Life looking up with support coordination

25 August 2022

25 Aug 2022

Leon Ahmat is an outgoing guy. He loves music, dancing, drama, swimming and spending time with his animals. Food is a passion, he’s a big MasterChef fan. Leon also wants to build on his independence, but some pretty serious health setbacks and challenges accessing funding have hampered his plans for the past few years.

Enter Megan Keady, Support Coordinator with VMCH. Megan’s role is to support Leon and his family to navigate the NDIS and find the right services and funding to best meet his needs.

Megan (pictured above left) has known the family for many years, having worked at Leon’s day program when she was just starting out.

Leon’s mum Loretta cannot imagine where they’d be without Megan’s support, navigating a NDIS that is “ridiculously exhausting”.

To have someone by your side who knows all the ins and outs is so important. Megan is so efficient, caring, and so good at her job. The changes she has made for our family are massive, I can’t really put them into words.”

A battle with testicular cancer, bouts of anxiety and depression, serious spinal problems and numerous infections – exacerbated by the challenges of COVID-19 – have seen Leon’s care needs increase and change over the past few years. Finding support workers and organising home modifications and therapists are just some of the things Megan has helped with. Now, Megan and the family are concentrating on supporting Leon, aged 42, to live independently in a house purchased by his parents.

They’ve recently completed a bathroom renovation and Leon’s enjoyed picking out furniture for his new pad.

“We’ve used the house for weekend respite for Leon and he loved it. He would have us over for afternoon tea and loved to play host. We’re really looking forward to having him settle in his own place and enjoy his independence.”

Megan says supporting Leon through the next stage of his life is a “privilege”. She admits that even for professionals, the NDIS can be challenging.

Obtaining the correct assessments, quotes, getting applications done … it’s very time consuming. Where do people with disability or their families find the time when the challenges of caring fill in the day already? It’s great that support coordinators can take away that stress.”

Loretta, who also cares for her nephew Steve who lives in local specialist disability accommodation, gave up her job as an interior designer many years ago when the demands of caring became too much.

Megan’s support to get Leon into his own home will also help change Loretta’s life.

“I hope to work again part-time one day. As Leon gets older, I’ve realised I need a good team around me to give him the best care. Megan has done that, and I feel lucky to have her support.”

Do you need help to get the most out of your NDIS plan? Call us on 1300 698 624 or visit our website.

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We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.