‘Katie’ (not her real name) lives in Benalla and has struggled to access appropriate NDIS support.
Polly Pieterse is a social worker who works with Katie. She said the actions of two local ladies had made a real difference.
“My participant has extreme anxiety and doesn’t like to meet new people,” Polly said.
“She doesn’t do well in group settings or crowds. She struggles to ask for help when needed and has low self-esteem.
“However, that is slowly building after her last interaction with Belinda and Charmaine who word for a local NDIS provider in Benalla.”
Katie had been very ill and had not had enough energy to do her hair for more than a week.
“Because of the nature of her disability, I didn’t want her to sit for that long as it affects her body, causing pain,” Polly said.
“Knowing this and that she has a sensitive scalp, I had asked her if I could call in backup - Charmaine and Belinda.”
Katie agreed, and Polly said since they are such ‘amazing superheroes’ Charmaine and Belinda did too.
“They spent two and a half hours, after their workday, helping out,” Polly said.
“This was a big step for Katie. Having someone who doesn’t know her taking the time to help and make her feel better had a huge impact on her confidence.
“The fact that they didn’t judge her at all and had fun conversations helped as well.
“The way that Charmaine and Belinda treated her reminded her that she is not just a number. She is important and worth the time and care.”
Unfortunately, that had been Katie’s experience with NDIS providers.
“Her experience had been very rocky,” Polly said.
Polly said ‘Katie’ had been made to feel like she was just a number or a source of income.
“They (NDIS providers) made her feel like she was not able to make a choice on her own,” Polly said.
“Because of this, she had lost faith in the businesses that work with the NDIS.
“But now she’s so comfortable with Charmaine and Belinda that she’ll stop and have comfortable conversations.
“Even to the extent of waving at them when driving by.
“She doesn’t have elevated anxiety around them, and that is a huge improvement for her mental health.
“For myself, it was so good to see her taking that step forward, out of her comfort zone.
“This is not a step that she would have been taken a year ago.
“Benalla is lucky to have two hearts of gold like Charmaine and Belinda.”
Polly provided a photo of the pair and herself, wearing costumes in Bridge St to highlight that fact.
“With all the pain that Benalla had experienced recently, they wanted to make a few people smile,” Polly said.
So, during their lunch break, we dressed up (as a dinosaur, a snowman and a unicorn) and had some fun waving to people on Bridge St.
“We shook lots of hands and even sang Happy Birthday to someone we didn’t know,” Polly said.
“I find myself very lucky to work with two individuals who are not only amazing people to work with, but still, after a long day, find it in them to help others.”
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