How Kyle unlocked his potential through community and connection

Picture this:  It’s a Friday afternoon at the Hub, and you can smell the aroma of the snags cooking away on the BBQ. Manning the BBQ is Kyle, cooking up the sausages for everyone at the Hub, bringing everyone together for a yarn and an awesome feed.  

Kyle, a young Wiradjuri man on the Autism spectrum, has thrived with his social skills since first connecting with us in January 2023.  

On his first day, he was incredibly shy and reserved. However, support mentor Darren knew that with time and patience, he would come out of his shell.  

Darren started by working with him one-on-one, developing a mateship. They spent lots of time together, yarning, getting to know each other and building confidence. Darren could see the potential in Kyle and worked with him to help him connect to his community and peers. 

Darren discovered Kyle has a great sense of humour, and a love for video games and got to know and understand the goals that he’s set for himself.  

One of Kyle’s goals is to move out of home and live independently, and with the new skills Kyle has developed, this goal is close to being achieved. 

According to the team, the way Kyle was when he first walked into the Hub compared to how he is now is like night and day. You can tell from a glance that his confidence has skyrocketed; according to senior support mentor Kim, he has a smile that can light up a room. 

He gets involved in the BBQ lunches held at the hub, grabbing hold of the tongs and taking charge, ensuring a delicious feed for everyone. 

“If there’s a BBQ, he can’t wait to get out there with his tongs. He’s the BBQ king. For our open day at the Hub, he sat on that BBQ grill all day and cooked every sausage,” Darren said. 

An important part of Kyle’s development with us was introducing him to Rhys, a fellow NDIS participant. Since being introduced, the two have been thick as thieves, often seen manning the BBQ together, playing UNO, or just hanging out at the hub.  

“I feel really proud when I see him sitting with the other boys playing a game, and I see him sit back laughing. I sit back and I let him go. He’s engaging, smiling and laughing,” said Darren. 

He’s always keen to get involved in the activities at the Hub. He’s gained confidence to participate in the walking groups and loves going out with Darren and Rhys for Kebab Tuesdays.  

Simone, NDIS Operations manager, in the early days worked with Kyle to create charts that help him remember to complete daily tasks to stick to a routine. This has helped Kyle move closer to his goal of moving out on his own.  

Darren and everyone else on the team beams with pride talking about Kyle, and after observing his progress over the past year and a half, they’re optimistic he has a bright future ahead. 

Connect with our NDIS Disability Support Services team

Bamara is a registered provider of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). We have an experienced local team, who know the area, and will strive to assist you in reaching your goals, whether they are big or small.

Learn more about which of our services and programs might be a good fit for your lifestyle.