Blog

For Mahmood, 29, who has muscular dystrophy the NDIS has given him increased independence and a motivation to help create change in the community.

Mahmood worked with Local Area Coordinator (LAC) Laura in March 2018 to develop a plan that addressed his goal of gaining independence.

Prior to the NDIS, he relied on family members to help him get ready each morning, waking up early ...

Robert Hill hasn’t stopped smiling thanks to his newfound confidence and independence since joining the NDIS in August 2018.

Robert, 31, has vision impairment, microcephaly and autism and over the last eight months his vision has further deteriorated.

Prior to the NDIS, Robert was isolated from the community and relied solely on his mum Kim for everyday support.

“It was just the ...

During a meeting with her Local Area Coordinator, Melonie Harpham paused for a moment, and said “Wow, I can hear a motorcycle coming up the road!”

Melonie realised the sounds many people take for granted – footsteps, birds chirping, even traffic noise – she was now hearing all at once for the first time since she was five years old.

Melonie said her experience with the Brotherhood NDIS Local Area Coordination service was life-changing.

She had been hard of hearing since she was ...

For Vivienne, life with her assistance dog Poppy brings walks, shop visits, laughter and games. It wasn’t always this way.

In 2015, Vivienne was diagnosed with breast cancer and after that she developed crippling anxiety, depression and agoraphobia. She could no longer work, barely left the house and few things were making a difference.

She ...

Our Brotherhood NDIS team hosted a community celebration for International Day of People with Disability on Friday 30 November. We were joined by guest speakers including writer, speaker and appearance activist Carly Findlay and visually impaired photographer Andrew Follows, who has a positive outlook and determination which has led him to exhibit his work internationally and photograph major sporting events including the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Australian Grand Prix.

It was an afternoon celebrating the achievements of people with disability in our community as ...

For Andrew Follows, a photographer and NDIS participant from Melbourne’s north, photography allows him to capture and share his unique view of the world, all with his assistance dog Leo by his side.

Andrew has a degenerative condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) which has rendered one eye completely blind with ever diminishing tunnel vision in the other.

His condition hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his passion for photography, turning what was once a hobby into a career that has led Andrew to ...

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is officially welcomed to the Western Melbourne and Brimbank Melton areas.

The Brotherhood of St Laurence is a local Partner in the Community in the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the North East Melbourne, Hume Moreland, Bayside Peninsula, Western Melbourne and Brimbank Melton areas.

Western Melbourne covers the local government areas of Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Moonee Valley and Wyndham, while the Brimbank Melton region covers the Brimbank and Melton local government areas.

Local ...

This is a milestone week for Melissa, she is preparing to leave her family home of 27 years to pursue independent living for the first time.

“I’ve been packed and ready to go for a while!” Melissa jokes.

Moving out of home is an exciting time for any young person, but for Melissa who has an intellectual disability, ...

Stephen can move freely around his new home and garden, a life changing development that has improved his quality of life significantly.

In the past, lack of home modification and accessibility meant that Stephen, who has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair for his mobility, was confined to one room within his public housing flat, a situation that took its toll on his physical and mental health.

Having been on the wait list for accessible housing for three years, Stephen was ...