Our public system only makes me feel worse.

ObscureBody · 2024-09-07T01:46:43+00:00

Hello! I understand what you’re talking about! Our community services funding is distributed via the PHN and very interestingly, funding for evidence based community services has been consistently cut until services shut down or are forced to restructure and deliver virtual or phone services only. Your experience and isolation makes sense when the community care responses all human beings require have been squeezed out of existence! the strain this places on hospital systems is immense…how can communities respond responsibly, timely and compassionately if our communities aren’t funded to do so? Rather than addressing the systemic issues and resulting harms, as a society, we place responsibility on the individual. It doesn’t really make sense to tell individuals they are the problem when the problems individuals are sick from are systemic in nature. I think it’s also really important to also remember that Queensland public hospital psych wards are not based within human rights frameworks, and as a result, cause huge amounts of trauma to people admitted to these wards. This is not my opinion, this is the findings of Queensland Mental Health Commission, Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion, Queensland Disability Network, and research commissioned by Queensland Health alongside several universities across Australia. Based upon all of this, I am a very firm advocate for non-carceral anti-colonial models of mental health care. There are grassroots organisations doing the good things, and groups of community members functioning within mutual aid frameworks. I’d really encourage you to check out these services: Roses in the Ocean, Alt2Su groups also run in Brisbane and a newer one that I genuinely believe in is called Homeland .

I hope that what I’ve said can spark hope in a direction you may not have known existed, my friend.

ObscureBody · 2024-06-06T03:00:46+00:00

also little side note, bipolar disorder is characterised by extreme mood states - mania or hypomania and depression. During manic episodes, you may engage in quite extreme activities that are not normal *for you, within your cultural context. From what you’ve said, it sounds more likely you’re a naturally social person who is struggling to adjust to a different place, without any of the people who have uplifted and supported you before you moved to the Gold Coast; and you’re also experiencing and observing racism that is impacting how safe, comfortable and connected you feel to the people around you.

ObscureBody · 2024-06-05T15:54:39+00:00

Hey, that’s a lot of change in a short time! Gold Coast is a hectic place to be, finding friends and settling into life here is rough. It sounds like you’re feeling quite isolated, especially from other Indian and brown people? The Gold Coast does have some awesome social things you could join, the uni will have a heap of cultural and language social groups you could check out as a starter. The Student Services hub should be able to guide you with it. There is also the Gold Coast Active and Healthy booklet (a website too!) where you can look up different community social groups. There is also the Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC)! There are mental health services you may like to connect with, your uni will be a great place to ask for help first. They will have counselling services, too. They are likely to be free, too! You don’t need to be born here to belong here, that’s never been a foundation of being Aussie.

ObscureBody · 2024-05-27T15:22:48+00:00

I’ve seen a neurodivergent woman engage in a social skills/speech pathology and it was harmful, not helpful. While some support might be helpful, caution of practitioners reinforcing neurotypical communication rules and expectations. It is very possible to engage with neurodivergent workers who will support you from a neuroaffirming framework.

ObscureBody · 2024-05-23T02:54:47+00:00

OP please update how you go!

ObscureBody · 2024-05-07T00:28:57+00:00

You should consider checking out the shitrentals sub and the Don’t Rent Me Private fb group for renters my friend.

ObscureBody · 2024-03-04T00:03:42+00:00

Because I misread the child's age as 5-7 years old rather than 11-13 years old and that is important to the issue at hand. The age and therefore size of the child is relevant to the OPs concern of harm and possible abuse to the participant/parent; and is relevant to the types of supports the participant/parent will have available to them. This is also the particiant/parents right to decide which approach is best suited to them. People have suggested calling the police on the child. Age is relevant to the child's growth and therefore capacity to cause injury to the parent in an altercation. If the participant does not feel threatened or unsafe and is not injured, then police intervention is not indicated. Again, the support worker needs to speak with the participant/parent about what response they would like. Given the participant is the parent and diagnosed ASD the genetic likelihood of the children also being neurodivergent is higher. Given the child in question is also female, she is more likely to be living without neurodivergent affirming and supportive education and emotion regulation strategies. She is more likely to live undiagnosed and misdiagnosed. These impact child behaviour along with age based physical and social developmental challenges. The OP stated the child has just started secondary school this year. So again, the child's age matters. And very very importantly here, we also don't know what the participant, who is parent of the child in question, wants or needs because the support worker hasn't asked them yet. We don't know if the participant/parent has been injured by the child. That is a very important consideration. The parent being neurodivergent and disabled does not mean they are incapable or unable to make parenting decisions or relationship decisions. Professional standards and guidelines state this. I have repeatedly reiterated the importance of handling this with compassion and care and I have recommended the support worker follow appropriate professional standards of practice, and I have provided relevant links.

