Must have a registered local Cairns or FNQ business address or operational base within the community/region.
  • Providers must be actively delivering services under the NDIS or similar frameworks, or through private practice in disability-related fields.

Excluded:

  • Temporary or short-term providers (e.g. pop-ups, travelling clinics, travelling provider ‘salespersons or reps’).
  • Providers offering services in the area for fewer than 9 months per year.
  • Recruitment-only agencies or provider directories.
  1. Objectives
  • Share resources, updates, and community events relevant to disability supports.
  • Encourage best practice, ethical service provision, and community inclusion.
  • Provide a platform for discussion, support, and advocacy among providers.
  • Support families, carers and participants in identifying trusted local services.
  1. Facebook Rules & Expectations
  • Be Respectful: Treat fellow members with kindness and respect. Harassment, hate speech, personal attacks, and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated – this includes shaming/ defaming any providers, supports and services. Keep it Civil, disagreements are natural, but express your opinions respectfully. Avoid escalating conflicts or engaging in heated arguments.
  • Stay On Topic: Keep discussions relevant to the purpose of the group. Off-topic posts may be removed at the discretion of the moderators.
  • No Spam: Do not spam the group with unrelated content, please keep your advertising to once a week for self-promotion, this does not include answering posts on requests for services.
  • Respect Privacy: Do not share within or out of the group personal information about yourself or others such as participants without consent. This includes names, contact information, addresses, and private messages.
  • Quality Content: Share meaningful and constructive content that adds value to the community. Avoid low-effort posts, memes, and clickbait.
  • No Illegal Activity: Do not engage in or promote any illegal activities, schemes, including but not limited to piracy, fraud, or copyright infringement.
  • Report Violations: If you encounter any content or behaviour that violates these rules, please report it to the group admin immediately or email info@cairnsdisability.net.au

Failure to comply with these rules may result in warnings, post removal, or removal from the group. Let’s work together to maintain a friendly and welcoming environment for all members.

Provider services must relate directly to disability services and community inclusion.

Providers must update the CDN admin if their operating status changes (e.g., business closure, relocation, or move to seasonal service model) if they have a directory listing on cairnsdisability.net.au website.

All providers must adhere to NDIS Code of Conduct or equivalent ethical standards.

NDIS Cairns Group Rules on Posts and Pricing Structure

The pricing structure for activities and programs under NDIS can vary based on the services provided and the specific needs of the participant.

NDIS is designed to support people with disabilities and promote their independence and community participation.

Key points that providers may consider when promoting NDIS workshops, activities, outings and programs are your price structure. Providers should explain the services they offer and align them with the categories and pricing outlined in the NDIS Price Guide.

Things that are not covered by NDIS such as meals, entry fee to establishments, activities/club fees like art or cooking class, guitar lessons etc need to be clear.

NDIS is focused on individualised support, so providers may need to tailor their pricing based on the specific requirements and goals of each participant.

Clear and transparent communication with participants is essential. Providers should explain their pricing structure in a way that is easily understandable and provides participants and their families with confidence in the value of the services being offered.

By addressing these factors, providers can help participants and their families understand the rationale behind their pricing structure for NDIS activities and programs.

Open and transparent communication is crucial to building trust and ensuring that participants receive the support they need.

IF PROVIDERS WOULD KINDLY ADD THIS INFO TO ALL THEIR POSTS when promoting their activities or programs.

  1. Administration
  • Cairns Disability Network will be managed by Heidi (for NDIS Cairns Facebook group facebook.com/groups/ndiscairns) and Gail (for CDN Facebook page facebook.com/CairnsDisability)
  • Admins reserve the right to remove members who breach these terms or no longer meet eligibility criteria.
  • Providers may be asked to verify their permanent status (e.g., business address, service availability calendar).
  • Terms of Reference will be reviewed annually or as required.
  1. Disclaimer
    NDIS Cairns Facebook group and the Cairns Disability Facebook page do not endorse specific providers but serve as a platform for connection and collaboration. Providers participate at their own discretion. Cairns Disability Network is not responsible for the actions or claims made by individual providers.

CDN Provider Directory.
Cairns Disability Network does not endorse or recommend any specific provider, service, or support. The directory listings ( cairnsdisability.net.au/cairns-disability-support-directory ) under each category are presented in a randomised order with each page refresh.

Providers may change their names or cease operations at any time. Users are advised to exercise caution and remain vigilant for potential scams. 

Please note that the Cairns Disability Network directory does not include every provider, support, or service available in Cairns. Our aim is to feature providers with a full-time presence in the Cairns area. Listing every nationwide provider would be impractical and could disadvantage local Cairns and Far North Queensland businesses.

If your locally-based business is not listed, please contact us at directory@cairnsdisability.net.au 

We are committed to maintaining the accuracy and currency of this directory and do our best to update it regularly.

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