At 66 years young, Susie has lived a vibrant life filled with friendships, laughter and newfound skills, including making excellent progress on her NDIS goals.
Born in Mount Isa and raised in Redcliffe, Susie’s early love for writing on her slate board kickstarted her lifelong passion for learning.
After moving through various phases of life, including her time working at Nambour and Maryborough workshops, Susie receives in-home and community support and thrives at Maryborough Learning and Lifestyle (L&L) hub where she engages in programs and activities that bring her joy.
One of Susie’s primary NDIS goals is to access the community and make new friends. She has achieved this by visiting local spots with her L&L friends. Some of her go-to places include the local bowling alley, where she practises her swing, and ChatterBOX café, where she connects with community members and strengthens her social skills over a morning cuppa.
At her L&L, Susie is considered the “mother hen” amongst her friends, which Support Worker, Joybell Vassalo, said is attributed to her helpfulness and bubbly personality.
“I have been supporting Susie for only around two months, but we have already formed a lovely bond,” she said.
“Susie has a very happy outlook on life, which is so contagious.
“You can almost bet that when there is laughter in the room, Susie’s behind it.”
She always wants to help her friends and brighten up their day.
The feeling is mutual for Susie, who said her favourite part of her L&L is the people.
“Everyone is really nice,” she said.
My L&L is a really good place; you talk to people, have fun and learn.
Another primary NDIS goal for Susie is to build capacity around technology and computers. With the support of her team at the L&L, she has learnt to use the hub’s interactive whiteboard and is currently learning to type on the computer. This growth has given her the confidence to tackle one of her other goals: “looking after my money all by myself”.
She felt immense pride upon receiving a certificate for completing a money management course at the hub. Site Manager, Amanda Hansen, emphasised how this achievement empowers Susie to have more control over her own life:
“Susie has learnt a lot through the money management course and really wants to learn to manage her own finances rather than needing to request funds from the Public Trustee,” she said.
With the knowledge she has gained on money and its value, she is slowly getting more confident with money-related tasks like making purchases and budgeting.
Susie has also gained further independence from living by herself in her Torquay unit with in-home support.
The skills learnt in her L&L’s cooking program have come in handy in her own kitchen, where she whips up some delicious meals, with steak and stir-fries being among her favourites.
Her other interests include watching movies and listening to country music. She fondly recalled how her love for country music stems from her childhood when her mother would sing along to those tunes at home. This inspired Susie to learn the keyboard three years ago. Her favourite song to play is ‘Waltzing Matilda’.
Some of Susie’s other goals are captured on a vision board she created at her L&L. It features photos of her brother and sister, symbolising her love for family and maintaining those important relationships.
The vision board also includes a picture of a 70th birthday balloon, which represents Susie’s plans for her 70th birthday party.
For this milestone event, Susie envisions an 80s-themed celebration with friends and family, complete with costumes, a photo booth and 70 candles on her cake.
Susie’s journey is a powerful reminder of what people can achieve when they receive the right support and are involved in their community. With each new friend, skill learnt and goal accomplished, Susie continues to embrace life with an infectious enthusiasm that lights up every room she enters. She reminds us that with resilience, curiosity and a positive outlook on life, the possibilities are endless.
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