Dr Steve

Steve Peterson is a 38-year-old doctor, and local city councillor living in Orange with his wife and two sons. In 2018, he had an accident while riding his bicycle to work at the Orange Emergency Department and became quadriplegic. He shares his story…

The freedom of self-management

Over the last six years, I’ve had quite the journey when it comes to managing my own care and Support Workers. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve found taking a more hands-on approach has given me the flexibility and control I need to live the life I want.

Initially, I struggled to maintain a consistent roster, and there were far too many days when my Support Workers wouldn’t show up. When I switched providers, that made all the difference, and now I manage a wide range of shifts myself, which means I directly coordinate with my Support Workers.

I’ve had a long-term relationship with icare who have been invaluable. They recommended that I connect with Living My Way and I’m really glad I did, as they have been incredibly helpful in ensuring I meet all the employment law obligations, and onboarding new carers. Their expertise has been a game-changer for me, as I don’t have a lot of experience in that realm.

I’ve found building interpersonal relationships with my Support Workers is key, and I try to be a good employer by giving them advance notice of any changes and discussing concerns right away. They appreciate that I have their back, and they go the extra mile for me, so it’s mutually beneficial.

For anyone thinking about taking a more active role in managing their own care, make sure you have the right skills, and mindset to be a responsible employer. Things like keeping on top of timesheets, approving hours, and ensuring your Support Workers are paid correctly are all important. It’s crucial to build a strong network of Support Workers and maintain open communication, and I’m proud of the progress and the relationships I’ve built.

I see my unique position as a doctor with a disability as an opportunity to contribute positively to the lives of others and advocate in my local community. I serve on the Board of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, and working to bring a disability-focused gym to our regional town, and I’m passionate about these projects.

I want to inspire others to take a more active role in their own care, and use their experiences to make a difference in their local community.

“I see my unique position as a doctor with a disability as an opportunity to contribute positively to the lives of others and advocate in my local community.”

- Steve, Doctor, Advocate, City Councillor, icare Client

Steve and family

Learn more about Steve’s story

Keen to learn more? We'd love to chat.

Our latest stories

Scott

In 2022 Scott moved house and has been living independently for the last 3 years. With the help of his Support Workers, and members of the community, he’s built a new life that he loves.

Garth

Over five years ago, I was travelling to a friend’s wedding in Ireland when I got very sick. I was able to return to Australia a few months later, for more treatment and eventually I became an amputee. Suddenly, it was like everything I knew had been taken away from me. I had to re-learn from scratch.

Gerry

Gerry is a farmer. He spent many years working his 4,000-acre farm in Condobilin with his wife and three sons. In 1975, he was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy (MD), but that didn’t stop Gerry. He adapted his farming equipment to continue working on the land he loved for many more years.

Empowering people to get on with life.

operations@lmwl.org.au
Phone (02) 8525 4000
Fax (02) 8525 4011

Give Feedback

Menai Head Office

Ground Floor, 44-60 Allison
Crescent, Menai NSW 2234

Seven Hills Office

Unit 10, 197 Prospect Hwy,
Seven Hills NSW 2147

Mailing Address

PO Box 67, Menai Central,
NSW 2234

ABN

47 110 995 518

Acknowledgement of Country

Living My Way acknowledges the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. Living My Way pays respect to Elders past and present and extends this respect to other Aboriginal people visiting our website.

Areas We Serve

We primarily offer disability support services across Sydney – including Western Sydney, the Sutherland Shire and St George – Wollongong City Council regions, and Central West NSW

“Storytelling is how we invite our Member voices to shine and share something meaningful… We want to inspire, engage and educate our community through real stories.”

“We all pitch in to get things done. I would say, hand on heart, that the people we employ are truly Memberfocused and understand how their role can help Members meet their aspirations.”