Josh Sime - Autism and Youth Advocate

17/10/2024

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. My deepest apologies for not having posted in a while. I had some mental health issues a few weeks ago, I'm much better now however.

I'm also in the process of sorting out extramural studies. I'm planning on doing a Bachelor of Health Science, starting with an elective paper in Summer School.

My main reason for this post, however, is to show what the general manager of mental health, addictions, and intellectual disabilities at Te Whatu Ora Southern said regarding my suggestions for improving Wakari Hospital.

Follow the link here to view the response provided by him: https://ibb.co/hR3pR9f

I hope everyone has a great Friday! :)

Image 571791-Sime-Response-Letter-17-10-2024-1 hosted in ImgBB

12/09/2024

Feedback I've just sent to the Te Whatu Ora - Southern Feedback Team on changes and improvements they could make at Dunedin's psychiatric hospital, Wakari Hospital.

11/09/2024

Kia Ora all,

I have just sent an email to Te Whatu Ora - Southern to express interest in speaking to managers at the psychiatric hospital in Dunedin, Wakari Hospital, on what they could do to better improve the service to people with mental illnesses and ease staff stress.

Last year I expressed interest, sadly I fell ill mentally, but a ward manager was really keen to have a chat, here's hoping they still are.

I might even pop by the info desk at the Dunedin Hospital today to see if they can give me any direct contact details for Wakari Hospital management.

I hope everyone is having a good Wednesday.

09/09/2024

Here's an interview I did recently with the Community Care Trust regarding the advocacy work I do. 🥰

16/08/2024

Kia Ora everyone,

I hope everyone is well, and I do apologize for a long pause in updating this page. I'm currently a bit crook and for a little while I had some up and down mental health issues which have thankfully now resolved.

An update I can provide is that I've nominated myself to join the Autistic Self Advocacy Network of Australia & New Zealand. This would be amazing to be a part of and I believe my lived and work experience would be a massive contribution to this organization.

I plan to update this page a bit more frequently, I just have to figure out where to from here on with my advocacy work.

20/07/2024

Hey everyone, I hope you are all doing fantastic and having a great weekend.

I'm not too sure if I let you all know, but I did get the job advocating for youth in an organization that works with youth. I'm pretty thrilled about it.

I had my first meet and greet with the Dunedin and Christchurch team a couple weeks back, now I'm going to start proper work sessions this week coming.

It's not a lot of hours but hey, it gets me out of my bedroom and my shell that I've had for so many years since release from prison when I was a youth. (22–23 hour lockdown in a cell no bigger than a laundry for 5 months does make you isolate once released)

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to giving back to the community through this work.

15/07/2024

Kia Ora everyone,

Many apologies for being inactive a lot, I have been dealing with the darkest path of depression for about a week and my insomnia has gotten really bad as well. Anxiety and exhaustion/tiredness has made my quality of life also very poor lately.

I am okay. I have a good support network of support workers and whanau/friends that I can lean on and chat too.

Sadly, I go through these bouts of depression a fair bit and it just takes its time to ride through when it does occur.

Insomnia is made worse by trauma-enforced nightmares and waking every hour pretty much.

I have started my new casual job as a youth advisor which I'm really excited about.

If you're all still here following this page, thank you so much. :)

25/06/2024

Hello all,

It's been a while since I posted, my apologies for that. I've been quite busy, and I've had a few depressive moments over the past week. Just feeling overwhelmed and taking on too much.

Some of you may have seen the article in the ODT regarding sensory hours at Roslyn Fresh Choice coming soon, for all my followers, here is the article which isn't locked behind a paywall. :)

20/06/2024

Hey all,

Many apologies for not doing the draw yesterday. I've been trying to juggle a few things and one of my anti-depressants seem not to be working as well as it should.

The original requirements of entering were a bit messy and I ended up leaving the Dunedin News group on both this page and my personal account due to the hatred that was on it.

I will do a draw at 7pm tonight of those that liked, commented, or shared the original giveaway post on this page.

Everyone is entitled to one entry. :)

Have a wonderful afternoon everyone and I look forward to announcing the winner at 7pm! :)

17/06/2024

For those that saw my recent post on Dunedin News, I have taken it down because I don't want to be promoting fierce debates that involve insults and emotions being hurt.

The hate of the homeless is very sad to see. I understand they may have acted in ways that aren't socially acceptable but there is no need for people to become hateful, call them 'scum', and basically insinuate that last year's oval death was deserved.

I have had a rough life myself. I try my best to be empathetic, understanding, and not to give up on people. We simply don't know how their lives led them to the current life they're living. This is why I advocate, to ensure that people are seen and are heard.

I don't engage with hateful behaviour and only respond to positivity. The world needs kindness now more than ever.