Our Brisbane NDIS provider page explains the rules that apply across Queensland: registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, NDIS worker screening and blue cards, and compulsory registration for supported independent living providers from 1 July 2026. Rockhampton providers work under the same rules, so this section looks at the district.
The NDIA's Rockhampton service district is large. It takes in Rockhampton, Livingstone, Gladstone, the Central Highlands, Banana Shire and Woorabinda, plus Longreach, Barcaldine, Winton, Blackall-Tambo, Barcoo and Diamantina in the Central West. On 30 June 2026 it had 9,034 participants. Rockhampton Regional Council had 4,018, up from 2,785 four years earlier, an increase of about 44%; Gladstone had 2,374, Livingstone 1,274, the Central Highlands 749 and Banana 367.
Within the Rockhampton and Livingstone council areas, Gracemere (676), Yeppoon (599), Norman Gardens (501), Berserker (431), Parkhurst – Kawana (407) and Frenchville – Mount Archer (377) had the most participants. The Range – Allenstown, Park Avenue, Lakes Creek, Rockhampton – West, Glenlee – Rockyview and the city centre each had between 230 and 315, and Mount Morgan 150. Livingstone's growth stands out: the ABS estimated its population rose 2.1% in 2024–25, mostly through people moving in from elsewhere in Australia, and its participant count grew 61% between June 2022 and June 2026.
The district is younger and more autistic than Queensland overall. Autism was the primary disability for 53.7% of participants in June 2026, compared with 46.0% statewide, and 38.4% of participants were aged 9 to 18, against 31.9%. Rockhampton's median age was 37.7 in the ABS's June 2025 estimates, a little under the national 38.4. Plans were mostly plan-managed (6,898), with 1,511 fully self-managed and 351 agency-managed. The NDIS Commission says only participants who self-manage or plan-manage their funding can choose an unregistered provider.
Carers Queensland is the local area coordination partner, with offices on East Street in Rockhampton and Goondoon Street in Gladstone, and BUSHkids is the early childhood partner for children younger than 6 with developmental delay or younger than 9 with disability, working from Rockhampton, Emerald and Gladstone with outreach to Biloela. We're an Adelaide team and work with Central Queensland providers by phone and email, and you pay only once you approve the draft.