Viharsha's Reflection: Public Dimensions of Mental Health and Neurodiversity

The Neurodiversity solidarity seminar which I attended at Uniting office at Glebe was extremely knowledgeable and amazing. It’s good to see the amount of planning which was been put into it. As a disability support worker myself I was extremely excited to learn more about the concept of neurodiversity in further detail, particularly as I have worked with people from diverse backgrounds who have various disabilities. This workshop provided me with an opportunity to apply this knowledge. Listening to some of the guest speakers, such as Benjamin Fowler and Judy Singer, was both enlightening and emotional at the same time. The debriefing session we had after the session gave us the opportunity to really express our feelings and ideas. The session that followed after with David was also great. It gave us the opportunity to raise any concerns we had in regard to our placement hours and discuss future actions which would be taking place in the future.

Reflection on my placement journey

Placement for me thus far has been such a different experience compared to my first placement at an NDIS service. I have met many amazing people from different organizations such as community organizations, faith groups, and trade unions. I never would have thought prior to my placement with Sydney Alliance that community work would be an avenue for me, I always thought I would be in mental health or youth work. I like that I am able to be involved in a range of different areas in the alliance that I am passionate about including the youth caucus, queer caucus and working with the Parramatta Diocese. I am so thankful for the wonderful lifelong friendships I have made.

Alex's Reflection on Organising the International Students' Listening Event

Last Wednesday night, my team and I had a satisfying turnout with our International Students’ Listening. I felt like I achieved something meaningful and inspiring during my second placement with Sydney Alliance. By listening to international students’ housing experiences while studying in NSW, we aim to empower and believe that international students matter and international students deserve respect and recognition of dignity.

Organising a listening event is part of my learning journey. Since I have to deal with uncertainties and communicate with my teammates, it allows me to demonstrate my competence in coordination, flexibility, and resilience. Additionally, I feel delighted and relieved that my efforts are being recognised.

This event was organised and collaborated with Shelter NSW, Sydney Community Forum- Oz International Student Hub, and Democracy in Colour.