Where to find support – Audio transcript
Where to find support
Audio transcript
GRAYDEN:
Hi, I’m Grayden, and this resource is about helping you get your supports right to move out of Aged Care. It’s by people, like me, who have lived there before. You’ll hear from Samar and Michael about their experience and where they found support. The professionals you already work with, like therapists, Support Coordinators, support workers and other people with disabilities can help you. They will have knowledge, and connections to link you up with the supports you may be looking for. Samar and Michael tell us about the difficulties they had, but also the importance of setting up a good support team.
SAMAR:
When the NDIS came along I didn’t know what to do. I remember thinking it’s here, but what the hell do I get somebody to help me to manage it all. It was quite daunting. I think that’s why so many people fall through the gaps. It’s challenging to get the right support to get onto the NDIS and then once you get the right package, it’s hard to find the right support network. It’s hard because there’s no guidelines on how to get the right support or who you can contact. I was speaking to some people about the NDIS. I was a bit panicked because I didn’t know what I was doing. One of them told me they were working with this Support Coordinator and I should give her a call. I put it off for two weeks. I remember it was very stressful. At first I was a bit hesitant, especially at my first meeting. They were very positive, but I didn’t know, I didn’t know her. But then she walked me through what to expect with the NDIS, the procedures, what we’d need to do and how we’d do it. It helps to speak to other people who they work with to get recommendations. There are organisations out there to support you too.
MICHAEL:
It can also help to ask people you’re working with, say a physiotherapist or an OT. You can go through word of mouth, or the internet, even finding peer support forums and groups. I think it is hard trying to find the right allied health professional and support coordinators though. And I think, that’s it’s where a list of professionals who might have a particular skill set could come in really handy. There is now an online directory you can use, the UpSkill Directory*, which is a sort of database from Summer Foundation. There are support coordinators and allied health professionals who have done training with Summer Foundation on working with people in aged care or in hospital. Because they have completed UpSkill training these people have at least some knowledge to help you move. Now, you need to work out who will be the right one for you, but it could help as a start.
GRAYDEN:
As you have just heard from Samar and Michael, initially setting up your support team can be somewhat overwhelming. Rest assured that many have done this before and are willing to help you and share advice. There are also many professionals that can help you with this process. So don’t miss the links below that point you to where you can get support and start your search.
*NOTE: The UpSkill Directory is no longer available. There are other disability service directories that you may like to use. These include, but are not limited to: Clickability, MyCareSpace, Karista, and Kinora.
Where to find support – Audio transcript
Where to find support
Audio transcript
GRAYDEN:
Hi, I’m Grayden, and this resource is about helping you get your supports right to move out of Aged Care. It’s by people, like me, who have lived there before. You’ll hear from Samar and Michael about their experience and where they found support. The professionals you already work with, like therapists, Support Coordinators, support workers and other people with disabilities can help you. They will have knowledge, and connections to link you up with the supports you may be looking for. Samar and Michael tell us about the difficulties they had, but also the importance of setting up a good support team.
SAMAR:
When the NDIS came along I didn’t know what to do. I remember thinking it’s here, but what the hell do I get somebody to help me to manage it all. It was quite daunting. I think that’s why so many people fall through the gaps. It’s challenging to get the right support to get onto the NDIS and then once you get the right package, it’s hard to find the right support network. It’s hard because there’s no guidelines on how to get the right support or who you can contact. I was speaking to some people about the NDIS. I was a bit panicked because I didn’t know what I was doing. One of them told me they were working with this Support Coordinator and I should give her a call. I put it off for two weeks. I remember it was very stressful. At first I was a bit hesitant, especially at my first meeting. They were very positive, but I didn’t know, I didn’t know her. But then she walked me through what to expect with the NDIS, the procedures, what we’d need to do and how we’d do it. It helps to speak to other people who they work with to get recommendations. There are organisations out there to support you too.
MICHAEL:
It can also help to ask people you’re working with, say a physiotherapist or an OT. You can go through word of mouth, or the internet, even finding peer support forums and groups. I think it is hard trying to find the right allied health professional and support coordinators though. And I think, that’s it’s where a list of professionals who might have a particular skill set could come in really handy. There is now an online directory you can use, the UpSkill Directory*, which is a sort of database from Summer Foundation. There are support coordinators and allied health professionals who have done training with Summer Foundation on working with people in aged care or in hospital. Because they have completed UpSkill training these people have at least some knowledge to help you move. Now, you need to work out who will be the right one for you, but it could help as a start.
GRAYDEN:
As you have just heard from Samar and Michael, initially setting up your support team can be somewhat overwhelming. Rest assured that many have done this before and are willing to help you and share advice. There are also many professionals that can help you with this process. So don’t miss the links below that point you to where you can get support and start your search.
*NOTE: The UpSkill Directory is no longer available. There are other disability service directories that you may like to use. These include, but are not limited to: Clickability, MyCareSpace, Karista, and Kinora.