SNN_December 2022 Issue_web low res

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 9
For some of our Peer Support workers starting that
conversation, that's kind of cold calling—that can be a
little bit tricky. When you go to a party and you know,
there is a whole lot of people who you never met before
and what do you do? Do you go and hide in a corner, or
would you strike up a conversation with a total stranger?
Some people are better than others at doing this.
What we're finding is that once people do it, they get
better at it. And they get more comfortable doing it. But I
think the key issue for many of our Peer Support workers
has been how to establish that first relationship, that first
phone call and how it has been productive for them, and
for the person they're talking to.
This is a bit strange. What is it you want? We just want to
have a yarn it’s as simple as that.
Do you have any nice anecdotal stories of how Peer
Support is making a difference?
AH: We've got a number of stories—one guy in particular
who hadn't been outside for five years until he agreed to
meet up for coffee with our Peer Support worker down at the
If you get a chance to
have a go at something,
don't turn it down.
—Brendan Tourelle
mall. Now they are doing it regularly. You know, they're not
there to solve a problem for him. He doesn't need anything
sorted or anything. They just want to catch up. And it's been
enough to stimulate him to get up and get outdoors.
And, over time, other opportunities may appear for him.
But if that's as far as it goes that's great to get back into
some semblance of a healthier social life.
There's a number of other people. Some of the people
going home from hospital have found it really useful. One
in particular is getting some advice on housing
modifications. Not OT advice, measurements, and that
sort of thing, but just reassurance around understanding
the process and knowing how best to work with all of the
parties involved. Understanding what ACC’s
responsibilities are, what's fair and reasonable to ask for.
There must be huge excitement about Peer and
Whānau Support being a long-term prospect?
AH: Absolutely. Our whole intent is to at the end of the
Proof of Concept period have a programme that's ready to
just roll over and continue to deliver the service in as good
a quality way as possible from then on.
That will be based on the valuation and work that ACC do
when they check that the proof of concept was good value
for money as far as they're concerned. And hopefully they
will think that. And then the programme will continue to
act in pretty much the same way.
We're not running it in a small way, and then completing
it once they say, yes, we're wanting it to be nationwide
right now. A lot of people have put the shoulder to the
wheel over that 15-year period to get it funded and
underway. It's a huge moment. I’ll be proud when I know
it's been going for five or 10 years. For me it’s important
that we get it bedded in and established.
BT: Yes, that's our main goal. We want to prove to ACC
that Peer Support is of big benefit to our clients. We
believe we are in the best position to provide Peer Support
to the SCI community. And we will be doing all we can to
provide the service to the best of our ability too. For the
next 12 months we want to make sure we're hitting the
back of the net.
What advice would you offer to the people with a spinal
cord impairment when it comes to Peer Support?
BT: If you get a chance to have a go at something, don't
turn it down. Just giving things a go allowed me to get
where I am today. I'm on six different committees and
they are all related to the disability community. I find
being able to give back to the community that has given
me so much, very rewarding. Whereas if I had turned
those opportunities down, I wouldn’t have got to
represent my country at world championships, or to travel
to places you may not have on your own list.
So I would say if you get a chance to do something that's
out of your comfort zone, just take a big breath, bite the
bullet and do it, you never know where it could lead.
THE RIGHT PEOPLE: Brendan says one of the biggest
challenges has been recruiting and personnel.
AH: I would stress to people that you don’t have to do it all
on your own. We're there to help and others are there to