Speaker 0 00:00:05 Choice and control a podcast, celebrating people with disability in this season, we're talking about access inclusion and the national disability insurance game. This podcast series is brought to you by carers Queensland and dis local area coordination partner in the community. Get a on JD van dewatering today. We're talking to some Queensland's this with spinal bifida. Later this episode, we'll meet rainy. Who's helped make an important service, more accessible to central Queensland kids. And she's taking on the big boys in her new basketball wheelchair. But first we're chatting with Jayden David and George they're all peer mentors with spinal bifida, hydrocephalus Queensland. Their job is to support others going through life and the workplace. So, Jane, how do you get into that line of work?
Speaker 1 00:00:54 I became a peer mentor because I was ringing SB Hage regularly. Put it bluntly, bugging them for anything. I was willing to do volunteer or if I could get a job, like I just want it to be a part of the organization, like from the working point of view. And what was your employment history like before coming in here? Um, I'd only had one, technically one, a job, um, many years ago. So like six years ago, I think it was, I was a receptionist for technically, for 10 years, but only paid for one year. And how about you, David? How did you come to be involved in the peer mentoring program?
Speaker 2 00:01:36 Uh, I applied for the job. I was given a heads up by the social worker there, Sonia that there was a project coming up and I should look into it, apply for it. And I got it
Speaker 1 00:01:48 As well as the peer mentoring. What else are you doing with yourself, David?
Speaker 2 00:01:52 Huh? What else am I doing? Has been an avid gardener. Work-wise on a convener voluntary for Queensland disability network and yeah, that's a once a month gathering that I host.
Speaker 1 00:02:07 And how about you, George? How did you come to be involved in peer mentoring?
Speaker 2 00:02:11 Well, my, my story goes back quite a few years. I've been part of misbehavior for many, many years. I've been on the board of directors for the association. I've been a longtime member, long time support of it. Um, like, um, David and, um, Jayden, when I found out about it through talking to other social workers, one of the OTs that said we've got a mentoring role coming up and I also applied for it, but I also used to run my own little business called living on wheels, which was mentoring and lifestyle and programs for kids with disabilities. So that's how I became into the mentoring role is wanting to give back to the community and the association that helped me a lot along the way, you know,
Speaker 1 00:02:57 What does the role as a peer mentor lots? So it involves, um, having, uh, good communication skills, knowledge, um, how to interact with other people and help them through their obstacles. And, um, we did resume writing and cover letter writing and interview skills. I personally learned lots of computer skills because when I first started, I did not have very good computer skill knowledge.
Speaker 2 00:03:29 Uh, I would say it's, uh, developing the mentoring relationship and taking a journey with a mentor where they can discover what employment goals are achievable for them, and really give them a chance to look at the details and decide on what the, what their future jobs might look like. But also, I think it's on a different level too. Um, on a personal level, you know, it's supporting him in a way that I can achieve things. It's like if I work towards things, setting goals, daily goals or weekly goals or monthly goals, or in the end that that will motivate them to achieve what they want out of life. Instead of just thinking that they, all they do is sit at home. So it's, it's helping motivate them to, you know, be a part of the community, be a part of their family, be a part of whatever's happening in the world and not just letting the world die by.
Speaker 1 00:04:32 And how important is that mentor, mentee relationship with somebody who's has that same experience of the world and has the same challenges?
Speaker 2 00:04:41 It's very important. Um, cause waning back to our night was, um, trying to get through life at the same time. I I've had a mentor in there since I was 14, but he's been my sporting mentor and that sporting mentor has followed me throughout my life. And it's helped me through out, even though I've been sporting, my sporting career has helped me throughout my life to be able to communicate with people, to be out there with the community, but to be sitting at home all the time and wondering, you know, what's happening with everybody else and you know, why am I sitting here? Why am I, or am I not at home, outside doing things with people. So it's very important that people with disability have that involvement inclusion within the community to be able to fulfill their life and not sit at home and let it all go by.
Speaker 1 00:05:35 Are you seeing some wins? Yes. Yes. Definitely. One of my participants came in and she had a very, I'm going to use the word negative. I'm sorry if that's not the right word, but negative opinion of herself. And she was like, I can't do this. And I can't do that. And I was like, well, you can, you just maybe can do it differently. Some other people like not, everyone's going to do it the same way. And she just didn't have a lot of confidence. So I kind of showed her that she was capable and she could do things. And she was, um, I think they call it legally, legally blind. And um, she left our calls, touch typing, and I thought that was just amazing. Cause his mic, you can see and I can touch type. So like I was so proud and so excited for her and like it's those things that I'm sure some people take for granted and like, it may seem small, but it's not, it's such a empowering, wonderful thing. And just having those things happen, it's, it's amazing.
