Charlie’s Story: Recovery & the NDIS
10 Feb 2021
Charlie’s road to recovery has been a journey of building capacity and learning new skills, but sometimes it’s just about getting through the day.
As a participant in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Charlie has been able to draw on his network of services to support his decisions while on his road to recovery, one step at a time. The NDIS has given Charlie a choice in his recovery - a recovery model that suits him.
Walking with Charlie every day on the recovery journey is his ‘secret weapon’, Archie, a nine-year-old Labrador. Archie is never far away from Charlie and always on hand for a hug, a pet and, importantly, a walk.
“Archie is my world. I’ve had him since he was a puppy,” Charlie says.
“He’s an amazing support and it’s great to be able to take him out with me wherever I go. He makes me and my partner feel safe and comfortable and provides a lot of laughter and enjoyment. He recognises moods and helps with my mental health.
“Archie has been integral to me being more active and getting out of the house and into the community, from walking in a park and now getting into more active sports like tennis. He’s been a big part of my recovery.”
Charlie has other supports too. He uses his NDIS package to access a team of support workers and clinicians to help him achieve what he wants out of his life.
“The challenge is to choose services that can be tailored to me,” Charlie said.
“My experiences at Thorne Harbour Health have been invaluable in helping me to achieve self-acceptance and they help me with my goals in so many ways."
“When my brain’s not working, when I’m having a bad day and I don’t feel safe, or I don’t understand something, my Thorne Harbour Health support workers help me through it."
The NDIS services help Charlie develop his existing skills and build capacity at his own pace, whether it be completing a subject at University or perfecting cooking skills.
“I now have more confidence to work through things that are scary. Each success gives me confidence and helps me to realise that I don’t have to exempt myself from the things that I’m passionate about just because I have a disability.”
“My support team is flexible, supportive and gentle. They understand where I’ve come from and what I’m struggling with in a non-judgmental, compassionate and creative way. I always feel like my choices are supported."
“It’s just such a huge deal for me being trans, to help me in my recovery. I can disclose what I need to disclose and know that I am going to be safe. I have learnt a lot for my own personal life, giving me that confidence to go out and be part of the wider world.”
Whether it’s with the support of Archie or the NDIS, Charlie’s recovery journey is one which he will never have to take alone.