5 Ways to Encourage Community Access and Self Care

What is community access and why does it matter?

Everyone should be given equal opportunity to participate in activities that are meaningful and rewarding. By definition, community engagement is the process of organising activities that are mutually beneficial to the individual and the greater community. These activities are designed to empower, build a sense of belonging, and create lasting connections between people.

It can involve anything from volunteer work and attending community events to simply joining a club or group for social support. Through these activities, community engagement helps to foster a sense of ownership within a community, as well as provide opportunities for social relationships and personal growth. 

What is Self Care?

Everybody engages in some form of self-care daily. It could be making good food choices, exercising, getting enough sleep and personal hygiene. Beyond establishing healthy behaviours and habits, self-care is essential for maintaining your health and well-being.

To promote self-care, it is important to create a supportive environment where participants feel safe and comfortable. This involves open communication, so you feel comfortable talking about the importance of looking after yourself both mentally and physically. 

Community engagement and self-care are closely linked, with each one feeding into and strengthening the other. With the right support, the relationship between community access and self-care creates a healthier, more harmonious and happier person. 

Backed by a team of compassionate disability support workers, Interaction can help you gain community access and NDIS Services in Sydney. Reach out to us to learn more. 

5 Ways to Encourage Community Engagement and Self-Care

Whether it’s going out for a coffee, learning a new skill, or watching a movie – Community Access and Self Care can be almost anything you want it to be! While these acts may seem small, they can contribute to your overall health and sense of self. 

At the end of the day, community access and self-care helps you to improve everyday life skills and encourage tasks that build independence. Let’s explore five evidence-based ways to encourage community access and self-care. 

1. Community Participation

Community participation matters most for people who need support. It provides welcome access to recreational tasks and social opportunities. This can involve activities such as:

Attending Appointments: Support workers can assist individuals in attending medical, therapy, or other important appointments. This is important to receive necessary healthcare and services. 

Grocery Shopping: Support with grocery shopping allows you to maintain your independence by choosing your own groceries, while receiving support with navigating the store, carrying bags, or making healthy choices.

Access to Social Activities: Social activities are a great way to meet new people and develop friendships. This includes support in joining clubs, attending events, or participating in community gatherings. 

Volunteer/Employment Opportunities: Community participation can also involve assisting participants in finding and engaging in work opportunities. 

Education and Skill Development: Support can extend to enrolling participants in educational courses, workshops, or skill development programs within the community. This empowers you to learn new knowledge and skills.

Arts and Creativity: Supporting participants in pursuing artistic or creative interests, such as painting, music, or theatre, builds self-expression and creativity. Participation in art-related events or exhibitions can boost self-esteem, encourage social connection, and provide a sense of accomplishment.

Fitness and Recreation: Encouraging physical activity and recreation is important for overall well-being. Support workers can assist participants in joining fitness classes, sports teams, or recreational groups. This helps to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

At Interaction, our disability support workers in Sydney can accompany you to activities, whether it’s shopping, playing sports, or spending time in a café.

2. Self Care

An experienced community access and self-care team can work with you to develop skills and competencies. Learning self-care skills is essential for promoting independence and daily living. Self-care activities exist inside and outside the home and may include:

Cleaning: Participants can be supported to learn how to clean and maintain their living space to promote a healthy and organised environment.

Cooking: Learning how to cook nutritious meals not only encourages independence, but also contributes to better health outcomes.

Staying connected: Spending time with people who make you happy is important for self-care. You can meet up with your friends in person, organise house visits, FaceTime, or chat on social media. 

Spending time in nature: Research shows that spending time outdoors in nature is good for your health and helps you relax. There are lots of self-care activities you can do outdoors such as dog walking or visiting a park.

Hygiene: Participants can be supported to build skills around personal hygiene practices, including bathing, grooming, and dental care. These practices not only contribute to physical health, they also boost self-esteem and overall well-being.

3. Capacity Building

Capacity building focuses on equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate various aspects of life. This may include:

Travel Training: This involves supporting participants to build their confidence in using public transportation or other mobility options, improving their ability to move around independently.

Parenting Training: For parents with disability, parenting training provides guidance which helps to promote a safe and nurturing environment for their children.

Budgeting Support: Learning budgeting skills can help participants manage their finances, pay bills, and make informed financial decisions.

Interaction meets the needs of people with any type of disability for productive capacity building. The NDIS Sydney and Interaction team can match you to a support worker according to your circumstances – reach out to us today. 

4. In-Home Support

There may be times when a participant’s usual support network is unavailable. In such cases, in-home support is invaluable.

Emergency Situations: In-home support can be crucial during emergencies or unexpected situations, providing participants with the necessary assistance to address immediate needs.

Respite Care: In-home support can also serve as respite care, offering family caregivers a break while making sure that their loved ones continue to receive care.

5. Tailored Programs

Tailored programs are designed to meet the unique needs and preferences of each participant:

Personalised Goals: These programs are created with specific goals in mind, considering a participant’s abilities, interests, and aspirations.

Flexible Services: Tailored programs adapt to changing needs. This means that support remains relevant as participants progress or face new challenges.

Cultural Sensitivity: Programs can be culturally sensitive, respecting diverse backgrounds and traditions to provide inclusive care.

The right disability support worker in Sydney can make a major difference in someone’s life. Our community access and self care team at Interaction can work with you in a number of different ways, depending on your specific needs.

Since 1979, Interaction has been an advocate for community participation in Sydney and beyond. For advice on how to reach out to community leaders and kickstart social outcomes, talk to the Interaction team. 

Find the Right Disability Support Worker in Sydney 

The Interaction Community Access and Self Care team is full of compassionate and experienced support workers for Sydney residents. We commit to matching you with the right support worker for the best possible outcome. If you choose Interaction, we will ask you some questions to pair you with the most suitable support worker and make sure that you’re happy with the choice. 

Get in touch with our support workers in Sydney and start working toward your goals today.