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http://www.towardsbetter.com.au/

Towards Better, Townsville (2026)

18/04/2026

NDIS providers (Registered, Unregistered and Services for One) are under increasing pressure to deliver safer, higher-quality supports/outcomes while also managing workforce shortages, compliance expectations, and growing demand.

But underneath this is a consistent challenge: A workforce that is growing faster (and turning over faster) than it is being properly trained and supported.

At the same time, there is a deeper opportunity; Not just to maintain services, but to build better lives, stronger communities, and more valued social roles for participants.

This is where my work sits, drawing on Social Role Valorisation (SRV) and Asset Based Community Development (ABCD).

Instead of services being the end point, the focus becomes:

* How do people access valued roles in community life?
* How do we build on strengths, gifts, and interests?
* How do we mobilise existing community and business assets?
* How do we create real contribution, not just participation?

When applied alongside strong workforce development, the impact is significant.

Services shift from:

* filling shifts → building capability
* passive support → meaningful participation
* service dependency → community connection and contribution

We are also seeing the impact of workforce gaps across the sector.

This creates two pressures:

* sustaining workforce capacity
* delivering safe, consistent, meaningful support

So the question becomes:

How do we build a workforce that can do both compliance and contribution well?

When capability is strong, we see:

* improved retention and confidence
* safer, more consistent practice
* better participant outcomes
* more sustainable services

This is where capability building matters.

I work alongside NDIS providers across three areas:

Training & Workforce Development

* Tailored training and on-the-job coaching
* Mentoring for workers, leaders, and managers
* Practical tools for daily practice
* Emerging leadership development

Service Development (SRV + ABCD informed)

* Building valued social roles, not just activities
* Community participation and inclusion pathways
* Employment, volunteering, and microenterprise options
* Mobilising community assets and partnerships

Business & Community Development

* Workshops with staff, families, and participants
* Stronger referral and community networks
* Supporting sustainable service growth

This aligns with core Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021) capabilities including person-centred practice, dignity of risk, communication, duty of care, and human rights-based support. But it’s just a start. We need string induction and ongoing on the job development.

Compliance is the baseline. Culture and Capability determines outcomes.

The real shift happens when services intentionally support people into valued roles, relationships, and contribution.

If your organisation is looking to strengthen workforce capability, improve retention, and build more meaningful opportunities for participants, I would be happy to connect.

Ricky

16/04/2026

Hi everyone,

For those who are new here, I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce myself and share a bit about who I am and the work behind Towards Better.

I’m Ricky Esterquest, Founder and Principal Community Development Worker at Towards Better, a Certified Social Enterprise based in North Queensland. I started the organisation in 2020 with a focus on customised employment, workforce development, training, and community inclusion. My work is grounded in supporting people who are often excluded from mainstream employment systems to access meaningful and sustainable work.

I was born in the United States and have lived in Townsville since 2015. I bring over 15 years of experience across disability services, community development, employment services, workforce design, and service innovation. My practice is also shaped by lived experience as a family member of a person with a disability, which has deeply influenced my commitment to improving access to work, connection, and community participation.

Before starting Towards Better, I held senior roles across the disability and community services sector, including Program Manager and Service Design Coordinator roles with UnitingCare Queensland and Support Coordination roles with Mercy Community. In those roles, I led teams, supported service redesign, and worked with people navigating complex employment and support systems.

A consistent focus in my work has been identifying the gaps that sit between training systems, employer needs, and what actually supports someone to succeed in work. That systems view continues to shape everything we do at Towards Better.

Through Towards Better, I’ve developed a place-based approach that brings together individual support, employer engagement, and community capacity building. We focus on customised employment, mentoring, workforce inclusion strategies, and practical ways for employers to access untapped talent.

Since 2020, myself and team members we have had have:
• Supported over 20 people into paid employment, with most maintaining ongoing work
• Delivered more than 50 workshops and training sessions across regional Queensland
• Supported around 175 people through mentoring and employment development activities
• Helped facilitate over $220,000 in wages through inclusive employment pathways
• Built partnerships with more than 25 businesses, schools, and community

Across all of this work, the focus has been on turning intent into real employment outcomes through practical support, employer engagement, and individualised pathways.

My approach draws on Social Role Valorisation (SRV), Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), and customised employment. I’m interested in how we shift perceptions of work readiness, build stronger community connections, and support employers to see and access talent in different ways.