Speaker 2 00:06:46 And it does rub off. It does when that, when they do succeed, it does run both. And that does, um, make you feel like you've been able to help someone if you can help just one person it's been worthwhile. And so, yeah, there's this mentoring program and working with us behind is, um, is there anything I've ever wanted out of, um, uh, my working career, I said, I, it's a journey of awareness raising about a, had a guard belt work and, um, how to organize yourself for work. I've had seen people that I've been taught in three different relationships with my sisters actually figure it out for themselves, what they need to do to actually be at a desk and what they need to do to be organized for, for a day, which can be a significant challenge for all lots of people with capitalists.
Speaker 3 00:07:45 And if you've come from a place under the old system where there were low expectations where it was assumed you weren't going to be able to have a job or be independent. And so you've never been given an opportunity to demonstrate what you can do.
Speaker 2 00:07:59 It's all about inclusion. That is community based it's uh, and then employers interpret interpreting what, you know, what you can do given the opportunity. Everyone can do their best or above that, but they've got to be given that opportunity to do it. If they're not given the opportunity, they won't be able to be able to do it. And that's where we met. I think that's where we come in is that we've given the, yeah, we've been able to help community participants have that opportunity to come in and learn how to do things in the office. And hopefully, you know, going out into the real world and be able to be a part of the community, be a part of a, a business, be a part of, you know, whatever they want to be a part of. One of the things that I've seen is a growth in motivation. Once people make a start on something and very often we we've had a little bit of a challenge in how do we get people to start things and we all had a way of going about it. And what I've noticed is once they start, because I stayed, I've said, you know, started, you know, and once they start and get that sense of achievement,
Speaker 3 00:09:09 Just getting those little runs on the board to get you started.
Speaker 2 00:09:12 Exactly. Yeah. Just for an example. Um, I had a 18 year old who had never worked before and never been given the opportunity to work. And he's been out of school probably since, um, last year and because of one thing after another, and then COVID came in, he wasn't, he hasn't been able, you have that opportunity to, to learn what to do about resumes, cover letters, um, how to put himself out there, what to do when they get, when they get contacted, you know, it's, it's a big learning curve for someone like an 18 year old. He'll be probably a learning curve for a lot of people, but having someone who's just come out of school and they've never had to worry about running a resume, never had to worry about cover letters. Never had to worry about looking for work. And they're having to look for work.
Speaker 2 00:09:58 I think that's where we have been able to help this person. And they all, hopefully by the end of this year, that will have a job. Yeah. It might be the first one does it doesn't really matter where it is. They just want a job. One of the mentorees I've had, has actually gone on to TAFE college. He decided during the length of the war with him, uh, he wanted to become a copywriter and he's gone on to taste college and he's also joined like a TAFE college program. That's about employment. So what we're providing in my view is the first step up that then leads onto bigger things. And that's really, I think that's a really right role of doing the project.
Speaker 3 00:10:41 Let's move back and take a broader view in the team's experience. Is society getting better at accepting, including and respecting people with disability?
Speaker 1 00:10:52 I think it's trying, it's a really hard question to answer because like, in some aspects, yeah. Like I've seen heaps from improvements, like having things done at the beaches now, so we can willing and, you know, go for a swim. I had just last week, went to my favorite shop overflow who for years has not been wheelchair friendly. Like they have their stuff everywhere. You can't get through the ALS. I don't even have people walk through them. And then I went last week cause I'm been in there in years and they're completely wheelchair friendly now. And I'm like, what made you do this? Then? Like you nag this every time you came in, I was like, I'll take it. Thank you. So like, yes, people are trying, there are improvements, but there's also a really long way to go. Like there's also a long list of places that just aren't ready for us yet, which is sad times changing. It we've been around for awhile. I feel like they should be up to date, but I guess for me,
Speaker 2 00:11:51 Yeah. Well the inclusion and accessibility. Yeah. I have come a long way. All three levels of government in the come on. Why? But I think there's a long way still to go while we're in the prizes. Got it. Guys is trying to catch up. Everyone's trying to catch up. Everyone's trying to, trying to do the right thing. Um, but we still have a little way to go to make sure that everything is accessible and everyone's inclusion. So yeah, we've got to have that conversation. You know, we've got to start that conversation as peer mentors and I think it's in our role to stop that. It just needs to be talked about more often. And I think once we've talked about it more often, it's going to get out there and get out there and get out there and it's going to it'll work. I think if you've got the right attitude and you've got the right communication and the openness to let the inclusion work and that's what it's all about. But if they haven't got the right attitude, it's, it's gonna take a bit longer to, to get things done. I think by an example, that a mentor is a seeing how to build those relationships in the workplace where they can actually work effectively or contribute to teams, simple things like how do I work around the photocopier and make sure somebody else gets fed a copying done in the way they need it done. And the skills of listening insightful. That's the real stuff that we're doing around inclusion in a workplace setting.
