Supporting Customers Archives - Northcott Annual Report 2022-23

Monique moves out of her family home

By teamSupporting Customers

Monique

Monique moves out of her family home

Northcott is one of the top 5 housing providers in Australia. Northcott manages 123 disability homes with 9 more under construction (July 2023).

When Monique’s parents heard about Northcott’s new disability accommodation close to their family home, they knew they’d found a place that Monique could call home.

Meet Monique

Twenty-eight-year-old Monique has a lovable, inquisitive personality that draws everyone in around her. For most of her life, Monique has been cared for by her mother Deb, father Nicholas and other family members.

“Monique has NEXMIF disorder which is a chromosomal disorder and presents with autism, Tourettes, a lack of speech and other behavioural issues. She was only diagnosed a few years ago and she has accessed occupational therapy and life skills services with Northcott since then,” says Deb.

Worries about Monique’s future

While Monique was happy living at home, her parents worried about her future and what the next phase of her life would look when they were no longer around.

“Several families in our lives lost a parent and it made us realised we are not getting any younger,” says Deb. Deb was also keenly aware of the lack of modern, robust, single occupancy disability accommodation options around the Riverina region.

At the same time Deb was having these concerns, Northcott announced plans for new purpose-built accommodation with specialist disability housing provider Casa Capace in Gobbagombalin, a suburb of Wagga Wagga.

When Monique and her family attended an information session with Northcott about the new properties, it piqued Deb’s interest. It was the first time Deb felt confident about her daughter moving into a place that would be right for her to truly call home.

Planning for the move

The first stage of supporting Monique to move into the home was the hardest. This involved applying for and securing the right type of funding.

“Applying for funding is a long process in general and when we first applied, the funding we got was for shared living”, says Sam Terzi, Northcott Service Manager. This was not what Monique’s family wanted for her; they wanted her to live independently.

Together with Monique’s family and the Regional Disability Advocacy Service, the Northcott team went to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and advocated for more funds to allow Monique to be in the right type of accommodation for her.

The team was instrumental in gathering the information needed to prove a single occupancy home was most suitable for Monique.

“The wait for the result was again long and tense, but in the end, we got the result we were after!” says Sam.

“I am so pleased for Monique to be able work towards being more independent and really happy for her family as well.

” Northcott supported Monique to move into her new home in early 2023.

Monique and Will

Monique today

When Monique first moved in, she showed significant behavioural issues like banging her head on the wall and having emotional outbursts. She was only able to spend a few hours at the new house before returning to her parents. After a period of transition with tailored support, Monique has now settled in well and lives full time in the Gobbagombalin property. Monique and her family couldn’t be happier.

Will, one of Monique’s support workers, works with her almost every day. Before Monique moved into Northcott’s property, Will and other members of her support team spent time with Deb to learn about Monique’s different communication cues and be able to clearly understand what she needs.

“I absolutely love working with Monique. She is a very smart girl. We know when Monique rubs her hands a certain way that means she wants to have a barbeque on Friday and boy does Monique love her barbeque,” says Will.

Monique loves to cook, and her team are currently working towards a future goal of Monique being able to cook meals for herself as independently as possible.

With Monique now living independently, life has also changed for Deb. No longer Monique’s primary carer, she says she is enjoying spending time as mother and daughter. “I still go to all of Monique’s appointments with her and visit several times a week, but I’ve definitely noticed she is more affectionate with me now.”

27 October 2023

A group of people, four older men, two women and a young man and seated and standing around a wooden outdoor table in the outdoor area of a house. Everyone looks happy. Not everyone is looking at the camera.

A new home for David and Chris

By teamSupporting Customers

David (back), Chris (front right) with their housemates and support staff.

A new home for David and Chris

When Chris and David’s Northcott-supported disability property no longer met their support requirements, our team found them a new home, better suited to their needs.

Chris and David’s needs

Chris and David are long-term friends and Northcott housemates. They have lived together for more than 7 years, initially in Carlingford, and since September 2022, in Oatlands.

Although the pair were comfortable and happy in Carlingford, a review of their living situation revealed things had changed over time and their home no longer fully supported their needs.

Due to weakening of his knee joints, David needed better support while walking around the home. He also had limited opportunities to socialise with the other residents living there.

“David was participating in an arts and craft day program 4 days a week to meet his social needs. He is 60 years old and it was time that he started experiencing social outings to enjoy and relax, rather than learn and create,” says Alan, David’s brother.

For Chris, a lack of communal areas around the home was impacting his opportunity to socialise.

A more suitable option

After Chris and David’s Northcott team put the word out about finding a new home, two vacancies came up in a five-bedroom purpose-built Northcott house in Oatlands, just 10 minutes from where they were living. The team felt the home and current residents were a perfect match for Chris and David – allowing them to live as independently as possible and experience a socially abundant life.

