Department: Out & About - Getting Involved in the Community

Maina

Maina
Maina

Hi, I am Maina, a mother of 2 adult daughters. I grew up in Singapore and have been exposed to diverse cultures such as Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and other backgrounds.   

After working as a lawyer in Singapore, I moved to Australia in 1988. Here I worked for an insurance company, where I got promoted 3 times in 6 months. In addition, I studied Australian law and became a qualified lawyer in Australia in 1990. I then worked for one of the top firms in Australia. In 1992 I set up my own law firm, Maina Gordon Solicitors. In 1995, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and have ambulated in a wheelchair since 2008. This has never prevented me from achieving my goals and grabbing life to its fullest. 

Apart from working as a lawyer, I created my first peer group, MOTHERS IN LAW in 2002, for female lawyers working from home in the North Shore. We still meet every month. It will be our 20th year anniversary in March 2022. I also volunteer for Multiple Sclerosis Australia (from 2004), the Cancer Council (from 2008) and the Pink Sari project (from 2017), an initiative supporting women from Indian and Sri Lankan backgrounds to get tested for cancer. I have also travelled to many places in the world. 

 I now work with DDA as a caring advocate, peer Facilitator and peer mentor. 

I can offer support in numerous areas, not limited to:  

  • assisting you to set, review and achieve goals  
  • Public Speaking 
  • Advocacy Skills, including negotiation 
  • Networking skills in helping develop community connections 
  • travelling 
Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

Thanh

Thanh
Thanh

Hello Everyone!

My name is Thanh Huynh.

I’ve lived in Australia for about 40 years.

I migrated from my home in Vietnam in early 1981 because I wanted to live a better life with more opportunities.

I have 4 beautiful children who mean the world to me.

My youngest son Manie turned 22 years old in November.

He was diagnosed with Autism when he was 3 and since then I’ve been his full-time carer. I teach him personal care skills and independent living skills.

In the past 14 years, I’ve worked in the aged and disability sector. I’ve cared for the elderly and people with disability. I’ve also been involved in community language classes. I teach young children Vietnamese on Saturdays.

In my free time, I love gardening, flower arrangement, cooking, art researching, and reading about the latest disability services.

I’ve worked for Diversity and Disability (DDAlliance) for the past 3 years. My role at DDAlliance is to reach out and bring together families impacted by disability for everyone to support and share personal experiences. I have done accidental counsellor training, I like to gather with peers and family to listen, empathise and understand each families home situation.

From this conversation, I help the family set goals and keep track of outcomes. One of the most important goals is personal time to destress for every member of the family. I will do the best as a mentor.

Thanks

Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

Sophon

Sophon
Sophon

Hi, I’m Sophon a Khmer women.

I live independently with intellectual disability and a physical issue with my right arm from Polio as a child, so I have weakness to my right upper limb with chronic lower back pain. I am very active in my Local Community Church and with the Khmer Community Language Sunday School. My languages are my identity.

Through Diversity and Disability Alliance’s (DDAlliance) training I promote myself to have developed my passion for working with people with disability. I am excited about receiving such a special award (certificate) and surpassing the goals I set for myself.

I am inspired to be a peer facilitator and peer mentor to share my ideas with my peers and colleagues.

Peer mentoring has led me to want to complete more training and gain as much experience as I can to become better and give Peer Support.

My passions are working with new peers and sharing valuable lived experiences with others at the DDAlliance peer cafes. I faced many barriers in my life which challenged my confidence and experiences with vulnerability, however, it becomes my motivation to break through and remove stigmas to live my life. I gained self confidence through my involvement at peer cafes and paying it forward in my mentoring sessions. I am keen about offering confidence skills to peers and can practice on setting goals you like to pursue together.

I have a firm belief that as peers we are equals and I cherish peer relationships as we build rapport in our future mentor sessions.

I also love to support peers by advocating for people with disability, we can help create change through sharing stories, experiences from wisdom and still feel confident by getting involved in community programs.

If you would like to work with me on your journey, part of my offerings are supporting peers to find support with getting a support worker or carer, to boost your independence in living the life you want. And provide information about your rights as a fellow peer. For social goals, I can introduce you to peer support groups or community events if you like to become social in your area.

I also offer emotional support as I can support you with finding mental services that is applicable to your situation.

Part of my hobbies I enjoy watching the show about Kurt Fearnley from ABC 24 News where he talks about disability. He inspires me and I would like to recommend this show to peers.

I’m active in my mentor role and I contribute as much as I can.

Mentoring training and my lived experience gives me the skills to support peers. If you select me as your mentor I can offer my great skills in supporting you on an empathetic and caring level.

Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

Robina

Robina
Robina

My name is Robina Yasmin. I have got training from Diversity and Disability Alliance (DDAlliance) as a peer mentor.

I am from Kashmir Pakistan. I am a mother of 6 children. One son has disability. I am an Anthropologist by profession but I have also completed a graduate diploma in public health. Additionally, I have also done other courses like diploma in child care, accidental counselling certificate to work with people with disability, diploma in business, and relevant training to work with women in domestic violence. I help elderly as a volunteer coordinator of SAMAA organisation. I am currently on the governance committee of Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA) as the vice chair and also serving as the NSW representative for National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) and member of steering committee in Family and Community Services (FACS).