Speaker 4 00:13:20 Rainy is a young Rockhampton resident who also has spinal bifida. She inspired life education to modify their iconic van, the travels around doing school visits to make sure all children can access Harold, the talking giraffe. I caught up with Rainey and her mum, Amber, to find out how it all happened.
Speaker 5 00:13:37 I had to crawl up the stairs and it was very hard and it took a lot of effort, but it wasn't that many stairs and it was really hard. But now I don't have to do that. We got a lift that I could go on to my, with my chair. And then I could just get into the life education van in my wheelchair. So
Speaker 4 00:14:04 Involved in lending life in though there was a problem and getting it fixed, actually in this instance, I didn't have to do a thing which is unusual because we feel like sometimes you'd fight your whole way through life to just to get the same opportunities as everyone else. Whereas in this instance, Liz, the educator of life education van saw there was a problem and she actually took it on herself to ask permission, to film rainy, crawling up the stairs and then use that as part of the grant application and, um, wrote a great grant was successful and it all got installed and done. So that was wonderful from a parent's point of view, not having to do all that work because man, we've got enough to do already, you know, with disabilities and stuff, we're already overloaded. So for her to do and then to be successful and this problem to be solved without any input from me at all was amazing. So it's a great outcome for everybody and not just rainy, but all the kids with disabilities who are going to use that life education van who have the right to the same, um, fun. And that learning with that in that life education van is different to what they learn in school and they deserve to have that too. So yeah, no, it's great.
Speaker 3 00:15:17 Is there a lot of fighting involved in being a parent of kids with additional needs?
Speaker 4 00:15:22 Look, there is, um, I've had a few battles I've had to go through like just getting footpath access or even one issue somewhere where they washed bins out over a path. And so Randy's wheelchairs got to go through that dirty water and then she's wet and dirty all day. And I'm like, well, that's not happening to Dodge that we had to go the long way and go up a Hill and around the long path to have the same access as all the other kids. And um, and it's taken me a few years to get some action on it. And sometimes you don't want to have a fight. You've just got too many other things to deal with, but look it's happened. It took, took a few tears, actually was how I got it done in the end, but look, we got it done. And um, you know, all the medical stuff we've got to deal with, sometimes you're just not listened to and you have to really put your foot down.
Speaker 4 00:16:07 So yes, there is a bit of fighting involved, standing up for yourself. Really. Does that get easier with practice? I don't know if it does actually, some people think you're doing it for attention or for no, you know, to be known, but really we just want to have a normal life too, you know? So I think a lot of it's to do with attitude and worrying about what people think about you, but sometimes you got to go, you know, what stuff, it, this ain't good enough and I'm going to do something about it. So, you know yeah.
Speaker 3 00:16:38 And when you do get those wins, like the life ed van, like getting decent footpath access, it makes all the fighting and the angst worth it.
Speaker 4 00:16:45 Yeah. You can just get on with it, you know, just like everybody else is allowed to just get on with it, you know? Well, that's all we want is just a bit of ease in life to do the things that we need to do. And yeah, it just makes everything a lot easier and happier and appreciated. Really. We're a lot more grateful, I think, as a community, just, um, in general, grateful for having being alive and having a good life because you have that crappy stuff that you've got to deal with and it makes the good stuff so much more better, you know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:17:18 And since you've come over to using the NDIS, what sort of support is that provided for yourselves?