“Not only are the current residents, Guy and Graeme, of similar ages to David and Chris, but they also have similar social needs such as engaging in smaller group outings rather than centre based programs,” explains Alys, Service Coordinator at the Oatlands home.

“The wall rail system built around the house is also a great solution to keep David more mobile while living as independently as possible. This home also has a separate section with two rooms and a common area so David and Chris can have their own space within the larger home.”

David (left) and Chris.

The transition

Before Chris and David could move into the new home, significant work had to be done to ensure the change would lead to a better life for everyone.

Alys started liaising with all the stakeholders, including talking with the families of the customers to highlight the benefits for Chris and David. Once all families agreed to the move, Chris and David regularly visited the Oatlands house to start to feel comfortable and get to know their new housemates.

“For the move itself, we set up Chris and David’s rooms to help make the transition more comfortable. On the day of the move, we planned a picnic to bring all the housemates together. It was an epic day for everyone,” Alys remembers.

Positive outcomes for all

David and Chris are now living in a newer, purpose-built home that better meets their needs, with closer proximity to shops, the local pharmacy and access to transport.

“It’s great how, despite the move, I have been able to keep my life going – my doctors, my work, my favourite restaurants,” says Chris.

“In my opinion, the most important benefit of the move is an enriched quality of life for all residents. The group community access and social interactions for all residents have increased. Since their needs and goals match, all four of them can enjoy the outdoors by visiting Sydney’s surrounds rather than participating in centre based programs,” says Alys.

Chris and David’s families are also happy with the outcome.

“Change can be daunting and challenging but ultimately, this change has delivered great outcomes for everyone. I am extremely happy with the staff at Northcott and am confident that my brother is well taken care of,” says Alan, David’s brother.

24 October 2023

Bringing Bec’s business to life

By teamSupporting Customers

Bec is a Life Skills customers at our Darra centre in Queensland.

Bringing Bec’s business to life

Northcott has seven offices in Queensland. We began delivering Life Skills and Skills 4 Life services in 2023.

With support from Northcott, Bec is realising her goal of starting her own business.

When Northcott started offering Life Skills from the Darra office, Bec was one of our long-term customers who began accessing the service to gain skills to build her independence. With the new skills she’s learnt, Bec is now the proud owner of her own small business, The Savage Queen, which sells beautiful handmade candles and jewellery.

“I started bringing my card-making materials to Northcott and a coordinator encouraged me to take my hobbies and turn them into a business, which I thought was a good idea,” says Bec.

Creating a business

In consultation with Bec, Northcott introduced an entrepreneurial skills program within the Life Skills service, with the goal of supporting Bec to start her own business.

Creating a business can be complex, but Bec was determined to learn the process. She was supported through every step by Northcott Service Coordinator, Luka Thomas.

“We supported Bec to develop a business plan and every week we discuss a different part of the plan. While she already has strong creative skills and knows how to make earrings and candles, we had to figure out the logistics. This included things like setting up an ABN, coming up with the name for the business, deciding what products to sell and the marketing side of things,” says Luka.

“It has been really rewarding to see Bec not only grow her business but to have her trust in me. I love hearing about her success and to see her be proud of herself.”

Bec at her stall with support worker, Luka.

Selling crafts at local markets

The Savage Queen is thriving! With Luka’s support, Bec has hosted market stalls in Brisbane with great success.

“It was about a 3-month process for me to make all the inventory, get a site booked and eventually do the market,” says Bec.

Although the process was long, it was extremely rewarding for both Bec and Luka.

“The markets have given Bec a purpose and you can see that she takes that responsibility with such pride. She is able to have choice and control over what she is doing, and she is learning that her voice matters,” says Luka.

What’s next for Bec?

The next stage of supporting Bec with The Savage Queen is developing a website so she can sell her products online. This will involve assisting Bec to organise photography of the products as well as set up social media accounts to promote her products. Luka will also support Bec to learn about how to navigate the internet appropriately and safely.

Bec has recently moved out of home and hopes to use the money she earns from The Savage Queen to help with her expenses.

“It makes me feel good to earn my own money. I plan on using the money to decorate and buy things for my own house. I look forward to doing more markets with support from Northcott,” says Bec.

18 October 2023

A young man with glasses and a blue tie-dye t-shirt is standing in front of an adult who is wearing a cap and a brown t-shirt. The man in the cap is giving a thumbs up. The younger man is smiling at the camera.

Opening up Luikas’ world

By teamSupporting Customers

Opening up Luikas’ world

Download descriptive audio transcript

Our Skills 4 Life program has been the perfect after-school activity for Luikas, a young Indigenous participant from Taree. While learning everyday skills, he’s been building his independence, growing in confidence and making new friends.

Luikas was born genetically deaf and at 18 months old, he received bilateral cochlear implants. Now aged 15, he is non-verbal and has been attending Skills 4 Life with our Taree team to improve his social skills and participate in the community.

