Who we are

Every great journey begins with a single step, and for Queer and Diverse Pathways, that step was taken by our founder, Stacie Mĕi Laccohee-Duffield. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare and support systems, Stacie Mĕi realised something was missing: a safe, inclusive space where queer, Trans and Gender diverse (TGD), and neurodivergent people could access support that truly understood their unique experiences.

Like many of us, Stacie Mĕi‘s journey has been one of navigating through systems that weren’t always designed with her in mind. She saw firsthand how hard it was for people to find the right support, especially when mainstream services lacked the cultural competence or empathy needed to make someone feel truly seen. After working in project management within mental health and serving on the boards of LGBTQIA+ organisations, it became clear to Stacie Mĕi that something had to change.

So, Queer and Diverse Pathways was born – not just as another NDIS provider, but as a peer-led organisation rooted in the idea of “By Community, For Community.” This is more than just a tagline for us; it’s our guiding principle. We understand that when you’ve walked the same path as the people you serve, you bring something invaluable to the table: trust, empathy, and a shared sense of purpose.

We started with a simple mission: to create a place where the queer, TGD, and neurodivergent communities can access NDIS support that feels affirming, safe, and culturally competent. Whether it’s helping someone navigate their NDIS plan, providing peer support from those who truly get it, or empowering local businesses run by people from our communities, everything we do is about creating inclusive pathways where everyone can thrive.

As a small but mighty team, we understand the importance of keeping things light, approachable, and personal, without sacrificing professionalism. We know how important it is for people to feel they’re in safe hands, but we also believe that sometimes the best support comes from a conversation that feels more like talking to a friend than filling out paperwork.

At the heart of what we do is a belief in empowerment: empowering our clients to take control of their NDIS journey and empowering queer and diverse businesses to grow alongside us. We’ve built Queer and Diverse Pathways as a place where the community can truly come together, connect, and support one another.

So whether you’re here as a client looking for support, or as a contractor wanting to partner with a business that shares your values, we’re ready to walk this path with you. Because at the end of the day, our journey is yours too.

LGBTQIA+ Representation in the Boardroom Matters

“Communities are being recognised as more diverse, so representation in the workplace, to reflect the communities they serve or are situated in, is imperative (Terry, 2020). There is currently a gap in research on LGBTQIA+ representation on boards with most available research being American focused and based on ASX companies. As there is still a long way to go in having significant LGBTQIA+ representation on boards in general, there is little to no research available to show the benefits of this representation and visibility. This report endeavours to pull from other research and the proven impacts of diversity more broadly to highlight why it makes good business sense to have LGBTQIA+ identifying people on boards and why this representation in the boardroom matters.” Extract taken from:

https://youngleadersonboards.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/LGBTQIA-Representation-in-the-Boardroom-Matters-FINAL.pdf