Living with a disability brings its own kinds of challenges. Whether it be the day to day tasks required to engage in your chosen lifestyle, developing social connectedness, or managing personal care, we all know that living with a disability requires tailored support that promotes independence while upholding dignity. Here in Sydney, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is changing lives by providing tailored support, and the difference between one provider and another can be quite stark.
This blog post will discuss how allowing NDIS service provisions to empower those in Sydney to lead fuller lives, the importance of holistic care, as well as how NDIS providers such as Kuremara provide not only bespoke support but also compassion and flexibility on the journey.
Understanding the Core Purpose of NDIS
So what is NDIS and what is its core function? The NDIS is designed to provide reasonable and necessary support for people with permanent and significant disabilities, and includes support for daily personal activities, transport, therapeutic support, participation in community or social activities, supported accommodation, etc.
What is the value of NDIS? The most important difference is that under NDIS there is an element of person-centred practice, where the participants have choice and control over where to get services from, for what, and to what extent, rather than a blanket service that everyone with a disability receives.
Participants get the funding to access services aimed at their goals: a new skill, finding a job, making connections with people, or living independently.
Challenges With Choosing The Right Support Partner
Sydney has a multitude of service providers, each with different specialties, service delivery models, and philosophies. Although this variety is great for choice, it can be daunting for participants and their families to find a provider that understands their needs.
A trusted partner should offer:
- Genuine Person-Centred Support: Not just in name, but in actual alignment of supports with the participants needs, preferences and goals.
- Flexibility and Consistency: Consistency of staff while being flexible to changing schedules or needs.
- Whole of Life Services: Participants benefit most from providers who offer a range of services that can adjust and adapt as life changes from Supported Independent Living (SIL), to in-home support and community access.
- Open Communication: Agreements, active listening, and honest updates promote trust.
- Cultural Sensitivity and Respect: Every person brings with them a background, language or culture that needs to be respected in their care.
How Holistic Support Delivery Improves Outcomes
Disability does not exist in a vacuum, disability intersects with mental health, physical health, social inclusion, and personal identity. For this reason, quality care must be holistic. Participants usually function best when services are not simply a basic service to assist in a single aspect of their life but also take into account emotional wellbeing, skill development and empowerment.
Incorporating mental health/mental wellness into disability support is essential. Services should provide therapeutic support, emotional support, and connections to practitioners whenever possible. Services that offer one-on-one companionship, assistance with routines, and encouragement to follow passions all lead to better mental health.
Showcasing a Peer Service Model: Kuremara in Sydney
An excellent example of compassionate, flexible, and person-centred support, is Kuremara and their model of support. Kuremara, located within Australia, has a fantastic reputation as an NDIS provider in Sydney, that families and individuals appreciate for their personalised, friendly and inclusive support services.
Kuremara’s model of support is geared towards empowering participants, and allowing them to live their own life in any capacity. Providing in-home supports, assisting with community access, providing Supported Independent Living (SIL), along with Short-Term Accommodation (STA), allows them to service the needs of all different aspects of participants’ lives as those lives continue to evolve.
A few core focuses of Kuremara’s approach are:
- 24/7 Access: Acknowledging supports are often needed outside of business hours.
- Staff: Trained skilled support workers that have as much value for relationships as they do for routines.
- Support Planning: Participants are always achieving meaningful milestones whilst supported by Kuremara. This may include taking a trip unassisted or learning how to be more independent whilst gaining new life skills.
- Commitment to Inclusion: Kuremara is committed to ensuring services and is inclusive of all cultures, identities, communication styles.
Whether seeking assistance with everyday tasks or help navigating the bigger challenges in life, Kuremara supports connection as a care factor that is both human and professional.
Community Connection as Infrastructure for Growth
Isolation is often one of the largest barriers faced by people with disabilities. Building and maintaining social connections is not only good for emotional wellbeing, it facilitates the development of independence and confidence. No wonder support plans today have community participation as a major priority.
Whether getting involved in local hobby groups or transport options to attend community events, NDIS funded supports can provide opportunities for previous experiences to be accessed. Whenever participants can have input into how and when they connect with their surroundings, the possibilities for success are increased.
This is especially true for people seeking mental health support in Sydney. Engagement, meaningful routines and choice and control of time are instrumental tools for mental wellness. Service providers that include mental health considerations as part of community-based disability support, conceptualise safety and nurturing of an environment for growth.
What Participants Should Expect from their Provider
When assessing their current provider or considering a change, participants should also consider these questions:
- Are they actively listening to you, and respectfully responding to your needs?
- Can they adjust their services to help you reach your goals?
- Are their staff qualified, caring, and consistent?
- Is there an opportunity to grow along with this provider as needs change?
- Are they elevating your safety, independence, and well-being?
Choosing a provider is about more than just choosing a service; it’s about choosing a partner in your journey towards empowerment and fulfillment.
Flexibility and Choice: The Core of Empowered Support
Every story related to disability care has some common themes relating to choice and control. Participants have the right to choose who supports them, how that support looks, and when that support is received. Providers that truly embrace this principle contribute to the development of healthier, more effective support environments.
Flexibility can mean:
- Building a support schedule around a participant’s lifestyle
- Choosing to participate in new hobbies, education, or competing for jobs
- Finding different ways to support preferred sensory or communication principles
- Integrating cultural or religious celebrations into care schedules
Concluding Remarks: Innovative Support with Heart and Meaning
NDIS participants from all corners of Sydney are seeking more from their providers than being recipients of services. We believe the best support does not only meet the basic needs of an individual, but assists in growing confidence, establishing relationships with others, and finding joy and purpose in their lives.
If we can adopt an over-archic view, respectful and individualised approach to support, clients can have more freedom in their everyday life and more hope for the future. As Kuremara also shows us, with the right team behind you anything is possible.
