From its earliest days, AQA Victoria stood out as a place where people could find supportive relationships after a life-changing event that brought severe physical challenges.
Sharon Brill found herself drawn to disability support work for its variety and autonomy ... and for the deep partnerships she formed with clients such as Greg Grigarius. Story by Ian Baker.
AQA Victoria began as a Melbourne office for the Sydney-based Australian Quadriplegic Association. When the parent group demanded that its Melbourne branch sever ties, founding CEO Ian Bennett cheekily adapted its branding.
AQA staff with quadriplegia have always reached out to people they believe might benefit from their lived experience. Informal visits to spinal-injury wards grew into a state-wide network of trained peer-support mentors and coaches.
As he steers AQA Victoria into the NDIS era, Peter Trethewey has sought to build appreciation for what people living through disabling life events can bring to to their peers and to the wider community.
Raised in rural Portugal, Rita Figueiredo moved to Melbourne at the age of 19 with her husband and son. She explains how two decades of serving AQA clients has helped her to see in new ways.
AQA Victoria began to deliver home-based care for people with severe disabilities in 1991 through the Qualcare respite program, one of the first such services to operate in Australia.
Wayne Bradshaw, a footy lover living with T4 spinal cord injury, shares his story of being a support worker for Bill, also a footy lover, who has lived with Cerebral Palsy since birth.
Former jockey Ian Duckling built a life for himself with good humour and grit. And then at 80, he met one of his most threatening challenges. Story by Ian Baker.
A disability support worker alerted Chante Masset to the need to prepare for her first NDIS planning meeting. Now the 20-year-old is helping others, through other carers. Story by Ian Baker.