I work with a broad range of people including young people transitioning from school, people with disability, long-term unemployed individuals, and people who have become disconnected from education or work pathways. A big part of the work is building confidence, real workplace exposure, and genuine connection to opportunities.

Alongside this, I also work in workforce development and system design, collaborating with employers, schools, training organisations, government, and social enterprises to improve how workforce pathways actually function, especially in regional areas.
I’m also a Certified Trainer and Assessor and currently undertaking advanced development in Social Role Valorisation facilitation. I regularly speak and facilitate in sector and community forums on employment inclusion and workforce participation.

Outside of Towards Better, I hold governance and advisory roles with organisations including RDA Regional Jobs Committee and Baseball Association Townsville, coach kids sports, and mentor with Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation.

At the core of my work is a simple belief: employment is more than income. It is identity, dignity, belonging, and connection. My focus is on building practical, person-centred and employer-informed pathways that strengthen both individual lives and our regional communities.

Thanks for being here and following along.

Ricky

15/04/2026

Most electronic devices end up in landfill without anyone ever seeing what’s inside them.

Instead, through our social enterprise Towards Better we’re turning CISCO Desktop Phones into something very different:

🔧 “What’s Inside a Phone?” – Hands-On Tech Exploration Workshops

A practical, inclusive workshop where participants:
• Take real devices apart
• Discover internal components
• Learn how everyday technology works
• Explore sustainability and electronic waste
• Connect hands-on activity to real-world jobs and skills

It’s simple, hands-on, and surprisingly engaging especially for people who learn best by doing rather than being told.

We are currently inviting expressions of interest from organisations such as:
• NDIS providers and disability day programs
• Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) and vacation care
• Schools/Education Providers
• Youth services and alternative education programs
• Community centres and libraries

📍 Sessions are designed for 6–18 participants
⏱ 60–90 minute workshops
🛠 All equipment, PPE, and Instruction provided

The sessions include structured activities such as:
• Phone disassembly challenges
• Component discovery tasks
• Team-based problem solving
• Creative reuse activities (turning parts into small creations)

This is part of a broader “200 Phones Project” designed to:
♻️ Reduce e-waste
👥 Engage 600–1000 participants across Townsville
🧠 Build curiosity around STEM, trades, and sustainability

We’re not just teaching about technology we’re letting people open it up and understand it. And it may then lead to further knowledge and skills around 3D Printing, design prototyping, and creative reuse.

We would love to chat with organisations who would be keen to host this program within their service and for their clients/participants. The only cost to you is for our time.

If this is something that could fit your program, I’d love to connect and explore it with you.

📩 Feel free to message me or email me at ricky@towardsbetter.com.au

10/04/2026

No Stupid Questions – A Conversation with Danya Pilchowski hosted by The Kindness Catalyst

Unsure what’s okay to ask someone who uses a wheelchair?

Curious about what everyday life is like navigating the world with chronic health conditions?

Or what it’s like to build a career as a professional artist?

This event is for you.

Inspired by the ABC show “You Can’t Ask That”, this relaxed and welcoming conversation creates space for genuine curiosity, honest questions, and meaningful connection.

Our special guest Danya Pilchowski, founder of
danyasdesign Danya’s Designs, is a bright and bubbly young local artist, digital art teacher, and community contributor. Since starting her business in 2019, Danya has illustrated children’s books, created beautiful kindness merchandise (including the beloved Pocket Hug Cards), and shared her art across Townsville.

Danya also lives with multiple chronic health conditions and often uses a wheelchair – and she’s bravely inviting people to ask the questions they’ve always wondered about.

You might ask about:
• what it’s like to use a wheelchair
• living with chronic health conditions
• the life of a young artist
• what to (and what not to) say to someone in a wheelchair
• myths about disability and accessibility

There are no stupid questions — just genuine conversation and learning.

🎟 $25 per person
Includes a drink, nibbles, and a $10 donation to Queenslanders with Disability Network

The event is wheelchair accessible (of course!) and child-friendly.

A big thank you to our supporters:
☕ Missy Moos Coffee
📞 Messages On Hold Townsville
🏠 Centacare NQ for the use of their lovely Community Room.

If you’re curious, open-minded, and keen to grow your understanding while supporting a talented local artist, we’d love to see you there.

