Despite being a serious mental health disorder, schizophrenia hasn’t stopped an artistic Morningside local from going back to university, thanks to the support of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Nathan Coyne, 30, has recently re-enrolled at a university where he’s taking two art classes and a photography class under the school’s Art from the Margins program. But before he could return to school, he had some help and preparation from NDIS.
As someone who has schizophrenia, Nathan needs to regularly visit a community garden for his mental health and fitness. These visits, as guided by an NDIS support staff, are a significant aspect of Nathan’s his social behaviour improvement.
With improved social behaviour, Nathan has been able to join group activities with other NDIS participants, such as art gallery visits, cooking and gardening, or even a quick trip to the circus. He’s also able to secure a job three days a week with the Australian Disability Enterprise.
By doing these activities and forging a routine, Nathan has built his confidence to enrol at the university for one term.
Nathan received assistance to apply for and implement his NDIS funding from Carers Queensland’s NDIS Local Area Coordination Partner in the Community Program for the Brisbane region.
His mum, Elisabeth, said that having dedicated support from the NDIS has made a huge difference in their lives.
“I can go to work and know he has a support worker coming to visit to take him out or just do something with him in the garden,” Elisabeth said. “He has been able to do things that we would not have had time for, which gives him something to look forward to; to have access to different people he has to talk to, to build his social skills.”
“With the NDIS it was the first time that the family was recognised as part of the journey; it is more about what we as a team was setting up, as opposed to just being about Nathan.”
To learn more about NDIS support or to apply for funding, contact Carers Queensland on 1300 999 636, or cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au
