Supportive friendship groups
This is a group of people who are intentionally invited to come together in friendship and support of a person with disability, for the purpose of achieving their goals and protecting their interests into the future. Through their freely-given relationships, network members can offer support in many ways and help connect them to the community. While the network is built around the individual with a disability it also provides a source of support for the family.
Subject to availability, PlanNET’s network facilitators can work in partnership with families to develop a network of support around their member with a disability. If a family wish to nominate a facilitator from their own connections, PlanNET can assist by providing training and ongoing support. This may be funded from one’s NDIS plan budget.
Building a network involves:
- Using the individual’s person-centred plan to explore the person’s interests, current relationships, and community connections
- Identifying potential network members
- Contacting the identified people on the person’s behalf, to invite participation
- Arranging and facilitating regular meetings for the network to come together
- Fostering wholesome reciprocal relationships
- Keeping the network focused toward the person’s identified goals
The network will need to be replenished and maintained as the circumstances of its members, family, and the individual change.