10 years. Time flies!
In 2014 – while working at the National Disability Insurance Agency – our founder, Claire Wittwer-Smith, created the concept of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan management, and brought the service to life.
With a background in special education and disability policy, she saw the newly-launched NDIS had the potential to transform Australia’s disability landscape by supporting people to self-determine their hopes and plans for the future.
With the advent of the Scheme, people with disability had more choice and control over the supports and services they accessed, and the freedom to map their own paths towards the lives of their choosing.
But…the NDIS was also complex, and participants needed support to get to grips with the new world of funding – and what it meant for them.
And so, My Plan Manager was born.
A decade in the game has made us reflect on our journey – and those who’ve been there from the start, as well as those who’ve joined us along the way. As we wrap up our 10th year of service in the NDIS, we want to shine a light on those who’ve made it all possible – our incredible clients and the wider disability community – and thank you for inviting us into your lives.
We hope you enjoy these 10 client stories every bit as much as we do!
Wil’s a ‘soccerholic’ who’s turned sport into a career. He grew up playing basketball and AFL football too, but the sport known as ‘the beautiful game’ was – and is – his ‘number one’.
Wil’s participated in One Culture’s soccer programs for years and, as he grew into the sport and graduated high school, the organisation offered him an assistant coaching position, which he instantly accepted.
Today, Wil helps run school soccer programs, where he helps to coach students from Reception through to Year 6. He likes working with the coaches, his support workers, and the players, and enjoys teaching new skills to the mini-Beckhams who join in each session.
“I’m fortunate that One Culture’s provided this opportunity and I love doing my dream job. I hope to keep working with One Culture and growing in my role,” says Wil.
Wil’s also involved with Adelaide United through a partnership with One Culture.
“I attend training sessions for the men’s and women’s teams and help with coaching there too – setting up drills and helping to run them, chasing balls, joining in, and packing up’” says Wil. “They’ve truly embraced me and made me feel part of the club.”
If all that soccer wasn’t enough, Wil also plays competitively for West Beach Soccer Club, which he describes as a ‘great experience’. He’s social and outgoing, training twice a week, watching other teams play, and having dinner with his teammates. Wil’s a regular at the club that’s become like a second home to him.
“The club is inclusive and I’ve made some great friendships,” he says.
Wil was one of My Plan Manager’s first clients and is a family friend of our founder, Claire Wittwer-Smith, who created the concept of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan management at her kitchen table in 2014, whilst working at the National Disability Insurance Agency.
“At the time, Claire recognised that my husband and I were drowning as a family of four in the face of unforeseen circumstances,” says Wil’s mum, Tracey. “Claire helped us with the NDIS application forms, fast tracked our NDIS interview, helped us at the first interview, and then transitioned us to My Plan Manager. She also connected us with providers and saved us at a time when we were really flailing.”
Tracey says the NDIS has significantly improved Wil’s quality of life.
“I’m not sure what our lives would look like without it, and I recognise how fortunate we are that the NDIS is around now to help Wil,” she says.
“I’ve heard people say that it’s all too hard and it did take time to get things running smoothly, but it was well worth it. What’s evident is Wil’s thriving and happy, and that’s what really counts.”
Finished reading? Check out Jasmine's story here.
A pink cat, an astronaut and a centaur. These are a few of the characters in Hayley’s artwork.
Hayley draws using watercolour pens and her works include creatures and characters that mirror her personality and exist in her world. Her interests are Alice in Wonderland, space, artificial intelligence, and her pet cat Minky – and they’re all creatively reflected in her whimsical pieces.
Clearly gifted in her craft, Hayley attends twice-weekly classes where she practices traditional and digital art and animation at a Brisbane-based inclusive space for people to create, exhibit and sell their artwork.
Art is a creative and therapeutic outlet for Hayley – a medium where she can express who she is and tell stories through her ethereal creations.
“I use art to tell people about who I am without telling them,” she says.
One of Hayley’s works, ‘Hidden Secrets’, saw her named as a finalist in the ‘Outsider Art Awards’, run through Wesley Arts’ Arts from the Margins Gallery and Studios.
Hayley started studying art at TAFE and she hasn’t stopped. She first explored photography, then moved into graphic and visual design, before later exploring the medium of drawing.
Currently interested in animation, Hayley has recently been involved in the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival where her film ‘Space Out’ won an award.
“I like doing short films and I made an animation about a girl and a centaur using paper cut outs,” says Hayley. “I like magical things that are based upon the world I live in.” When she’s not creating art, Hayley likes socialising and playing Nintendo Switch.
“I have support workers day-to-day and we do lots of stuff outside, like going to drawing cafes, parks and exhibitions,” says Hayley.
There’s lots Hayley likes to do, but it usually starts and ends with pursuing her creativity!
Finished reading? Check out Wil's story here.
Joseph and Ben are brothers who are growing their independence, and keeping active with work, therapies, exercise – and having lots of fun!
Their mum Sheryl couldn’t be prouder as she watches them grow up and come into their own as young men.
Joseph has a job doing different tasks at an aged care facility, and he really enjoys it. He plays basketball, does hip hop dancing, and rides his bike to and from work with his support worker.