I have a passion to work as a mentor and to be involved in peer mentoring with professionalism, experience and integrity.

Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

Phuong

Phuong
Phuong

I am Phuong Thi and a Vietnamese Australian. 

I use a wheelchair and I live in my own home. I made adaptations in my home so I can live a very independent life.  

A little more about myself, I am a good-natured person, who  enjoys spending time in nature and with my fellow peers. I find gratitude in what life offers to me spiritually. 

I am an emotionally rich person. When I am happy, my world is filled with the blue-sky colour, and my favourite colour is the Jacaranda flower purple. 

I worked as a fashion designer, and I made clothes for customers. I love getting well dressed. I also volunteer and I am passionate about this. I worked locally at Villawood Primary school as a kitchen hand, and I am a member of a local choir. The choir visits local nursing homes and sing the carols over Christmas. 

In the last 4 years I have been active in DDA’s projects and activities. I attended many training programs.  I am now a facilitator for the Vietnamese peer café group and a trained peer mentor.  

In the peer cafe, we provide support and assist peers with access to useful information in the community. My passion is to gain more knowledge so I can better support my peers.

I am a member of the Circle of Support Team.   We built a circle of support for people with disability from multicultural backgrounds. My role there, is to connect, support and mentor people to achieve their dreams and live a good and independent life.  

  My goal as a peer mentor is to work with you as a team, based on trust and respect. I am a willing listener and as a peer mentor I hope we together can achieve the best outcome for you. My dedication to peer mentoring is driven by my deep sense of care for you as a peer.  

Peers may have issues, challenges and goals they like to work through. My life and work were also a filled with difficulties and challenges, but I have stayed positive and forward looking. 

My work as a tailor helped me a great deal in getting to know many people with unique needs and wants. I deeply care about people around me, listen attentively and always find the best ways to fulfill my work. 

I would like to share with my peers my experiences and stories. I would love to see all of us work side by side in this journey of peer support.  

if you choose me as your peer mentor, I can support you in the best way possible as I have shared lived experiences, and I will be using my peer mentor skills to help you reach your goal.  

Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

Pauline

PAULINE
PAULINE

Hi, my name is Pauline David. I am a 42-year-old with an Assyrian background who has the lived experience of being a person with disability, living independently and being a proactive member of my community for more than 11 years.

I have previously lived in the family home and even though I appreciate having an extremely supportive family I was wrapped in cotton wool. Living independently has given me the opportunity to find myself, given me MY OWN identity, and growth. I am no longer silkworm wrapped in a cocoon, I became a butterfly. It was just that ONE decision to move out of home that has altered the course of my own life. This in turn has given me a passion in helping others overcome their own obstacles and enriching their own life.

In recent times,I have been involved in the implementation of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan in my Local Government Area of Fairfield, ensuring that those of us with disability were not ‘forgotten’, lobbying for footpaths and kerb upgrades/installations to which   I have been successful.I have also been involved in the NSW metro train and tram focus groups.

Besides being someone that is extremely passionate about improving accessibility within the community, I am also someone that generally loves life, and has a good balance of “work and play”. I am a passionate NRL supporter (currently holding a position on the members committee). I enjoy going to concerts, eating out,attending festivals/exhibitions, movies, short getaways, and my latest addiction cruising; I get out there. I would love the opportunity to empower you to do the same.

As a mentor, I offer you:

  • A supported environment to ‘be you’ with NO judgement
  • Help you over come barriers you have that has stopped you living your life to its fullest potential
  • Encouragement and support you to be and do your best to achieve your goals
  • Self-advocacy skills
  • Increase your ability to think outside the box
  • Help you overcome your fears in accessing the community, whether it’s related to transport or a general fear of getting out there.

If you are someone that wants to be more,do more with your  life,and believe we would work together in a mentor/mentee relationship offering empathy, understanding, encouragement, support and guidance, please get in touch.

Looking forward to working together.

Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

board

Nidhi
Nidhi

My name is Nidhi Shekaran and I am 37 years old. I am a person with a lived experience of disability namely; cerebral palsy and cortical visual impairment with side perception and depth perception problems. My  cultural background is from India however my parents and I migrated to Australia in 2000 and I have also lived in New Zealand for almost 5 years from 1995- 1999. I speak Tamil, Punjabi, Hindi, Marathi, English. I love to sing and dance.   

 I have a diploma in inclusive education and disability studies. I am always looking at increasing my knowledge. Over the years I have attended courses in social change in leadership, accidental counselling and introduction to peer support and peer mentoring through Diversity and Disability Alliance. I have enjoyed completing my leadership training and public speaking through toastmasters and still have an ongoing involvement with them.   

There have been several projects that I enjoyed being part of. Some of these are at MDAA (Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association): 

  • the community voices project
  • the small stones project   

Presently I  am a member of the Sydney City Council inclusion disability advisory panel and a member of People With Disability Australia.   

As a  mentor I can  share my experience of the type of  project work that is out there in the community and could assist in employment related goals.  

