Charles has been with MIFWA on a Tailored Individual Support Plan via the NDIS since January 2016 after an attack left him with a brain injury, which greatly impacted his day-to-day life.
He also lives with Gilles De La Tourette Syndrome, epilepsy and diabetes, and throughout his time at MIFWA has taken up swimming and quit smoking, among other things.
We’ll let Charles tell you the rest!
How has MIFWA supported you?
I’d be pretty lonely without MIFWA, and pretty down. I’ve got my wife and my son but I have no mates. My wife works and my son does his homework and has his own friends.
MIFWA has had a big impact on me. Socialising, giving me confidence and meeting people. It gets very lonely at home and making friends is hard but at MIFWA, the support is great and it helps your confidence.
You’re always welcome at MIFWA. They make you feel good and relaxed. I love to talk, and I come here and have a cup of tea and just talk.
What do you think makes a good support worker?
Support workers are good. There should be more of them!
A good support worker is easy going, understanding, down to earth, kind, loving, understanding, helpful, loyal and honest. A kindred spirit, they help to make me a better person and to learn from my mistakes. Even their tone of voice comforts us. When there’s this calm and soothing voice it centers and relaxes you.
My support workers help give me confidence and willpower. They are teaching me money management, and I am saving money – every bit counts. They also help me to focus – without them I’d be lost.
What are you goals for the future?
My goal is to recover, to get out more, to make more friends and to learn new things. I would also like to see a cure for epilepsy and medical breakthroughs in the years to come.
I would like to thank MIFWA for understanding. It’s been great and I hope we have more people and support in the future. It helps us focus and to recover faster, which is important.
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