He also likes singing, playing bass guitar, bowling, going to the library, and watching videos – and he has a passion for dressing as Superman.
“I do like superheroes so much,” says Joseph.
His younger brother Ben works at a hotel three nights a week, does car cleaning and car washes for cash, and likes playing sport and demonstrating his strength through games of tug of war. Like Joseph, he also enjoys singing, playing guitar, and busting out some hip hop moves, and he loves to cook pasta as well.
Recently, Ben got an adorable puppy called Noddy, a lively and energetic new family member who’s brought lots of love to the boys and the wider household.
Ben’s wanted to have his own place and live independently for quite some time now, so he and Sheryl are exploring accommodation options and piecing together what life outside the family home could look like. On the other hand, Joseph would like to live with his mum forever, because he adores her and wants to be close.
Ben and Joseph have several support workers and are working on building their everyday life skills. Therapies are significant in their lives too, helping them to achieve the goals in their National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plans.
“Access to the NDIS has made a huge difference,” says Sheryl. “There’s been a few bumps in the road at times, but they’re in a great place now and have providers they know, like and trust.”
It’s clear that Joseph and Ben’s lives are really taking off – maybe Superman has shown them how to fly!
Finished reading? Check out Hayley's story here.
Lori’s situated in sunny Caloundra and lives and breathes positivity. She has a young puppy called Opie, a ‘jumpaholic’ who keeps her active.
Lori likes to watch quiz shows and get out and about whenever she can. In her subtropical beach town, you can almost expect clear blue skies every day, and Lori likes to soak up the sunshine, breathe in the crisp, salty air, listen to the waves crashing, and watch Opie frolic and explore the world.
It’s the simple things that provide Lori with gratitude, and according to her, each day is a gift she’s fortunate to unwrap.
Lori describes her support workers as ‘wonderful’ and says they play a big role in her life, assisting her with vital tasks and supporting her to do the things she enjoys.
“My carers are like sisters who are there to support me whenever I need them, and they’ve kept me sane through the more difficult times,” says Lori.
“They’re all a good fit and we have common interests, and that’s been really good for me.”
Lori’s team of up to 14 support workers works on a roster to assist her with everyday tasks like cleaning, shopping, cooking, and attending medical appointments, and they’re also on hand to make sure she can get out and about to enjoy life.
Lori can’t speak more highly of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which she refers to as her ‘saving grace’, and she’s a big supporter of the team at the National Disability Insurance Agency too.
Lori credits the Agency’s staff and partners with helping her to navigate her NDIS journey, remove roadblocks as they’ve come up, request the funding and supports she needs, and access therapies including physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and hydrotherapy, to keep her healthy and active.
Lori’s a spark of positivity with a can-do attitude and a sunny approach to life. She certainly matches the warmth of her surroundings!
Finished reading? Check out Joseph and Ben's story here.
Ben has a bubbly personality, a wicked sense of humour, and a laugh that’s contagious. He’s a naturally positive person who says he wants to ‘enjoy life and be accepted for who I am’.
A client of My Plan Manager since he joined the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2017, Ben lives with his parents in the beautiful Northern Rivers of New South Wales. It’s an area where pristine beaches, surf, sunshine and scenic rainforests act as a magnet for locals and tourists alike.
In his corner of the world, Ben’s living to the fullest. He’s grown a community through getting out and about with the support of his NDIS providers – people he calls his ‘big brothers’, like his support worker Nick.
Ben likes bowling, fishing and stand up paddleboarding, and every Thursday, he and Nick venture to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast, where a frog enclosure is being built. Ben likes the magnesium pool where he goes to swim, the lovely beaches up the Tweed River, and the theme parks that he visits as often as he can.
Ben and his dad Brett share a love of cars and going to the movies, and his passion for life has seen Ben travel overseas to watch the Tour de France as well.
In 2010, his three furry companions – and his affinity for animals – inspired Ben to create a pet-centered microbusiness called ‘Ben Cares for Pets’, offering pet walking and pet sitting services.
On top of keeping active and engaged in pursuing his passion projects, Ben sees an occupational therapist and physiotherapist regularly, receiving much needed allied health support through the NDIS.
But it seems the biggest force in Ben’s world is his mum, Ann, who calls Ben a ‘survivor’. She’s been there for him every step of the way and says that, irrespective of what life’s thrown at Ben, he’s adapted and he’s thriving.
Their bond is evident and Ann says they’re lucky to have each other.
“He chose me to be his mum, and I chose to be his mum too – and I’m so grateful for that,” says Ann. “We keep each other going.”
Finished reading? Check out Lori's story here.
Dominic likes building Lego, his favourite foods are tacos, nachos, and chilli cheese fries, and he loves wrestling. In fact, when he grows up, he wants to be a pro wrestler like the superstars he watches at the World Series Wrestling, whenever his Mum, Carmen, can take him.
Watching wrestling is Dominic and Carmen’s ‘thing’. When they commute to the city and step into that gladiator world of spandex and throwdowns, it’s their special time together to relax and have fun – and a much-deserved break from school, Mum life, and the endless merry-go-round of therapy appointments.
