Tina and Julie
Originally from Wellington, Julie spent many years in psychiatric hospitals and half-way houses. Julie is now a client in an Auckland Supported Accommodation Service, where she has help from Richmond's community support workers to develop life skills and get involved in the community. It's obvious there is a special bond between Julie and her support worker Tina. They have worked together since Julie's arrival. Over the years they have set many goals together and Julie has achieved a lot of these. At the moment she is focusing on being more independent and gaining more confidence.
Julie's family play an important role in her care, in fact in pride of place in the communal garden is a cabbage tree planted by Julie's brother.
"Julie's family is really supportive of her, the service and the community support workers," says Tina. "She comes from a large family and her two brothers and their wives, her sister along with her nephews and nieces are regular visitors to Zeisler House."
To reach the goal of being independent, Julie and Tina developed an activity plan which includes goals around Julie getting out and about in the community. Richmond works closely with many other services such as Stepping Ahead, the Toi Ora Art Centre and Whairiki House and part of Tina's job is to make sure that Julie attends the courses outlined in her activity plan. "On Tuesday morning I go to Toi Ora Art class, Wednesday morning I go to a tile mosaic class," says Julie. "I also do pottery and make presents for my family."
Tina has observed that increased confidence and independence are the biggest changes she has seen in Julie. "When Julie first came here she wouldn't leave the house and now she catches public buses on her own to attend all her classes."
"Tina and all the staff here are really helpful," says Julie. "They motivate me and are very kind. They have faith in me and I have faith in them." While she has dreams and desires - Julie would love to travel overseas one day - she is also aware that "what I want to do and what my mind wants me do is sometimes confusing." But Julie has made significant progress and with her infectious enthusiasm she is destined to keep making progress.