“We were having trouble with Luikas connecting with other people. He could connect with adults really well, but with kids there was a barrier. Now that they are older, they take a lot more time [to connect with],” explains Michelle, Luikas’ mother.

Luikas attends Northcott’s Skills 4 Life program in Taree.

What is Skills 4 Life?

Skill 4 Life is a skill development program that supports teenagers with disability to gain independence by learning practical life skills in a fun environment. It runs two afternoons a week during school terms.

Michelle says the program appealed to her for Luikas because it rolled a range of different activities together, all of which she knew Luikas would benefit from.

“It’s been hard to get Luikas interested in doing things that could benefit him outside of school. I knew this program would offer things that would be good for him. They would cook with him, take him shopping and teach him about money,” she says.

Michelle also liked the idea of Luikas interacting with other kids with disability and being part of a community.

How Luikas has benefitted

Michelle has seen big changes in Luikas over the past year. She says he loves going to the program and always come home happy.

“He has changed a lot. He’s more independent and he does a lot more for himself. It’s his social skills and the community participation that’s seen the biggest benefit,” she says.

“I think he enjoys just being out. He gets picked up from school [by Northcott] and that gives him a sense of independence.

“When he first went, he really liked it. He had a worker named Brody, and he got on really well with him. He hadn’t had male workers around him previously.”

Interacting with the other participants has also been beneficial for Luikas, who uses Auslan. The group has been learning Auslan to be able to communicate together.

A world of potential

Although Luikas has attended mainstream schooling since year 2 and is doing well in many of his classes, Michelle admits she had “a lot of doubts” about his future before he reached high school.

Thanks to support from Northcott and a supportive community around him, Michelle says she can now see Luikas finding work after finishing school.

“With a lot of help, I think getting a job is definitely possible. He’s changed. He’s really capable.

“I say to him all the time, ‘Me and dad are really proud of you, bud.’”

18 October 2023

Life-changing therapy support for Prayaag

By teamSupporting Customers

Prayaag and his mum.

Life-changing therapy support for Prayaag

Our young customer Prayaag is enjoying a more independent life, thanks to a new standing wheelchair and tailored occupational therapy support.

Prayaag’s goals

Prayaag has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This is causing a progressive loss of mobility and muscle strength, which impacts his ability to complete activities and tasks independently.

When Prayaag started accessing Therapy services with Northcott, he told us his goal was to remain as independent as possible.

“I wanted to be able to go to the movies and shops with my friends – without the support of my mother or a support worker. I wanted to order food independently at food courts, and complete wood technology and hospitality subjects at school,” Prayaag recalls.

Prayaag’s Northcott Occupational Therapist, Erin Thornton, identified areas where therapy could support him to achieve his goals.

“One of the main barriers to Prayaag’s goals was loss of strength in his upper limbs (hand, arm, shoulder) due to his disability. This affected his ability to reach outwards and upwards for objects in his environment from a seated position in his wheelchair,” says Erin.

Around this time, Prayaag was also starting to outgrow his power wheelchair.

Prayaag in his standing wheelchair.

Finding a solution

Erin identified that a standing power wheelchair might give Prayaag the independence he was looking for. A standing wheelchair supports a user to be in an upright or standing position, allowing them to interact with people and objects at eye level.

Prayaag and his family were keen to explore this option, so Erin began a lengthy assessment and trial process.

“The assessment, which was conducted in liaison with Prayaag’s physiotherapist and other health and medical professionals, started with identifying the issues Prayaag was currently experiencing with his wheelchair,” explains Erin.

“It involved assessing his posture to ensure that the seating on the new wheelchair would meet his postural support needs and provide him with a functional seated position.

“Prayaag also completed trials of the standing power wheelchair so that we could assess, measure and gather evidence of the functional benefits he received from being able to move in and out of a standing position. We also needed to confirm that the wheelchair was compatible with the environments he spends his time, such as home and school,” Erin says.

Erin was also involved in Prayaag’s application for NDIS funding to cover the cost of the wheelchair and the additional therapy he would need to get the most from the equipment.

“I was able to advocate for Prayaag’s needs and communicate just how beneficial the standing wheelchair is for his independence and ability to engage in activities,” Erin explains.

New-found independence

Since receiving his new standing wheelchair in September 2022, Prayaag has been enjoying a whole new level of independence.

“I can now get snacks or a drink from the cupboard or fridge at home, use the microwave, and help my family with preparing meals. I can help mum with the grocery shopping and get items from the shelves, order my own food at the food court, play arcade games at Time Zone and more independently access the equipment in the wood technology and hospitality rooms at school,” Prayaag says.

Standing has also had some huge social benefits for Prayaag. He is now able to stand up and hug his mum. He also says his friends tend to hang around and talk to him more at school when he’s standing up and at eye level with them.