Speaker 4 00:17:24 Um, well look, to be honest, paperwork-wise, or my life is so much better, someone else does the pay for work and all the funding comes from the one place. So they're not chasing it from 10 different places. That's awesome. Because as I said, we've got enough to do already. We've got all these extra care needs. So, um, that's great is to have the plan managers there to sort it and they know what they're doing. I don't need to put the research in to know how to do those things. So that's great. We know we're sorted and we don't have to worry about if we're going to have everything we need to get through. Stress is a big deal in this lifestyle. So anything that can be done to reduce that stress in the longterm, it's all about mental health stuff too. I mean, yeah, no, I really do appreciate particularly all that paperwork and stuff is just taken care of the bills assorted and we've got what we need.
Speaker 4 00:18:21 I mean, isn't that what everyone wants, you know, in life. So, um, yeah, no, it's a big deal and it's, it's really appreciated. The other thing is equipment. If we need it, we get the assessments done, we get the equipment and it's just smooth sailing. So in that way, I mean, we've got our helpers at, um, carers Queensland and we just do the assessments with them. They sort, it, they do their side of the paperwork done, you know, and it's just so much easier. So we've got that track for rainy that we get out and about with, we've got a basketball wheelchair on the way, which is awesome because Ronnie loves basketball wheelchair and she goes there every week and we've almost got the chair here. It should only be a couple of weeks away and it's going to be pink and Aqua. I think
Speaker 3 00:19:05 That sounds fantastic. I think I had the pair of netball shoes in the similar color scheme also that Randy's age, highly approved. Hey Randy, could you tell us a little bit about wheelchair basketball?
Speaker 5 00:19:15 It's really fun. And I have a lot of teammates and they're all older than me and I'm the youngest one. And they helped me with things that I don't know if I need help with it. And I am, have once knocked over one of my teammates in their chair. And I've only done that once. It was really funny because all of my teammates were cheering and clapping.
Speaker 3 00:19:44 And what sort of difference will having that wheelchair make?
Speaker 5 00:19:47 Um, it'll be better because then I'll get to have my own and I wouldn't have to borrow her any.
Speaker 3 00:19:54 So Amber are you about to take on another hat as the, uh, the sports mom?
Speaker 4 00:19:58 No, ma'am not sporty at all. No, that's, Rainey's, dad's, um, allocation there, so he's quite good with sport and he's actually interested in it. So I think he actually joins in sometimes when they go to basketball as well, but to have Randy's own chair, it will actually fit her because the ones we have to borrow their old chairs, there are other people's, they were measured for those people. And so right. We kind of try and strap rainy in and it's not a great fit and we don't want to cause further physical issues. We've got enough. So to have a, a wheelchair that's actually built for her, that will be great.
Speaker 3 00:20:34 Cause she mentioned she was the youngest. I'm also guessing she's probably the physically smallest of the players.
Speaker 4 00:20:39 Exactly, exactly. So, um, she's doing well. She gets out there with all these guys and a couple of young girls there too, but um, I get out there and rest about
Speaker 1 00:20:48 And, and um, they'll get smiles on their face, loving it. It's really good fun sport to watch actually enjoy it. Yeah. So as peer mentors, whose own lived experience is going to be really relevant for kids like rainy what's advice to our team of mentors have for the next generation.
Speaker 2 00:21:03 Everyone's different. Everyone has a different way of communicating. Everyone has a different way of thinking and that that age, it was hard cause you were, you're seen but never heard or you weren't saying you and you were never heard as well. We've got all know for speaking out. If she speaks out, that's great speak out, but if it's not helping contact us so we can support and help her get other support around her, get, um, uh, family involved, get friends involved, talk to your local government and make as many connections as you can. You're not actually alone and you're not different. You sit with your peers, your friends are also your allies in getting access to ally and you will live within your friendships and your family going right forward. So that's it there
Speaker 1 00:22:02 Just thinking about that, that rise to really important thing. How important is it both as mentors and just as colleagues and as humans existing in the world, how important is that feeling that somebody else has got your back? Oh, it's everything. It is very important. Like I can't imagine going out into the world and not having someone there beside me essentially like metaphorically or literally to support me in whatever I'm trying to achieve. I think it's very, very vital because it's scary. Sometimes it can be very scary and knowing you have that person support is yeah. It's everything.
Speaker 0 00:22:47 Thanks for joining us at choice and control a carers Queensland podcast. For more information about carers Queensland, the national disability insurance scheme or the local area coordination program, please contact us
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[email protected] until next time. Thanks for listening.
