Empowering Pathways

15/10/2024

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life... ✨️ what choices are you going to make today? What are you prioritising? Make them count... 🌺

10/10/2024

Thanks BNI Eagle - Business Networking for the warm welcome. Looking forward to working with you all and spreading awareness about Empowering Pathways and my work in the Disabilities and Mental Health Services space! 🌺 Thanks also to Carpet Ninja and Pest Control for being my sponsor!

02/10/2024

Wednesday night professional development....

27/09/2024

Leaving a career as stable as teaching after 20+ years to return to study and start my own business was always going to be a scary and financially risky decision. However, I still work with my favourite groups of people - people with disabilities, children, families and those facing mental health challenges and I do it on my own, healthier terms. *Spoiler alert* I haven't regretted it for a second! 😊
In Environmental Psychology, there's a concept called Biophilia, regarding the benefits to the brain, body and nervous systems of being out in nature. 🌿 If I can write NDIS review requests, modules on avoiding burnout and research projects on mental health in PWD, while looking at this gorgeous, restorative view, why on earth wouldn't I?? Listening to the kookaburras and whip birds as I type this, I know I'm working to my fullest potential on things I'm incredibly passionate about, and my clients are getting the best of me. 🧠 It's literally win-win!
Update on all the busy-ness that's kept me quiet lately soon 🌺

17/06/2024

Welcome to the new followers! I appreciate you 😊🌺

I'm business card official! 🥳🌺 share til your heart's content!

17/06/2024

You can only do what you can do, on any given day. Listen to your body, soul and mind, and be aware of what they need. Disabilities can be frustrating at times, but the more we listen and care for ourselves, hopefully, the less negative impacts they have. Also, CELEBRATE the unique perspectives, opportunities and benefits they give us 💜 the more we acknowledge the positive, the more energy and patience we have for the negatives…. For example, my ADHD means I have a washing basket that has clean, folded clothes that have been sitting in my room for 3 weeks and I’m always late because I get distracted 🙄. Yet, my ADHD also lets me hyperfocus on assignment topics like the neurobiological impacts of methamphetamines or anorexia and get me High Distinctions!! If we can celebrate the good, while tolerating the bad, we can lead more full, balanced lives…

17/06/2024

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21/05/2024

One of my co-design projects is focussed on increasing the number of women, feminine-identifying and non binary people with disabilities in the workplace. We've written modules on discrimination, ignorance, bias, language, tokenism, accommodations, intersectionality of gender and disability, leadership, barriers and encouragers. We've just had another update meeting, had a peek at the online modules, discussed the face-to-face training and workshopped a few speedbumps we are navigating. The thing I love most about this project is that it is solely driven by women and gender-diverse people with disabilities. In meetings, we have space to show up authentically, without the need for explanation. . Wherever possible, our external work is outsourced to PWD too, I found out today which disability organisation is doing our videography...
There's a big push at the moment for organisations to set MEANINGFUL (not tokenistic) employment quotas for PWD.This is one of the recommendations set out by the Royal Commission that the government is working on. Our national corporate partner for the pilot program is being proactive in its support of our work, in order to have an inclusive and productive workforce.

My proud moment.... today, I was asked to be a Peer Support Mentor for employees undertaking our training. I'm honoured to have been asked 😊 education, support and creating change are my passions, so it really aligned beautifully!!
The other reason I'm so glad to be a Mentor is that I will be an ongoing part of the program as it rolls out and see it all unfold. I can't wait to watch something we created being out in the world! I rarely see my co-design projects after completion (that's a whole other post) so to be involved from beginning, through implementation and then evaluating and adjusting is super cool. Then we're ready for national roll out!! !!

11/05/2024

Thankyou to everyone who completed the surveys regarding factors that impact mental health for people with disabilities!! The results are currently being analysed and our team is meeting at the end of the month to discuss findings and our next steps. The future direction of this project has now been determined by the people who completed the survey. I believe any research about people with disabilities should be driven by US. Our lived experience is the key to informing policy change. Optimistically, the NDIS and Department of Social Services have already asked for updates. To be continued! 😊

27/03/2024

Apologies for being quiet, I'm unexpectedly in hospital. I will get back my messages, emails and phone calls when I'm home. This is still a time to practice gratitude... for my beautiful view of the gum trees, the sea eagle who soars by, the caring nurses and the kitchen staff and I who write notes to each other on my meal trays 😊

19/03/2024

I talk a lot about Empowerment and here is a perfect example.... meet Siobhan. Despite being told she was too young to run a business, Siobhan owns the amazing Our Pixie Friends with the cutest, fluffiest fidget toys, cards, and calming kits, she is an author of 3 books, an established public speaker, advocate and raises money for medical research. Two of her information posters are attached. Siobhan lives with a range of disabilities, many of which we have in common. Siobhan's work also inspires kids going through difficult medical times. Not bad for a 14 year old!! It's been great speaking with Siobhan and her wonderful Mum, over the past days and I look forward to hearing her speak in the morning! Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association

19/03/2024

After years of reading and listening to Joe, it was amazing to hear him speak in person! 🏳️‍⚧️ Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association Empowering Pathways