“It’s been so rewarding to see all of the functional tasks that Prayaag can do now…and all of the other social and psychological benefits that have flowed on from this,” says Erin.

18 October 2023

A young boy is being hugged by a man. The young boy has his hands up in the air and is smiling. The man is smiling.

Early connections make a difference

By teamSupporting Customers

Kaayan and his dad.

Early connections make a difference

A phone call from Northcott’s Early Childhood Services team provided the support and connections Yojana needed for her son, Kaayan.

Kaayan was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome when he was 2 years old. This genetic condition causes neurological symptoms, including intellectual disability, distinctive facial features, speech delay and movement and balance problems. Sadly, Kaayan is not eligible to receive funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) due to his visa status. In 2022, our Early Childhood Service, Therapy Services and Fundraising team worked together to find a way to provide Kaayan and his family with vital early intervention services and support.

Kaayan and his parents.

Early Childhood support

Our Early Childhood team supports families with young children with disability or developmental delay to access NDIS funding and link with support and services. When a child is ineligible for funding, our team links their family with services, information and other referral pathways so they can get the support they need. For Kaayan, this meant referrals to the local community health team where he could access some occupational therapy and physiotherapy sessions free of charge as well as receive grant funded lower body equipment to assist with balance and posture development. Our team provided Kaayan’s mother Yojana with information about the Inclusion Support Program in preschools, and helped with placing Kaayan on the preschool waiting list. The family was also linked to support to help with their visa application and advocacy for Medicare services. Their Northcott Early Childhood Coordinator also passed on information about transitioning to kindergarten and available support for Kaayan.

“The strategies and information from the Northcott Early Childhood team was really good at a time when I had no one who could help me,”

“I am very thankful to the Northcott Early Childhood team who have given us a way to access funding, services and support.”
– Yojana

Therapy support

Kaayan was also linked to Northcott’s Fundraising and Therapy teams who nominated him to receive therapy services free of charge, thanks to donations from our generous community of partners and supporters. The occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy he has received throughout 2023 have had a positive impact on his development.

“The strategies the Northcott therapists have given me for mobility, for his attention, for his feeding are really helpful. Compared to last year, Kaayan is now standing, holding onto support. He is walking around with support. Before he was just taking a few steps, but now if he can hold on, he will go everywhere. He has also started eating finger food by himself … and has become more expressive than he was last year,” his mother explains.

Dianne – Kaayan’s physiotherapist
“I’ve been supporting Kaayan with his mobility goals via telehealth. Joseph, a Northcott Allied Health Assistant, has been following through with occasional home visits to encourage greater independence in walking with minimal assistance at home. We hope to extend the opportunity to support Kaayan at day care so he can get consistent support at play during his days at home and with his peers.”

Jiwon – Kaayan’s occupational therapist
“Kaayan had three occupational therapy sessions at his home from June-July 2023. The occupational therapy goals for Kaayan and his family are to improve his fine motor skills so that he can enjoy activities with different toys. Improved fine motor skills will also enable Kaayan to be independent with his self-care activities such as eating. Kaayan is currently learning how to grasp blocks, makers and squeezy balls. Direction and guidance are provided to his mother to continue those plays throughout the week.”

Sereena – Kaayan’s speech pathologist
“Kaayan and his family have been receiving speech pathology intervention via telehealth. Play skills such as acknowledging any form of communicative intent and joint attention have been used to build on and develop Kaayan’s communication. A combination of parent training and occasionally in-person allied health assistant sessions have been conducted to support with his play and communication skills. Kaayan’s family have done an amazing job in supporting him with his development.”

Giving Day 2022

Kaayan was the face of our 2022 Giving Day campaign. Kaayan’s parents came to Australia in search of a better life. They would desperately like to become permanent residents but have faced visa difficulties because of Kaayan’s condition. Without permanent residency, Kaayan isn’t eligible for NDIS funding or Medicare services. Ensuring their son can access the vital therapy services and supports he needs has caused significant financial pressure and emotional stress for Yojana and her husband.

On our Giving Day on 29 November 2022, our generous matching partners and wonderful donors raised $126,000 for children with disability, like Kaayan, who aren’t eligible to receive NDIS funding for vital therapy services. Thanks to this support, Kaayan has received occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology and allied health assistance from our Therapy team. Our Therapy team has also been able to support several other children in urgent need of therapeutic support, but not eligible for NDIS funding.

Our thanks go Baresque, botton+gardiner, Western Earthmoving, Skipper Jacobs Charitable Trust and KPMG for making this campaign a success!

Watch our video to learn more

In FY2023, Northcott’s Early Childhood Services supported 15,856 children and their families. This included assisting with 5,582 first NDIS Plans and 3,907 plan reviews, as well providing connections, information and referrals.

18 October 2023