🎟 Tickets:
https://events.humanitix.com/no-stupid-questions

Facebook Event: https://facebook.com/events/s/no-stupid-questions-wheelchair/860200183718412/

More about Danya’s work:
www.danyasdesigns.com.au

09/04/2026

🌿 Supporting Local People to Share Their Gifts in the Community

At Towards Better, we love seeing people step into their passions and create opportunities that contribute to the wellbeing of others.

One of the people we’ve had the privilege of mentoring is now co-leading a new wellbeing experience in Townsville and we’re excited to share it with our community.

✨ 9D Breathwork Sessions are Re-launching at Inner Light Meditation Centre every Friday night starting 3 April with Amy Aquilini (co led by the equally amazing Ali or Mo)

📍 Level 1 / 197–203 Flinders Street, Townsville City

9D Breathwork is a powerful, immersive guided breathwork experience designed to help people release stress, clear emotional blocks, and reconnect with themselves in a safe and supportive environment.

Using specialised headphones, participants are guided through layered sound, music, and voice prompts while practicing conscious breathing, creating a deeply personal and reflective experience.

People who participate often report benefits such as:

🫁 Releasing stress and emotional tension
🧠 Greater clarity and calm
💫 Deep relaxation
🌿 A renewed sense of connection and purpose

Sessions are suitable for beginners as well as those experienced with meditation or breathwork. You simply lie down, get comfortable, and allow yourself to be guided through the experience at your own pace.

We’re proud to see people we mentor stepping into valued roles, sharing their gifts, and creating opportunities that support the wellbeing of others in our community.

If you’re curious to experience it for yourself:

👉 Book your session here: https://whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au/events/9d-breathwork

08/04/2026

🌏 Help us pick a fun new microenterprise idea!

We’ve got 5 exciting ways a young cultural enthusiast could share knowledge, culture, and fun with the community and we’d love your input! Each idea is a blend of mentees skills passions and contributions with business needs (and what they would pay for) Vote using your favorite emoji: 👍 ❤️ 📚😎✈️

👍Cultural Mini-Tours
Small private tours of local landmarks, hidden gems, or historical sites. Perfect for hotels, hostels, and Airbnb guests.

❤️Taste the World” Food Talks
Short cultural talks with a food twist learn about a country’s cuisine, traditions, and fun facts. Ideal for restaurants, cafés, or festivals.

📚Educational Cultural Talks in Schools
Interactive classroom presentations about countries, customs, and foods. Supports teachers and engages students.

😎Micro-Displays for Businesses
Create small educational or cultural displays in shops, cafés, museums, or toy stores. Refresh them regularly to spark curiosity.

✈️ Private “Discovery Pack” Creation
Curated mini-guides about local attractions, animals, or culture perfect for hotels, visitor centres, or libraries to give to guests.

💡 Key strengths used: storytelling, research, cultural curiosity, attention to detail, and small-group engagement.

Which one would you love to see in action? Vote below! 👇

08/04/2026

Introducing Michael – Ready to Contribute to Your Team

I’m excited to introduce Michael, a motivated young professional exploring opportunities to contribute in Townsville. Michael brings 7 years of experience in hospitality and fast food, including customer service, EFTPOS, drive-thru operations, food preparation, and delivery.

Some of the tasks Michael can confidently support include:
• Answering phones and greeting customers
• Basic customer service and sales support
• On-site and off-site setup for events or venues
• Digital content creation and video editing
• Driving and delivery tasks

Michael is practical, reliable, and eager to contribute to a team environment. He would be a great addition to any business looking for support in customer service, operational tasks, or digital media.

📩 If your business would like to explore how Michael could contribute, feel free to reach out via DM or email.

If you work for or own a business in healthcare, aged care, retail, hospitality, creative industries, or event management, we can take a look at the different elements of your business and tasks to identify opportunities for customised employment. No cost or obligation.

We’d love to work with you to create meaningful, practical roles that add value to your team and open doors for talented individuals like Michael.

0447574600
ricky@towardsbetter.com.au

02/04/2026

We Create Roles — Not Just “Support Worker” Jobs

At Towards Better, we work alongside mentees and their families to design meaningful roles together.

Rather than fitting someone into a generic “support worker” job description, we ask:

👉 What are the skills, talents, interests, and contributions this person has?
👉 What roles could help them connect to ordinary community life?

From there, we build customised roles with the right people.

Sometimes that person isn’t a traditional disability worker at all — and that’s often preferred.

