Live your potential with disability support provider estara

Article originally published in SALIFE magazine in July 2024.

“For older individuals living with disabilities, accessing support is often essential for maintaining independence and quality of life. Navigating and understanding how to best access essential services can be daunting, but with the right network, support can be tailored to an individual’s needs and preferences.

Whether it is mobility, personal care, transportation, household tasks, health related services or social and recreational programs, one of South Australia’s largest and longest running disability support providers, estara, has an innate understanding of the needs and challenges faced by people living with a disability.

Committed to helping people regain independence and achieve their holistic life goals, estara works closely with individuals and families by empowering and supporting them to be connected, supported, and guided to achieve their full potential no matter their life stage.

estara client, Dr Martin Godfrey, has overcome incredible challenges following a life-changing bicycle accident in 1982 that left him a paraplegic at 23 years of age.

Martin never allowed his disability to hold him back, returning to university to complete his PhD studies in Engineering and Physics and making significant contributions as a Research Scientist throughout his career. In the midst of these achievements, Martin migrated with his wife to Australia in 1992, and was connected with estara for specialised support. Following a critical shoulder injury in later years, Martin was able to scale his in-home support with estara to aid his recovery.

“Through a personalised support plan, the team at estara provided me and my wife Sarah with invaluable help making necessary changes in our daily routine and setting up our home to better accommodate my needs ahead of my surgery.

“Care worker supports were arranged for my discharge from hospital to enable me to have a successful recovery. Despite it being a challenging time, we had some funny memories and became close with many of the care workers who we remain in contact with today,” explains Martin.

“I am fortunate enough to live a reasonably independent life but without the support of estara during my surgery, we would not have gotten through 2017.”

The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) also enabled Martin to access supports that have made it possible for him to remain in employment longer than he would have otherwise been able to with his condition.

For example, specialist occupational therapy support through estara resulted in more suitable hand controls for Martin’s car, transfer aids, and a light-weight wheelchair to prevent any further impact or injury to his shoulder.

“Support with domestic duties is also regularly provided as part of the estara in-home services to assist with duties I am unable to do, while allowing me to continue to be an active member of the community.

“The fact we can contact estara for emergency back up support in case of illness and injury gives us the peace of mind to live our lives without the worry of what would happen in such events,” says Martin.

Despite the adversity Martin has faced as a result of his disability, he is passionate about contributing to society and ensuring people like him are seen out and about, not shut away behind closed doors.

“Personally, I strive to participate in community activities and advocate for improved equality access for all. Not just for wheelchair users, but that obviously remains a big focus for me.

“Specialist support by estara provides people with a spinal cord injury like mine, with the opportunity to be involved with community and achieve our goals – something I am truly grateful for,” concludes Martin.

An expansive community footprint across metropolitan and regional areas means estara maintains an influential position supporting clients such as Martin, steering a way through knowledge, education, and advocacy to enhance quality of life.

With an unwavering and human-centred approach, estara stands by the people they support and empowers them to live their potential because at estara, you matter.

To find out more about estara, visit estara.com.au or call 1800 378 272.”