Recently, a star-struck Dominic met three of his favorite American wrestlers, a jaw-dropping experience the tween labels as ‘awesome’.
Dominic’s a typical kid and the apple of Carmen’s eye. If you saw him, you’d certainly remember him and his brightly-coloured hair – the talking point in his regional hometown.
Dominic has apraxia – a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult to speak – and his confidence used to be low. Then, he met hair colourist-extraordinaire RT, and in transforming his hair, she changed his world.
Now, every four weeks, Carmen takes Dominic to see RT and they pick a new hair colour. According to Carmen, RT is more than just a hairdresser, she’s a friend (which helps when it comes to the cost of maintaining Dominic’s uber-cool tresses!).
“Dominic has had rainbow hues and every colour combination you can think of, and his favourite combo is red and black,” says Carmen. “Currently, the colour of the month is his hairdresser’s choice, because Dominic likes the surprise factor.”
Carmen says their community now knows Dominic as the young person who has a different hair colour every four weeks, and the locals are always fascinated to see what shade will come next. Several kids in his class have even dyed their hair too, taking their cue from Dominic.
His ever-changing look and newfound confidence have had a positive impact on his school experience, and Dominic is reaping the rewards in his therapy sessions as well.
The saying goes that change is as good as a holiday, and that’s certainly proven true for Dominic. We can’t wait to see what colour combinations he and his hairdresser think up next (psst… we’re partial to the lime green and dark blue shades in the My Plan Manager logo Dominic!).
Finished reading? Check out Charlotte's story here.
Working, art and going for walks are amongst the things Linda loves most in life. She has a positive energy and a spring in her step, discovering joy in everyday experiences. Linda also likes having a structure she can stick to – her routine typically involves going to work and cooking her favourite food, baked potatoes. Yum!
Other activities she enjoys include making FaceTime calls to her family, visiting the library, scrapbooking, colouring in, and drinking coffee. If everyone took a page from Linda’s book, the world could be a much happier place.
Linda has a wonderful team that supports her with the activities she likes to participate in, and they help her to get those less joyful tasks done too – like laundry and cleaning.
Regardless of what she’s doing, Linda is known for tackling life with gusto!
Linda’s brother Adrian plays a big role in his sister’s life. At the start of Linda’s journey with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Adrian set out to understand the complexities of the Scheme, in navigating what was needed to carve a path out for Linda – one where she’d have more choice and control, and where she could do the things that make her happy.
“I did a lot of research and thanks to the flexibility of the NDIS, built a team of professional staff who do an amazing job,” says Adrian. “They support Linda with a settling routine that includes cooking, using the Thermomix, shopping, budgeting, and taking her medication.”
Adrian says that helping Linda to learn about nutrition, community safety, and how to manage everyday tasks is also important.
“The carers do a lot with Linda, and I get to do a little as well, but Linda gets to keep her independence,” says Adrian.
Adrian says Linda’s had a great experience with the NDIS, which has supported her financially and given her a better, more stable and more fulfilled life.
“If it was up to Linda, she’d retire and eat pies all day. She just wants to be happy, heathy and have a routine,” says Adrian.
That doesn’t sound too bad to us!
Finished reading? Check out Dominic's story here.
Alan's an Aussie larrikin who likes woodwork, trucks and Slim Dusty – and he’s living his life to the full.
Alan joined the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) six months after it launched in Queensland, and he says it’s been ‘a complete game changer that lets me do so much’.
He gives a lot of credit to his team of ‘awesome’ support workers, who support him to enjoy woodwork twice a week and attend NRL games, rockabilly concerts and drag racing.
His NDIS funding has helped him to access respite services and, with his support worker, he’s explored Roma, Dubbo and Cunnamulla – where he went on truck routes with triple road trains, visited a cattle yard, and saw the Cunnamulla Fella, a tribute to the Aussie stockman Slim Dusty made famous.
At his regular community music classes, Alan plays the Octopad, riffing with his experienced mentors while having a coffee and a yarn. One of his mentors has even worked with Australia country music star, Kasey Chambers, which Alan is quietly impressed about.
“My support workers assist me with domestic odds and ends too, like mowing my lawn and meal preparation. The support worker who does that is a former chef who used to run a kitchen,” says Alan.
Lucky him!
Alan’s NDIS funding has also provided him with a Seeing Eye Dog from Vision Australia – and Xenon and Alan are frequent visitors to My Plan Manager expo stands and events in Queensland.
Initially he used a digital platform to find his support workers, and Alan says he ‘fell into luck’ from there.
In his view, having common interests is vital to the relationship between Alan and those who support him, and with people who like to travel, make music, cook, chat and drink in life, it seems he’s really struck gold.
“None of this would exist without the NDIS,” says Alan. “It takes a load off the family and my partner, and it’s so much better for me. I couldn’t have done half of this stuff without being on the Scheme – I wouldn’t be doing much at all.”
One day, Alan hopes to be in a band and play music in clubs. We’re here for it, that’s for sure!
