For Referrers

1:1 SUPPORT FOR SENSITIVE CREATIVES

NDIS Core Supports — Assistance with Social & Community Participation

Grounded, individualised support for creative people who want to build confidence, connection and participation in ways that feel safe and meaningful to them.

Some people need a different kind of support to participate in their community.

For creative, sensitive or introverted people, busy environments, social expectations and conventional activities can become barriers to meaningful participation. They may want to connect with others, develop their creative interests, pursue personal goals or become more active in their community — but need a calm, flexible approach to get there.

My 1:1 support provides a quieter way to build participation around the individual.

WHO I SUPPORT

This support may suit NDIS participants who:

  • are creative or have an interest in art and creative activities
  • experience social isolation or find conventional social environments overwhelming
  • are building confidence to participate more independently
  • want to explore interests, hobbies or meaningful community activities
  • would like support to develop and maintain social connections
  • have personal creative goals they would like practical support to pursue
  • benefit from a calm, predictable and low-pressure approach
  • want to gradually extend their participation rather than being pushed into unfamiliar environments.

WHAT SUPPORT CAN LOOK LIKE

Support is shaped around the participant’s goals, preferences, capacity and circumstances.

Depending on their goals, this may include:

Creative participation
Exploring art-making, developing a creative routine, visiting galleries or creative spaces, attending workshops, or working towards a personal creative project.

Community participation
Gradually exploring local activities, groups, classes, libraries, galleries, community spaces or other environments that align with the participant’s interests.

Social connection
Building confidence to engage with others, practice social participation and explore opportunities for meaningful connection.

Goal-focused support
Breaking a meaningful goal into manageable steps and providing practical support to help the participant move towards it.

Confidence and independence
Supporting participants to make choices, develop routines, try new experiences and gradually increase their participation at a pace that is appropriate for them.

A GENTLE, PERSON-CENTRED APPROACH

I work from the understanding that participation does not look the same for everyone.

Rather than focusing on how quickly someone can become more socially active, I focus on what meaningful participation looks like for that person and what may help make it achievable.

Sessions are calm, flexible and responsive. I use creative activity, conversation, reflection and practical support where these are relevant to the participant’s goals.

The aim is not to change who someone is, but to support them to participate in ways that are consistent with their interests, strengths and own sense of direction.

WHAT THIS SUPPORT IS — AND ISN’T

This support is:

  • Individualised social and community participation support aligned with the participant’s NDIS goals.
  • A practical way to explore interests, build confidence and increase participation in the community.
  • Support to access and engage with creative, social and community activities that are meaningful to the participant.
  • A space to work towards achievable personal goals at a pace that takes the participant’s preferences and circumstances into account.
  • Flexible support that can include creative activities, community access, social participation, goal-setting and practical encouragement.
  • An opportunity for participants to develop greater confidence and independence through supported participation.

This support isn’t:

  • Psychotherapy, counseling or clinical mental health treatment.
  • A replacement for psychological, psychiatric, occupational therapy or other clinical services.
  • A program designed to diagnose, treat or manage a mental health condition.
  • About pushing participants into social situations they are not ready for.
  • About requiring participants to produce artwork or become “more creative”.
  • A one-size-fits-all social activity program.

My role is to provide practical, person-centred support for participation, while working within the scope of Core Supports and alongside the participant’s broader support team where appropriate.

Where a participant has therapeutic or clinical needs, I encourage these to be addressed by the appropriate qualified professional.

FOR REFERRERS

This service may be appropriate when a participant would benefit from individual support to develop social and community participation around their creative interests, personal goals and preferred ways of engaging.

I welcome referrals from Support Coordinators, Plan Managers, Psychosocial Recovery Coaches, allied health professionals, mental health professionals, family members and other people involved in a participant’s support network.

I am happy to discuss whether the service is a suitable fit before a participant commences.

Availability

I currently offer a limited number of 1:1 support hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Support may be provided in the community at Allwood Neighbourhood House in Hurstbridge in their art room and/or other agreed settings, depending on the participant’s goals and circumstances.

NDIS funding: Core Supports — Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation.

Private clients may also be considered.

REFERRAL & INITIAL CONVERSATION

If you are supporting someone who may benefit from this approach, you are welcome to get in touch.

A 20-minute free discovery call is available via Zoom to discuss the participant’s goals, support needs and whether my approach is appropriate.

BOOK A 20-MINUTE DISCOVERY CALL HERE