BlueCare Cooking up a Great Partnership in Gayndah

BlueCare Gayndah is focusing on fun while supporting people living with disability by matching their clients with a carer who enjoys similar activities.

Matching a client and carer based on mutual interests is supporting BlueCare Gayndah clients to be a part of their community and live life their way.

BlueCare Multi Service Manager North Burnett Melinda McIntyre said that one successful pairing, Stevie and Beck, didn’t know each other before but now both their lives have changed.

“Stevie and his personal carer Beck are well known around Gayndah because they’re always out whether that’s at the local pool, bowls club or cooking in the kitchen.

“Stevie has been with us for almost two years, and Beck knows now which activities he loves and she goes out of her way to make sure he can access them” Ms McIntyre said.

Beck supports Stevie two days a week and cooking has become a weekly activity.

“Stevie loves cooking, so we are always looking through recipes, trying to challenge ourselves in the kitchen.

“Not only am I a better cook now but this job has changed me for the better and made me really stop and ask what are Stevie’s interests as an individual and try and integrate that into our support” Beck said.

Of his time with Beck, Stevie says they enjoy laughing, cooking, gardening and swimming.

“Scones and pasties are my favourite things to make and everyone’s favourite” Steve said of sharing his and Beck’s baking.

BlueCare has been supporting Queenslanders for over 60 years and provides person-centred care and support services, enabling their clients to live their best possible lives whatever their circumstances.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will rollout in Gayndah in 2018, and Melinda believes the values of carefully matching client and carer are already on display.

“We have another carer, a young man who is working with a group of men of a similar age and it’s inspirational to watch the results of that partnership.

“The guys go to the oval to kick around the football, do a few laps at the pool, all things mates would do with each other and it’s so refreshing to see them out in the community and having fun” Melinda said.

The NDIS will change the way disability services are provided in Australia, giving people with disability choice and control over their funding and support.

UnitingCare Queensland and BlueCare have created services to support the transition to the NDIS for their clients and any others in the community who may need help with the rollout of the NDIS in Gayndah.

“The NDIS will be monumental for Stevie, and we are looking forward to assisting him with his plan, asking the questions anyone would ask of a young person looking to their future – ‘Do you want to study, work or travel’ and then we can support him make that happen” said Melinda.

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