Looking for disability support across the Upper or Lower Hunter? Contact Open Hand Support and tell us what you need, what has been hard to find and what better support needs to look like.
Tell us what life looks like at the moment, where support is needed and what you want to feel more confident managing. We can talk through in home support, community access, personal care, transport, appointment support, life skills, complex care and what the next step may look like for you, your family or the person you support.
0439 990 731
info@openhandsupport.com.au
Across the Upper and Lower Hunter
The right provider is not just the one with availability. It is the one who pays attention when a routine changes, when a participant goes quiet, when personal care needs more time, or when a family is trying to explain something that keeps getting overlooked.
Open Hand Support brings 30+ years of hands-on care experience into those moments, so support feels considered, steady and built around what actually matters.
Good support should not feel confusing before it even begins. Here are some questions people often ask when they are looking for the right provider, the right worker or the right kind of support.
We take that seriously. A bad experience can make it harder to trust new people, accept support or feel comfortable speaking up. We do not expect someone to “just get over it” or start fresh without hesitation. We take the time to understand what has happened before, what did not work, what made the person feel unsafe or unheard, and what support needs to look like this time around. The goal is to rebuild trust slowly, not rush someone into a setup that feels uncomfortable.
Comfort usually comes from small, consistent things. Being on time. Speaking respectfully. Remembering preferences. Not rushing personal care. Giving the person space when they need it. We focus on building familiarity gradually, so the participant feels supported by someone who is paying attention, not just completing a shift.
Yes. In many cases, starting slowly can be the best way to build trust. Support might begin with shorter visits, simple tasks or time spent getting to know the participant before moving into more personal or involved support. If someone is nervous, unsure or still working out what feels right, Contact Open Hand Support and we can talk through a starting point that feels manageable.
We adjust where we can. Some days do not go to plan, and good support needs enough flexibility to respond to that without making the person feel like they have failed. If an outing feels too much, the focus may shift to something quieter. If a routine takes longer, we slow down. The aim is to support the person in front of us, not force the day to match the original plan.
Families often hold important information, especially around routines, communication, triggers, health needs and what has or has not worked before. We value that input, while still keeping the participant’s choice, dignity and preferences at the centre of support. Where appropriate, we work with both the participant and their family so everyone feels clearer, more confident and better informed.
You can expect communication that is clear, respectful and practical. We believe families and support coordinators should not be left chasing basic updates or wondering what is happening. The type of communication will depend on the participant’s preferences and the support arrangement, but our aim is to keep the right people informed without overstepping the participant’s privacy or choice.
Open Hand Support is built around familiarity, experience and the small details that often get lost in larger systems. We are not trying to make people fit into a rigid way of receiving care. We take the time to understand routines, personalities, comfort levels and the kind of support that actually helps the person feel known.
Independence should not feel like pressure. We look at what the person wants to build towards, what feels realistic and where support can help them gain confidence safely. Sometimes that means stepping back and giving someone room to try. Other times, it means staying close enough that they know help is there if they need it. If you are unsure what this could look like, contact Open Hand Support and we can talk through the person’s current goals and support needs.
Fit matters. A support worker can be skilled and still not be the right match for a particular person. If something does not feel right, we want to know. We will listen, talk through what is not working and look at what needs to change so the participant feels more comfortable and properly supported.
Tell us what daily life really looks like. What helps, what makes things harder, what routines matter, what the participant enjoys, what they dislike, and whether there have been past experiences that shape how support needs to happen now. You do not need to have everything perfectly organised before reaching out. Contact Open Hand Support with what you know, and we can work through the rest together.
