Dear Past-Charlie,

I am writing to you from the future after 4 years of being an NDIS participant. I hope to make your journey of using Support Workers for the first time easier and less stressful than mine was.

I know you won’t want to hear this, but you must be patient! There is no magical agency that provides everything that you need. Instead, you will go on a long hunt and kiss many frogs before you find your prince/ss.

I gift you these tips to speed up your journey:

1) Don’t expect to find a unicorn who’s great at doing everything. It’s easier to find a team of helpful horses.

2) Don’t use only one agency. When you fall out with them (expect this), all your services fly away immediately, leaving you in a stressful mess.

3) Look for workers who are specialists in what they do. My awesome team includes a Cleaning Wizard, a Professional Driver, a Gardening Guru, a Busy Butler, and a Cooking Queen. They are happy doing their thing. I’m happy to let them.

4) Go hunting in many places. I found my team on Mable/Hire-Up, in local Facebook groups, via recommendations, and Googling.

5) Trust your gut. Workers you vibe with are the ones who work out the best. If a worker makes you feel “icky”, don’t be afraid to let them go. There are other, fantastic workers out there for you.

6) If you treat your workers casually, they treat the work casually in return. Knowing you: You want professionals, so you need to set a professional standard. Write a formal job ad. Run job interviews. Deliver induction.

7) Tell workers exactly what you need and how you want things done. Hint: Tell them to hang your clothes facing the same direction in your wardrobe (no, not everyone does this!).

8) Avoid anyone who is pushy about your support. Agencies who want to send workers to have fun with you are not for you. You need workers who conserve your energy, respect your peace, and get stuff done quickly and quietly - ninjas.

9) Be kind to your workers. You want them to stay.

10) Be kind to yourself. Organising and receiving disability support is new and challenging for you.

Good luck and happy hunting.

Love,

Charlie

About the author:

Charlie Park (she/they) is an influential disability writer, educator and consultant working on Boon Wurrang Lands in Melbourne. They retired early from their career in clinical child psychology due to disabling chronic illnesses and late diagnosed Autism. Charlie now uses her lived and professional experience to advocate for a world that is more accommodating of neurodivergence and patients with chronic illnesses. Charlie is represented by @championhealthagency. Follow them @meanderingpark.