My passion is in  advocacy, community access and inclusion.  

As a mentor I  feel my strengths are: 

  • in problem solving
  • in finding work
  • how to manage time well
  • being organised and structured in work tasks
  • and in goal setting. 
  • public speaking

 I also like to travel and plan a holiday with you. I enjoy researching and find out about accessible holiday and community activities you may have in your neighbourhood. 

If you choose me as your mentor we will definitely be on a learning of change together! Remember slow & steady wins the race. 

Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

Ngoc

Ngoc
Ngoc
My name is Ngoc and my background is Vietnamese.I am a mother of3 children.I have a son with disability who is 22 years old.
I arrived in Australia as a refugee from South Vietnam and I could not speak any English. I learned English after arriving here.I now speak two languages (Vietnamese and English).
I have known the hardships and difficult times that comes when you leave your homeland as a refugee and you are settling in a new country.
As a mother and carer for my son with disability I have firsthand experience of how difficult it can be to find the appropriate supports that work well for him and which give him the best opportunities to develop his interests and creativity.
I have learnt Makaton, a sign language, which helps me to communicate with my son. It is a sign language which is used with children with cognitive and intellectual disability.
As a peer mentor I feel I bring a positive outlook. I am very committed to support people and in working together to achieve the goals that are important to them. I am a good listener and have a deep understanding and a lot of experience in overcoming difficulties in life.
I am also very passionate to break the stigma that surrounds disability. I think this can be done through community education and community awareness about the social barriers that people with disability face. I like to dedicate my life to creating a safe living environment which is accessible to all people with disability. A community in which all can share their stories,experiences and feel supported.
I have experience in paid and unpaid work roles. I volunteered as an assistant librarian and I have worked as an informal support carer for other children with disability. I have presented at the DDAlliance Peer2PeerCafés to share information about how to use the NDIS funding effectively. I also completed the training courses, Introduction to Peer Support and Peer Mentoring and the latest Peer Mentoring Refresher course training at DDAlliance.
I became a research interviewer at DDAlliance in 2018. In this role, I was given the opportunity to interview other peers and give feedback on what is needed to provide culturally appropriate disability support.I also applied for a grant to set up a local children activity support group.
My son receives NDIS support from a speech therapist, a dietician, and a behavioural counsellor. It has helped my son to gain more confidence and independence.
As a peer mentor, I will be able to support you to plan your goals of getting the best out of the NDIS. I feel I have a strong understanding about the steps you need to take in applying for the NDIS and using your plan effectively
Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

Kay

Kay
Kay

Hi, my name is Kay and I come from a Lebanese background. I speak Arabic and English. I have a physical disability and have been on a wheelchair for most of my life.  

My family is most important for me.  

My new hobbies are cooking, creating dishes and new recipes. Recently, I have started a new diet of healthy eating and cooking with new recipes.  

I have been working on becoming more and more independent. I shop and buy my own groceries and work out my own healthy meal plans. Before Covid I worked out at my local gym.  

With friends I enjoy trying out new restaurants and going to the beach.   

As a mentor, I believe I am a good listener. I can offer my help and support and let the persons I mentor know that they are not alone in this. I want to support them in making decisions that work for them.  I hope this way people will believe in themselves and will rise up. I want to be that rainbow in someone else’s cloud. 

I am looking to mentor people within my local community around the Bankstown area. I can introduce peers to social groups and community events in Bankstown. Especially in helping peers to make new friends in their local community.   

This year,  I have been a co-facilitator in DDA peer mentoring practice sessions. We keep learning this way. 

I am looking forward to mentoring you. 

Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

Julie

julie
julie

My name is Julie Magill. I am a proud woman of colour and an Australian Fijian. I am a caring, passionate, person with physical disability, from Bankstown in South West Sydney.

I previously worked as a tutor to support students from multicultural backgrounds and people of refugee and asylum seeker background. I have worked with people from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, this gaveme a deep understanding about the cultural challenges faced by people from culturally and linguistically diverse background (CALD) backgrounds. I’ve supported peers from war torn countries, with the enlightenment of diverse family situations and knowledge about disability, I look forward to sharing ideas without judgement.

At DDAlliance I am a board member as the Treasurer, a peer facilitator, researcher and peer mentor.I always have been passionate about fighting for rights for individuals with disability in the community. In my work I became a spokesperson to change societal attitudes and to promote education around disability in hope to alter stigma and perceptions. In my advocacy work, I wrote many letters to MPs, and have attended forums that help manifest social change in the disability space. I like to see greater inclusion for people with disability from multicultural communities. My other previous work experience include administration with a Disability Employment Serviceprovideras a volunteer.

As a mentor I like to support peers to reach goals in areas like employment search and reaching out to services to receive support. I can support peers to apply for the NDIS, review their plan, get the right support services, work towards finding employment, live independently and get involved in your local peer group and community.My goal is for my fellow peers to maximise their independence. I can support them to find their potential, achievements, goals and dreams, to stand up for themselves and have a voice

 

Let me support you
Please fill out your information if you like my mentor support
Apply for mentor support

More mentors in Education

No member found

Search here