NDIS Support Worker/Mentor

09/04/2022

08/03/2022

Proud donor and supporter of this wonderful organisation

04/03/2022

As apart of a recent support, we attended a cat cafe to assist in easing anxiety through some animal therapy. We decided to put some other plans on hold so that the client could move into a calmer head space. I am so grateful that my role affords me the opportunities to be adaptable and support clients in a uniquely person-centred approach which works best for them.

11/09/2021

CURRENT AVAILABILITY

Wednesday AM
Monday AM or PM

*Weekends by negotiation *

01/09/2021

A friend recently told me about this phrase. It resonated so much with me, as I'm sure it will for many. We are often our own harshest critics and could use a little more of this..🙏

"compassionate curiosity." The point being, to wonder about ourselves, to learn about ourselves, but to do so compassionately.

05/06/2021

Its important not to judge a disability by it's invisibility. We need to take the time and effort to put ourselves in that person's shoes, to ask questions, truely listen and comprehend what the persons is going through. This is an ongoing process.

16/05/2021

Some photos from support today at hallet cove boardwalk.

25/04/2021

Today we acknowledge, commemorate and remember all the service men and women that suffered, lost their lives and fought in war. Giving thanks for the freedom and peace we are so fortunate to have, we will always remember them.

22/03/2021

Last week a client and I went to see a comedy show at the Fringe. Often, in our supports we focus on skills building and attending to tasks/appointments but it's also important to get out in the community and experience new things. My client often states that one of the things she loves the most in our time together is the we laugh alot. I love hearing this, because life can be tough and challenging at times - it is so important to laugh and have fun. Laughter truely is the best medicine.

05/03/2021

• YOU•ARE•NOT•BROKEN
Sometimes when I meet clients and their family, I am confronted with an expectation that i am going to 'transform' someone. I understand this thinking, however this is not my goal. When I meet someone, i do not see them as broken and needing to be fixed. For example, when I work with clients with an Autism diagnosis - I become aware that this person may process things differently from others, that this may cause some challenges. To me, this doesn't mean there is anything wrong with that person. They simply view, interpret and process information differently. My role is to walk along side that person, to nurture their strengths and to work with that person to facilitate capacity building so that they can achieve the things they want to. The hard work comes from the client, because change has to come from within and it has to be desired. It is not up to me to determine what someone's goals are or to impart my ideals onto them. We all face challenges in this lifetime, I have the privilege of working with individuals (unique in their own right) to work through some of theirs. I sit in a place of gratitude that I learn just as much off my clients as they do me.

15/02/2021

Some snaps from our support today. We had so much fun feeding the animals and talking through life's twists and turns

12/02/2021

WHAT I LOVE MOST....
Is seeing the little milestones that clients achieve. I enjoy celebrating these with my clients. What can be perceived as 'Small' is actually an integral part of a big picture that we are creating together.
Working from a strengths-based approach is a little like the picture below. My role is like the water being poured onto the seedling. I invigorate and bring to surface the clients strengths, but the client is the one who sprouts and grows through the surface of the soil. With some more caring ingredients added, what starts off as a small sprout becomes a picture of strength, new life and continual flourishment.

03/02/2021

HIDDEN/INVISIBLE DISABILITY
I am passionate about raising public awareness that not all disabilities are 'visible.' Many of my clients are experiencing trauma or an illness which might not seem obvious or visible to a member of the public. For example, a person diagnosed with trauma, ASD, Bi-polar can become triggered by things that others may not react to or be more susceptible to overwhelm by loud noises body language, certain spaces or places etc. Most of us react back when you are on the receiving end of what you perceive to be an 'unreasonable' reaction. I have been guilty of this myself. Since working in this field and sometimes seeing this unfold, my understanding has increased and i try to always keep the following in mind.
'Most of us are fighting a battle that others know nothing about.'

19/01/2021

CAPACITY BUILDING
This word gets thrown around alot but what does it actually entail? My interpretation is that there is not a 'one size fits all answer.' Everybody is different in their abilities, skills, hopes/dreams, interests, limitations and strengths.
In NDIS terms: capacity building would be defined as Skills building.
But just what does this look like?
I once worked with a client who had a goal of becoming more independent. She suffered from high levels of anxiety and didn't want to obtain a licence. Together we built her 'capacity' by walking down to the shops, finding a local library, learning some basic computer skills and looking up a bus timetable. From there, we caught the bus into the city and back. Once she was more comfortable, we ventured out further and eventually she was able to catch the bus by herself. It opened up a whole new world for her.
Another example of capacity building was a client I worked with who wanted to learn some cooking skills. We worked towards this by looking up some recipies, going food shopping and cooking some meals together. She learnt some new In the kitchen, as well as taking care of her nutritional needs.
These are just two examples of clients I have worked with to build capacity. They both acquired new skills in their own right. This picture looked completely different for both of them. This is capacity building in a person-centred approach.