Many families tell us they are looking for people who:

✔ Have an optimistic, glass-half-full mindset
✔ Are curious and willing to learn
✔ Want to be trained properly in the role
✔ Are excited about connecting someone with a disability to real community life

In fact, having a Cert III or years in the “service system” isn’t always what families want most.

They want people with genuine interests and talents who can share those with someone else.

Some current or potential worker roles include:

• 💃 Dance Tutor & Community Connector
• 🍎 Nutrition / Kitchen Mentor & Connector
• 🌱 Gardening Volunteer Assistant
• 🚗 Car Cleaning Job Mentor
• 📚 TAFE Student Tutor & Connector
• 💡 Micro-enterprise / Business Assistant

These worker roles grow out of the mentee’s interests and goals, helping them develop valued roles like employee, volunteer, student, club member, or business owner in their community.

If you have skills, passions, hobbies, or experiences you’d love to share, we would genuinely love to hear from you.

You might be a:

• dancer
• gardener
• business owner
• uni student
• tradie
• foodie
• mentor
• hobby enthusiast

…and you could help someone build a real place in community life.

📩 If this sounds like you, reach out.

Ad: https://employers.ethicaljobs.com.au/organisation/job/554671/view

Learn more about how we work with individuals and families:
https://www.towardsbetter.com.au/for-individuals/self-directing-support/

Sometimes the best mentors aren’t “support workers”… they’re just great people with something to share who see potential and value bringing people with and without disabilities together.

01/04/2026

I’m curious to hear from NDIS providers, sole trader support workers, participants and families.

If you could choose…

What are the things you would most love support workers to know how to do better?

The reality is that 99% of support workers have had no training that isn’t compliance focused.

Most workers have training in things like:
• Cert III qualifications
• Medication administration
• Manual handling
• Behaviour support
• Personal care

These things are important for compliance— but they don’t necessarily teach workers how to help someone build a good life in the community or lead to outcomes beyond Maslows.

What many families and participants say they wish workers knew how to do is things like:

A. Finding volunteering opportunities that match a person’s interests
B. Supporting people to make friends and build relationships beyond paid services
C. Helping people have more purpose and structure in their week
D. Exploring pathways to paid work or learning
E. Helping identify and build valued social roles in the community
F. Forward planning – thinking about what comes next in life
G. Helping people discover their interests, strengths and passions
H. Supporting people to connect with local clubs, groups and activities
I. Helping families and teams think bigger about possibilities

When these skills are missing, the outcomes often look like this:

• People becoming more dependent on services over time
• Weeks filled with support hours but little purpose or progress
• Few relationships beyond paid staff
• Reliance on the pension with limited pathways to work or contribution

👉 Which of the options above stand out to you?
Comment the letters (A–I) or add your own.

One thing I’ve been reflecting on is that many people have 3–5 support workers in their week. When those workers develop skills in areas like this, the impact can be much bigger than direct service alone.

And yes you can use your NDIS funding to develop your team or recruit new team members.

Really interested to hear what people think.

ricky@towardsbetter.com.au

📸 A training I put together recently for Wonderland Community Services/Pirates Rest

01/04/2026

🔧 Customised Job Opportunity – Townsville

We are looking to help create a customised role for a local job seeker in a Townsville tyre shop.

This role will be built around a mix of tasks such as:
• Greeting customers
• Taking bookings
• Using the computer for simple admin tasks
• Learning some basic tyre fitting skills
• Assisting around the shop (including moving tyres)

🕒 Hours: Flexible – approximately 6–25 hours per week
📍 Location: Townsville

This opportunity is being developed through a customised employment approach, meaning the role is shaped around the person’s strengths while also supporting the needs of the business.

If you’re a person 18+ with a disability or a family member and interested in learning more or know someone who might be a great fit, please get in touch.

📧 ricky@towardsbetter.com.au

Feel free to share to help us find the right local person.

25/03/2026

If your a Human Service (NDIS, Aged, Mental Health, Community) and

🤝are wanting to both expand range of choices/opportunities in local neighbourhoods for people you work alongside

AND

⛽️ have your team doing less driving or fuel use (to save you and your clients $)

💬 Let’s chat with you and your team about range of opportunities and ways to make this happen

📲 Book a time for a 1 Hour Consult: https://www.towardsbetter.com.au/contact-us/

📧 Or email us to make a time: ricky@towardsbetter.com.au

Towards Better

18/04/2026

16/04/2026

15/04/2026

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25/03/2026

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Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm