Andrew's transition story
Andrew* was a familiar face in Casino – chatting footy at the RSM Club, checking prices at the cattle yards, and always ready with a quick joke. An accident in late 2021 that limited his movement changed everything overnight. Suddenly he was shuttled between hospitals from Lismore to the Gold Coast, and finally Sydney’s Royal North Shore – hundreds of kilometres from everyone who knew him.
By mid 2023 the medical work was done; getting Andrew home was the challenge. Royal Rehab Hospital asked Achieve to lead the process of transitioning home. While Andrew practised safe transfers, the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) provider, Inclusive Housing Australia, widened doorways, installed a ceiling hoist, fitted height adjustable benches, and built a rolling bathroom. Local staff mastered wound, bowel, and catheter care, with a registered nurse on call so routines ran smoothly, not reactively.
Developing confidence and trust for the day of the move took work. One support worker flew to Sydney to accompany Andrew on the flight home to the Northern Rivers, while another drove Andrew’s power chair and gear up the Pacific Highway. Three months of plain language schedules, familiar voices, and a promise to “step back unless needed”, turned scepticism into confidence: the house felt like home again, not a service hub.
Casino noticed. Most days Andrew heads to the club for lunch, catches the highlights, and swaps tips with whoever pulls up a chair. He might drop by the sale yards or the Achieve office for a yarn before heading home.
When Andrew sets up a new commitment – watching a footy match, checking cattle prices, visiting a friend – the team quietly lines up transport, clearances, and equipment in the background. He thinks about mates and matches, not hoists and handovers. Complex support happens seamlessly; community life once lost now rolls on, front and centre.
Achieve Australia is a for-purpose community organisation that has been providing accommodation and services to people with disability since 1952.
We champion social inclusion, focusing on the individual needs and lives of the people we support