05/11/2026
A PERSONAL STATEMENT TO OUR GLADSTONE COMMUNITY
From Shelly Strange, Owner of Desire2Inspire
Following an article published by The Observer concerning NDIS providers in the Gladstone region, I feel it is important to personally address the inclusion of my name and provide our community with the facts.
I am deeply disappointed by the way my circumstances have been presented alongside other regulatory enforcement matters, potentially creating an impression that does not accurately reflect what occurred.
Let me explain.
In May 2025, I received a compliance notice from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission concerning an outstanding certification audit requirement associated with my provider registration.
This was an audit compliance matter. It was NOT a finding of abuse, neglect, mistreatment or harm to an NDIS participant.
In June 2025, I contacted the Commission requesting to voluntarily relinquish my registration, and I confirmed that request in writing in July.
My registration was subsequently recorded as revoked on 8 October 2025, and the historical compliance notice ceased to be in force on that date.
I am seeking further written confirmation from the Commission regarding the formal basis of that revocation.
WHY I CHOSE TO REMAIN SMALL
Desire2Inspire was built on something I believe in wholeheartedly.
Every person deserves to be heard, respected, encouraged and supported to achieve the things they are capable of.
I have deliberately chosen to keep Desire2Inspire a small, dedicated team.
I don’t want participants to become just another name on a roster. I want our team to know each person, understand their goals, celebrate their achievements and support them to build confidence and independence.
I want participants to use their NDIS funding meaningfully, to develop life skills, create opportunities and achieve outcomes that genuinely matter to them.
Maintaining that small-team approach also means making financially sustainable decisions.
The ongoing costs associated with registration and certification audits were not financially viable for the business model I wanted to maintain.
Choosing to operate as an unregistered provider was never about lowering our standards.
Desire2Inspire continues to maintain established policies and procedures, professional staff expectations, participant documentation and ShiftCare software for rostering, support records and administration.
Our goal is simple:
To offer the personal attention of a small independent provider, backed by professional systems and accountability.
A PERSONAL WORD ABOUT MY REPUTATION
I also want to express my genuine disappointment in the way this matter has been reported by our local newspaper.
I believe local media plays an important role in our community, including reporting on matters of public interest and holding organisations accountable.
However, I also believe that responsibility comes with an obligation to provide accurate information and appropriate context, particularly when naming local people and small businesses.
My reputation has taken years to build.
I have worked incredibly hard to earn the trust of participants, families, support coordinators and the wider Gladstone community.
I have built Desire2Inspire on honesty, hard work, genuine relationships and an unwavering passion for helping people recognise their abilities and achieve things they may never have thought possible.
That trust means everything to me.
To see my name included in reporting that may lead people to misunderstand the nature of my compliance matter has been personally devastating.
It can take years to build a reputation, yet only a headline to place doubt in people’s minds.
I am disappointed that the reporting did not provide clearer context about the different regulatory circumstances of the providers named.
I have formally contacted The Observer to raise these concerns and request an appropriate review and clarification.
My intention is not to avoid accountability. It is to ensure that my circumstances are represented fairly and accurately.
WHERE WE STAND TODAY
Desire2Inspire continues operating as an unregistered NDIS provider, supporting participants whose funding arrangements permit the use of unregistered providers.
I fully support transparency and accountability within the disability sector. I also believe our community deserves to understand the important differences between an audit-related compliance notice, a banning order and findings involving participant safety.
To our participants, families, support coordinators, staff and everyone who has supported Desire2Inspire — thank you.
I am incredibly proud of what our small team has built and the positive difference we work to make every day.
We are not trying to become the biggest disability support provider in Gladstone.
We are committed to providing quality, individualised supports that help people achieve great things.
Our size is intentional. Our standards matter. Our participants come first.
Shelly Strange
Owner | Desire2Inspire
💙 Small team. Personal support. Professional standards.
