When Brenton first met Peter, one of Inclusion WA’s Mentors, Brenton was isolated from his community and had not developed the confidence he needed to explore his interests.
During Brenton’s initial meeting with Peter, he had mentioned that he was not happy with where he was at in life and ultimately with himself. Brenton came across as quite shy and nervous around people. Peter got to know Brenton more as they started building a rapport together. Brenton was actually quite engaging and chatty. It became apparent that all Brenton needed was the opportunity to develop his confidence and practise the skills that would allow him to have greater access to his community.
With Peter’s support, Brenton began to explore his local area and find activities of interest to attend. Peter assisted Brenton to learn how to navigate the public transport system independently and before long he was able to explore places such as Rockingham, Mandurah and even Rottnest Island for selfies with the quokkas. This independence built his confidence to do other things in the community, such as regularly attending rugby and WAFL matches, enjoying the adrenalin rush of hot laps in a V8 Supercar or the smell of rubber at a Perth Motorplex evening.
Building on his newfound confidence, Brenton joined the Kwinana Bowling Club. Being naturally shy and nervous about interacting with those he didn’t know, Brenton initially relied on Peter’s support to meet members of the club. However, he slowly became more comfortable in getting to know new people and developing his bowling skills. Brenton had found his community. The club welcomed him with open arms, made him feel like a part of the community, and gave him the opportunity to become involved in all aspects of club life.
Two years on, Brenton accesses the club independently. He is known around the club. On most Mondays, you can find him lending a hand at the weekly working bee. As part of the Kwinana Bowls Club, Brenton has been able to take part in competitions and build his own skills. It has been a fantastic opportunity for Brenton to contribute to his community and establish a valued role.
Brenton’s journey and achievements have taken him from a shy, reserved and unhappy man to someone who very much believes in himself. His confidence continues to grow and although he knows life will have its challenges, he’s determined to continue contributing to his community and developing his independence.
Individualised Services
We support people who have NDIS funding to meet their goals.