About the DARE Program
For NDIS participants and families who know there is potential – but feel stuck.
IGITAL
DVENTURE
ESILIENCE
For NDIS participants and families who know there is potential – but feel stuck.
"They have so much potential, but something is holding them back."
"Every day feels like a battle with focus, planning. I just can't get motivated!"
"We see the future they deserve, but the path to get there feels lost in a fog."
"I have so many ideas... why can't I make anything work? It is so frustrating!
We don’t just give more information. We provide a proven blueprint for momentum – combining 1:1 coaching, small-group “LAB” sessions and real-world practice, so skills don’t just make sense in theory… they show up in everyday life. Our 10-week cycles follow a predictable rhythm that turns chaos into clarity and builds small, consistent wins that compound over time.
TSNAF exists to support people who experience:
The Foundation’s work spans sport, digital skills, mental health and community programs. Across all of these, the goal is the same: practical, evidence-based supports that increase independence, participation and wellbeing, not just more services on paper.
DARE sits at the heart of that mission. It was built as a goal-driven NDIS program of support – a way to turn TSNAF’s years of work in youth development, executive function and community sport into a clear, repeatable pathway for NDIS participants and their families.
ABOUT DAVID FRASER
He has spent years working with families, schools, athletes and NDIS participants who “have so much potential, but something is holding them back,” and has turned that experience into the DARE Blueprint – a structured way to move from overwhelmed → in control, isolated → connected, “I can’t” → “I will”.
David brings together three strands that rarely live in the same person:
Decades of experience using sport, movement and high-performance coaching with young people and adults.
Deep understanding of executive function, motivation, habit formation and mental skills for performance.
Expertise in designing scalable, evidence-based programs, and using digital tools to make them accessible and measurable.
ABOUT Tanya FRASER
Over the past eight years, delivering programs right here on the Sunshine Coast, she has helped more than 400 local entrepreneurs elevate their businesses, build digital confidence, and turn ambition into sustainable success.
Tanya brings the team a strong foundation of leadership:
Decades of experience leading and managing 600+ teams and individuals to achieve meaningful, measurable results.
Extensive experience in facilitation, workshops, and coaching across large and small groups, supporting people through growth and change.
Specialist in designing scalable, evidence-based programs and leveraging business and digital tools to make learning accessible, practical, and measurable.
Many programs focus only on skills (“learn to code”, “play more sport”) or only on therapy.
DARE puts Executive Function (EF) at the centre of everything:
Imagine your brain as a big control centre that helps you get things done.
Planning is thinking ahead and deciding what you need to do, like making a game plan before playing a sport. For example, if you have a school project, planning means figuring out the steps you need to take, such as researching, writing, and creating your presentation.
Prioritising is about deciding which things are the most important to do first. If you have chores to do, you might decide that cleaning your room is more important than organising your toys. So, you would tackle the big job first before moving on to smaller tasks.
Together, planning and prioritising help you use your time and energy wisely so you can finish everything you want to do without getting too stressed!
"Staying focused despite distractions" means being able to pay attention to what you're doing, even when there are things around you that might make you want to look away or stop.
Think of your brain like a TV.
When you want to watch your favourite show (like doing your homework or reading a book), you have to turn off other channels that might be distracting, like loud noises, your phone, or other people talking.
This is where executive functioning comes in. It's like the remote control for your brain!
Executive functioning helps you plan out what you're going to do, keep your attention on it, and ignore things that might distract you.
When you're working on something, try to remember your goal, and when a distraction pops up, you can say to yourself, "Nope! I'm going to stick with my show!"
So, staying focused is all about using that "remote control" part of your brain to help you do your best, even when there are other fun or noisy things happening around you!
Managing emotions and setbacks is like being the captain of a ship.
Imagine you're sailing, and sometimes the waves get really bumpy, or there might be a storm. These bumps and storms are like the tough times we face, such as not getting a good grade, losing a game, or having a disagreement with a friend.
Now, as the captain, you need to think clearly to keep your ship steady.
This is where executive functioning comes in! It helps you make good decisions, solve problems, and stay calm.
Here are a few ways to think about it:
1. Think Before You Act: If something doesn't go your way, like losing a game, instead of getting really upset, you can take a deep breath and think about what to do next—maybe talk to your friends or practice more.
2. Control Your Feelings: It's okay to feel sad or angry, but it's important to find ways to calm down. Maybe you can talk to someone you trust or do something you enjoy, like drawing or playing a favourite game.
3. Set Goals: When you face a setback, like getting a lower score on a test, you can set a new goal to study a little each day to do better next time.
4. Stay Positive: Instead of thinking "I can't do this," try to think "I'll try my best and learn from it." This helps your mind focus on solutions instead of problems.
So, just like a ship captain needs to manage the waves, we need to manage our emotions and setbacks to keep moving forward and stay on our journey!
"Following through on commitments" means doing what you said you would do.
It's like when you promise to finish your homework or help a friend with their project, and then you actually do it.
In terms of executive functioning, which is like the control centre in your brain that helps you plan and organise, following through is really important. It means you can stick to your plans and manage your time well.
For example, if you tell your teacher you will turn in your book report on Friday, you need to remember that, plan when you'll work on it, and then actually finish it in time. It's about being responsible and keeping your promises, which helps people trust and rely on you.
So, when you follow through, you're practising important skills that help you succeed in school and life!
"Starting tasks without getting stuck" means being able to begin your homework, chores, or any other job without feeling confused or unsure about what to do.
Think of your brain like a remote control for a TV. Sometimes, when you want to play your favourite show, you have to press the right button to turn it on.
If you don't press the button, nothing happens, right?
In the same way, when you have a task to do, your brain needs to 'turn on' and get working. If you don't know how to start or if you feel overwhelmed, it's like the remote isn't working, and you just can't start!
Executive functioning is like having a good remote control. It helps you plan what to do, organise your tasks, and get started without getting stuck on what to do first. So, if you can break a big job into smaller steps, it's easier to start without feeling lost.
In DARE, every LAB – Digital, Adventure or Soccer – is built around EF strategies. Whether you’re learning to design a social media campaign, navigate a bush track or play in a football mini-tournament, you are practising the same core mental skills, repeatedly, in different contexts.
DARE is designed from the ground up for NDIS participants and their support networks.
Supports may be claimed from Core and/or Capacity Building where appropriate to the participant’s goals, needs and plan, and where the support is considered reasonable and necessary.
Delivered as a time-limited, outcomes-focused block (Program of Support) — a structure commonly used for group and skill-building supports.
Parents and carers get "peace of mind that:
DARE is designed to align with common support goals. Whether any part is funded depends on the participant’s plan, goals, and circumstances, as well as the decision of the NDIA/plan manager.
Aligned to key NDIS outcomes: