Raymond shares his experience of being supported by one of our NDIS recovery coaches who support NDIS participants to manage the complex challenges of day-to-day life and access the right supports that enable independence and help achieve recovery goals.
My name is Raymond, I’m 65 and lived in England until I got married and we emigrated to Australia. I have a daughter who also lives in Perth. I am now divorced from my wife, but we have a good relationship. The rest of my family still lives in England.
In 2021, I was attending Osborne Community Mental Health Service (Osborne Clinic) and wasn’t doing very well, not socialising or going out. That’s when my case manager suggested the NDIS, which helped me link in with support providers and my MIFWA recovery coach.
My recovery journey
At the time, it was suggested that since MIFWA is a mental health provider, they would understand where I was coming from with my mental health. A recovery coach would assist me with steps on my recovery journey, and assistance to understand my NDIS plan and achieve my goals.
My Community Mental Health Service case manager organised a meeting. When I met my MIFWA recovery coach, we talked about how I could take things at my own pace, and what my goals were, other things I wanted to achieve, and services I could connect with to assist me and that were a good fit for my needs. We also talked about how she would support me to understand my NDIS funding and assist me to achieve my goals by working with me to break them down to manageable steps.
At first, I changed my mind about getting involved with NDIS, but I’m glad that the recovery coach gave me some space and kept to her word to not force me to do anything I was not comfortable with, and I’m glad she checked back in with me in the new year like I requested. She gave me the space and time to think things through and did not pressure me to begin until I was ready. She was reliable, keeping me updated about my funding and supporting me to be comfortable to attend my plan review meeting.
NDIS and MIFWA
My recovery coach has helped me understand my NDIS funding and is working through things with me to find strategies to get around barriers in my life to achieve my goals.
The goals she has already helped me achieve include reconnecting with Lorikeet Centre, and I’m now hoping to attend by myself in future. Other goals achieved include linking me with great supports and assisting in decluttering my home, connecting with services that have helped with my social anxiety and getting out more in the community, and ongoing support to work at my pace to work on my changing needs.
My recovery coach makes me feel even more supported by reassuring me that I could progress at my own pace, I would not be forced to do anything I was not comfortable with, and she would work with me and my support team.
The biggest impact of MIFWA’s support
The biggest positive impact has been changing my life for the better. I now go out more and my social anxiety has decreased.
To me, a great recovery coach is someone who has great listening skills, non-judgemental, who you can speak freely with, is reliable, makes you feel comfortable, and works with you.
If you’re on the fence about engaging a recovery coach, I say go for it, you won’t regret it. She has been a great help to me.
I’m now looking forward to continuing my recovery journey, stay connected to a great support team and eventually get involved in volunteering.
I would definitely recommend MIFWA.
About NDIS Individualised Support
Our recovery coaches have lived and/or learned experience of mental health challenges and recovery and use this experience to support participants on their own recovery journeys.
Find out more here.
Share