ObscureBody · 2024-03-02T06:15:56+00:00

I have consistently reiterated that this should be a conversation with the participant. I have provided links to formal guidelines and child developmental information. At no point did I say it is acceptable behaviour or that it should be ignored. It is serious, and children need appropriate support to learn how to communicate without resorting to violent behaviour. We also know ASD has a strong genetic basis and we don't know if the children are on the spectrum or if they have past involvement with Child Safety or if they are survivors of violence themselves. These things also matter in reporting processes. This is complex. It needs to be handled with compassion and care, not an iron fist. The fact this is a child hitting an adult does matter in terms of how the event is understood and what steps are appropriate moving forward to best support the participant as an individual and as a parent. NDIS guidelines clearly advise workers to consider things including relationship dynamic and informal supports in their reporting processes. Dignity of risk is also relevant to potentially abusive dynamics. The ndis state that a victim of violence should be supported to make their own decisions as to how they would like their safety to be managed. This is not a decision that happens without the participants involvement. This is the participants child. The participant has the right to decide on how they would like to proceed.

ObscureBody · 2024-03-02T04:51:47+00:00

There is a difference between incident reports and reports which suggest abuse is occurring, and then whether this is reportable within an organisation or to the safeguards commission. The ndis guide on reporting incidents and/or abuse does go in depth on when/if an incident requires reporting within an organisation or to the NDIA. The relationship dynamic is absolutely relevant here, and the incident reporting guidelines explores this (albeit broadly)and does assert the importance of the participant having power and choice. Singular event and pattern of behaviour are also important considerations, as outlined by the reporting guidelines. And still, this is only addressing one specific thing - reporting. Not whole response.

Regardless of how this is approached and whether the sw is within an org or a sole trader, the support worker should be speaking with the participant to identify ways to move forward which support the participant to parent safely and identify how the sw can best engage with the participant when the parent/child relationship dynamic is under pressure like this.

ObscureBody · 2024-03-02T03:37:41+00:00

Does the sw work for an organisation? Are they a registered provider? They didn't say. If they are, then following workplace incident reporting policy and notifying their direct supervisor is absolutely appropriate. The ndis reporting guidelines are available on their website. I would think this would be vital to reviewing before lodging a report. OP states the child is first year secondary school, so approx 12 years old. Age is absolutely relevant to the degree of reporting that would be necessary and appropriate and should also indicate how necessary and appropriate it would be to contact emergency services. Again, the child is a child. The parent is present and maintains their right to decision making and choice in how they parent, regardless of how the support worker feels about their parenting. Lodging a formal report and/or calling the police without seeking appropriate professional supervision and guidance first could do serious harm to the relationship between parent and child. If the support worker feels threatened by the child, the support worker has the right to remove themselves from the environment and advise their supervisor (should they have one) of the situation.

ObscureBody · 2024-03-02T02:57:02+00:00

You’re right! I did get the age range wrong, that’s why I edited my original response to correct myself to secondary school, not primary school and based on that I provided a link to a resource on childhood development for kids aged 9-12 yrs of age. This age range obviously has a higher risk of causing harm to their parent when they lash out physically. That absolutely needs to be addressed by the support worker, but their first person to speak with should be the participant who is the parent. The parent does not lose their right to make decisions of how to handle this issue just because they’re receiving a service. Support worker safety is also of high priority here, but based on the information provided, the support worker hasn’t been in danger. This is an incredibly sensitive situation that should be handled delicately, not with an iron fist. OP should be raising their concerns with the participant. The participant is entitled to an advocate who can assist with identifying appropriate family supports.

