Wadalba resident Daniel Laxale has been honoured at the 2023 Hireup Good Life Awards, which recognise outstanding workers in the disability support field.
Run by Hireup, Australia’s largest NDIS registered platform provider, the awards were introduced last year 2022 to honour exceptional support workers enabling a good life for people with disability.
Laxale supports Graeme, a 60-year-old neurodiverse man with complex health conditions and behavioural challenges.
Following the death of both of Graeme’s parents, Laxale played a pivotal role in helping him navigate newfound independence, ultimately enabling Graeme to move out of the family home for the first time.
He was nominated for the award by Graeme’s sister Lyn, who praised him for enhancing Graeme’s mental health and fostering age-appropriate behaviors.
“My brother Graeme now enjoys not just a good but a great life thanks to Daniel’s extraordinary contributions,” Lyn said.
“Daniel played a crucial role in enhancing Graeme’s mental health by providing support in a safe, patient, and caring manner.
“Daniel demonstrated how to instil age-appropriate behaviors, ensuring Graeme felt socially accepted in all settings.”
Director of Support Workers at Hireup, Jamie Crosbie , said the organisation believed everyone deserved the ability to pursue what a good life meant to them.
“Our support workers make a positive difference every day – but too often, this valuable role goes uncelebrated,” he said.
“Our Good Life Awards are changing this.”
“The Good Life Awards nominees are identified by the individuals and families they care for.
“These awards are the definition of grassroots recognition.
“They celebrate real and meaningful impact and change in the lives of not just individuals, but their families and communities too.”
Laxale was selected as one of 10 winners from a shortlist of 25 finalists in an initial pool of more than 550 nominations.
Each of the 10 winners receives $1,000.