Michael has recently successfully completed nearly 13 weeks on the General Court Intervention Program. Initially referred with PTSD and anxiety, struggling with low self-esteem and easily frustrated with lack of properly placed boundaries and lacking coping skills. He struggled with his case worker in initial sessions due to these barriers and continued anxious symptoms, preventing him from accessing treatment options like Centrelink, GP or other services. As such, he was introduced to Connect Wanju’s peer worker to reduce his anxiety of services, familiarise himself to the services and support available to him and build a stronger client relationship.
This is his story as told by Holly our Peer Worker at Connect Wanju.
“When I was introduced to him initially, he was quite surprised when I told him that I had been a heroin addict at the age of 16 and have served a period of 17 and a half years in prison. Ten years here in Australia and seven and a half years in Thailand due to my heroin addiction.”
We made a connection immediately and it wasn’t long before he was opening up and being honest about his struggles. It was early in the program when he mentioned he would like to see a GP for his mental health as he knew he wasn’t coping and was feeling very depressed with his circumstances. He wasn’t confident in talking with the GP and asked me to go in with him. The GP suggested medication and made a couple of referrals for him. He left that appointment feeling proud of himself for taking that step and being able to recognise that he needed help. He quickly noticed a change in his mood, was sleeping better and had more motivation and hope for his future.
He was homeless when he started the program, had lost his job and had no photo identification which was making life even harder. As well as going with him to several of his GP appointments, Michael identified he needed assistance with getting his eyes checked and obtaining glasses. His next hurdle was enrolling in Centrelink, a service which he has had significant difficulties with previously. However, when I took him to Services Australia, we were met with great customer service and Michael relaxed into the experience. Eventually he received his Medicare card, was able to open a bank account and we took him to a barber for a haircut.
He has transformed from a young man with no self-confidence and self-worth to looking and feeling confident and excited about his future.
He was grateful to both me, his counsellor, Connect Wanju and GCIP for all the support he has been given to him through-out the process. When he went to court for sentencing, he asked to be able to speak to the Magistrate where he said that he was very thankful that the program exists as it has totally changed his life for the better.
