Every week, Daniel and Josh* went on a walk so they could chat. Josh, who’s a passionate Swans fan and wrestling guru, would discuss sports, which then opened the door for Daniel to talk to Josh about his life.

“He would always give me weekly updates on what was happening in the sports and wrestling world, and then I’d shift the conversation to hygiene and how we could work towards his goals,” says Daniel, Wesley Family Preservation Caseworker.

Before Daniel entered his life, Josh, who has autism, struggled with personal hygiene. While he attended school, he didn’t engage with his classes. He refused to help around the house and his relationship with his mum, Michelle*, was distant.

Now, Josh has mastered his hygiene routine. He helps at home by emptying the bins and doing laundry. And despite finishing school in Year 11, Josh now has some work experience under his belt.

The impact of building trust

“He listened to a lot of Daniel’s suggestions,” Michelle says. And to her surprise, Josh even picked out a necklace for her birthday this year and recently, he invited her to join him at a Swans game.

“Their relationship has improved a lot from when it started. It’s enjoyable seeing the fruit of this family’s hard work and now they’re seeing the changes themselves,” Daniel says.

Often bullied at school, Josh struggled to make friends. “That’s why he wanted to leave school,” Daniel explains. With Daniel’s guidance, Josh has learned to forge new friendships.

“He didn’t have as much male interaction because he’s just got his mum and sister. I just tried to show him what a positive relationship looks like and how to communicate while working on his anger management skills,” Daniel says.

Making new connections

Daniel also connected Josh to Raven Community Care, where he participates in outings, which has broadened his social circle. To support Josh’s struggle with suicidal thoughts, Daniel put a safety plan in place, equipping Josh to seek help during difficult times. Josh is now taking steps to grow in his independence. Daniel worked with Ability Options to increase Josh’s NDIS funding to support his life skills development. Josh is working towards his goal of moving out of home and pursuing a career in sports or even becoming a referee.

“Seeing Josh grow from where he was a year ago to now, he’s made massive strides. He’ll keep going because I think he’s got that drive to change,” Daniel says. “He now has all the support he needs around him. And the people supporting Josh actually care for him. They’re not just doing the job. They care for the family and want to help them. Everyone’s doing extra little bits for them.”

Daniel has also been a vital support for Michelle, who struggled to maintain her family’s home life. He connected her to a food program for when supplies are low and directed her to Wesley Financial Counselling, to help manage her finances.

“I just helped her improve the state of their home, ensuring there was enough food in the kitchen, and we talked about what she needed to tackle each week. I think it’s given Michelle more confidence. She now knows what she needs to do, and she can go do it.”

Michelle says she’s grateful that Daniel came into their lives.

“He was very helpful and approachable. He understood our situation, and we are pleased that he came along and helped.”

*Names changed to protect privacy.