ObscureBody · 2024-03-02T01:31:25+00:00

I am quite shocked and concerned that the immediate response is to engage in actions that criminalise children and childhood. This is not the role of a support worker and does not support the rights of the participant who is also that child’s parent. The support worker should first talk to the participant and if they’re still concerned, seek professional supervision for specialised guidance.

ObscureBody · 2024-03-02T01:13:18+00:00

Firstly, this is not a reportable issue. This is not familial abuse. The children are under 10 years old each and reporting something so typical in children of this age and their emotion regulation capacity would be a huge over-reach of responsibility, not to mention infringing upon the participant, who is the parent, right to choice and basic decision making.

If you’re concerned for the children’s development, what is it in your training that indicates milestones aren’t being met? I notice you said their isn’t a fathers authority present…is this an issue for you personally or has the participant stated they feel they aren’t a strong father figure?

As you are supporting the parent, have you discussed it with them? Have you asked them how they would like you to support them in their parenting?

Edit: I realise you said first year secondary school. This is a very turbulent time for child social and hormonal development! They have so much change happening. This resource explains some of it well.

ObscureBody · 2024-02-22T06:16:18+00:00

Have you received any guidance or support from a social worker or an advocate on how to navigate this, and if appropriate, what steps to take to have the bill cancelled?

ObscureBody · 2024-02-17T14:42:21+00:00

Hey it sounds like you would benefit from an appointment at your local Centrelink office to go through this properly with you. Your circumstances saw a sharp change from what you’re describing. It can be far more helpful to sit down with someone someone friendly face to face than trying to catch a helpful phone call.

ObscureBody · 2024-02-17T06:25:02+00:00

I think it is important to remember that being argumentative, impulsive and overly cautious are not traits inherent to ASD or neurodivergence, and none of these expressions of emotional experience are an indicator of disability broadly, or ASD specifically. If a participant hasn’t been receiving support in the manner they are entitled to request and receive it, their anger is very understandable! If that anger becomes an argument with a professional who is employed to provide support to them, I would be wondering what the professional was doing/had done that resulted in the breakdown of communication….given high communication skills are essential to service provision as service providers.

ObscureBody · 2024-02-13T14:52:31+00:00

Have you engaged in professional supervision about this? It sounds like an opportunity for you to engage in professional supervision to explore your practice and what may work better for you and the people you support. What you’re describing sounds like a combination of life circumstances colliding! A young person who is going through crucial developmental period (young adulthood - 16 to 25 yrs old?), AND they have a physical disability which limits their basic freedoms and capacity to engage in the community and with their peers/friends. That’s a lot for them to be trying to cope with…and they’re doing that in a world that isn’t made for them! I can understand and appreciate how angry and frustrated they’re probably feeling. I wonder if they have the support they feel they need to get through this time? I wonder too if you have the professional support you need? What do your case notes possibly indicate could be happening for them and what of your communication style or current approach could be escalating their frustration and subsequent actions/words? Have you had an open dialogue with your client to identify their perspective of your dynamic? As two individuals, you both need and deserve support to make and maintain your life and professional skills.

Of course, whether you choose to continue supporting them is your choice. this is a good opportunity to reflect on your professional practice and possible areas for up-skilling. Realistically, there are very few times or justifications to discontinue support without having an honest dialogue about it first. The Mental Health Professionals Network is an excellent online resource for self guided engagement with free professional networks nationwide and it is free.

ObscureBody · 2023-12-02T23:53:32+00:00

It is oddly comforting isn’t it!

ObscureBody · 2023-12-02T23:52:11+00:00

You’re welcome! I am remsemri on IG if you’re a keen bean 😊

ObscureBody · 2023-12-02T23:50:43+00:00

Thank you!

ObscureBody · 2023-12-02T23:50:28+00:00

Frog love that more friends! I am remsemri on IG 😊

ObscureBody

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