Before entering the program Skye was unaware of the support and community activities available to her and how to go about accessing them.
However, with support and fortnightly consultations with her mentor, CatholicCare’s Disabilities and Mental Health Caseworker, Peta Cass, Skye has found a new lease on life. She is becoming more involved in the community and has a renewed confidence in her ability to navigate everyday situations.
Skye has a love for animals and since partnering with CatholicCare has started volunteering at her local cat shelter, Sweet Pea.
Skye now also attends Tuesdays with Tanya at her local church, a craft and activities group for women living with mental illness.
Skye socialises through playing bingo and going on trips with her local senior citizens club.
Reflecting on Skye’s progress, Peta says she has come a long way since they began their fortnightly mentoring session, only a matter of months ago.
“Skye has gained confidence in her surroundings and is enjoying her independence.
“One of Skye’s goals is to gain employment, with her dream job to involve work with children,” Peta said.
To achieve this goal Peta has worked with Skye to identify a pathway to enhancing her employment prospects, including assisting her to write a resume and register with an employment agency.
Peta admires Skye’s motivation and says, “I work with her strengths to help her achieve her goals.”
Skye enjoys the company of her mentor and says the program has helped her in everyday life.
“It’s great to have the extra support to make my life easier. Anything that makes my life easier and less stressful makes me very happy.”
Skye is supported under the NDIS Community Access stream, which supports participants to work towards achieving their self determined NDIS plan goals promoting independence, empowerment and choice through a person-centred practice.
Community Access promotes and encourages participants to engage with the broader community, in order to enhance their opportunities to have access to new experiences, opportunities to discover their strengths and options to take on new interests.
For more information about CatholicCare’s NDIS services, please contact CatholicCare on (02) 4979 1120.
