1989
A group of concerned parents living on the Sunshine Coast wanted to enhance employment options for their children and other young people with an intellectual disability. They combined to form the beginnings of STEPS.

Once incorporated, the group applied for and received government funding to establish a supported employment agency. The original target group was limited to people between 15 and 25 years of age with an intellectual disability.

1990
Operations started in March with four staff under the trading name Sunshine Coast Training and Employment Services, working out of Collins Place, Maroochydore.

1993
STEPS amended its constitution so people of any age and with a broader range of disabilities could receive assistance.

A joint project was established between STEPS Employment and the Endeavour Foundation Business Services to assist people move to open employment.

STEPS successfully applies to become a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

1995
STEPS received additional funding to assist people with a psychiatric disability to gain employment.

1996
STEPS received funding to increase services to the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, opening a second office in Caloundra.

2000
A Government initiated cased-based funding trial begins, resulting in a 60% increase in client numbers. A new head office is built in Maroochydore to accommodate growing staff numbers and to better meet client needs.

2001
The Department of Families and Communities introduces a new service model focused on case-based funding.

2002
STEPS successfully applies for the Australia Working Together (AWT) tender, part of welfare reforms introduced by the Department of Family and Community Services.

Agreements were reached to expand services through merging with Work Support Employment Services.

2003
STEPS has three outlets – Caloundra, Maroochydore and Nambour.

Client numbers increase to almost 500 and the milestone of 2000 job placements is passed.

A corporate structure is introduced, and the organisation’s name is changed from STEPS Employment to STEPS Disability Qld to reflect the expanding vision of the organisation.

The first STEPS Disability Awards is held. The prestigious awards event is established to empower, encourage and recognise people with a disability as well as reward those people and organisations that support them.

The scope of STEPS Training as a registration training organisation (RTO) is expanded to include Certificate IV courses.

2004
Under the Australia Working Together program, extra government funding allows STEPS to assist more people with a disability to find work. The three Sunshine Coast offices restructure to accommodate increased client numbers.

STEPS holds its second STEPS Disability Awards, with 250 people attending the gala occasion in Nambour. Prizes were awarded in 14 categories.

The Nambour office is expanded to include training rooms.

STEPS gains a licence to train in “Management skill for a new environment” a course directed to assist organisations in the disability sector to manage their business under the case-based funding arrangement. STEPS Training delivers the course to organisations throughout the nation.

Forty-four staff are now employed through five offices.

2005
The Commonwealth Government moves the responsibility of the delivery of Open Employment Service to people with a disability from the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). All STEPS clients are moved to case-based funding.

STEPS opens a new support office in Hervey Bay, and Work Support Employment Service changes its name to STEPS Employment, Bundaberg.

Coral Coast Employment of Bowen joins STEPS.

2006

A television commercial campaign is launched in the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay areas, featuring STEPS participants and employers. The slogan “it’s all about you” is coined.

Coral Coast Employment Services in Bowen officially changes its name to STEPS Employment, Bowen branch.

STEPS Employment Alice Springs opens for business, the result of a successful merger with Employment Access.

Two new offices are opened in North Queensland – Ayr and Aitkenvale, Townsville.

STEPS expands its disability employment services into Nambour and Noosa.

2007
STEPS’ Caloundra branch moves to larger offices in Bowman Road.

STEPS holds its third Disability Awards night on the Sunshine Coast.

2008
The Nambour office of STEPS opens an outreach office in Noosa.

STEPS launches the Community Services division, with its first office in the previous office of STEPS Employment’s Caloundra branch. The division merges with Capability Concepts to deliver disability services to Gin Gin and the Kolan Shire.

A second television commercial, featuring employers of STEPS participants, is launched in Townsville and the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay.

STEPS merges with fellow Disability Employment Network provider, Impact Employment in Townsville.

2009

STEPS secures funding to deliver Language and Literacy & Numeracy (LLNP) training in seven remote Indigenous communities in central Australia. Delivery of Home and Community Care (HACC) training also begins in Alice and Tennant Creek areas of Northern Territory.

The range of STEPS’ community programs expand in the North Burnett to include projects relating to multiculturalism and the awareness of dementia. Through the NDCO program, STEPS footprint expands to include over 80% of Queensland.

STEPS becomes the preferred provider of Disability Employment Services for a research project with Queensland Mental Health (QMH) on the Sunshine Coast.