Christine’s Journey with Hayley
Christine’s inspirational story is one of resilience, empowerment, and newfound independence.
A powerful story that shows how the right support from her dedicated support worker, Hayley made that happen.The powerful team are breaking barriers for greater inclusion and helping people in the disability community. What started as assisting Christine with physio sessions grew into a powerful partnership in advocacy. Hayley supports Christine in testing accessibility, identifying barriers, and providing feedback to improve inclusion.
Today, Christine stands as a strong advocate for accessibility, breaking barriers alongside her support worker — tackling one beach at a time.
Two years ago, Christine was matched with Hayley through Interchange. What started as weekly support quickly grew into something transformative. Hayley saw Christine not just as someone to support but as a woman full of ideas, potential, and a voice worth amplifying. Their partnership soon became a driving force in Christine’s pursuit of independence.
“With Hayley by my side, I’m not just accessing more spaces—I’m helping change them for others like me.”
Christine Smith, Customer of Interchange
When Christine first expressed her desire to do physiotherapy at the beach, Hayley encouraged her to give it a go. Over time, with each visit, Christine grew stronger and more confident, proving that perseverance paired with support can turn aspirations into achievements. What started as a personal goal sparked something bigger: a passion for accessibility advocacy. Hayley stood by her side, helping her assess different beaches and present her findings to local decision-makers. Christine now plays an active role in the City of Stirling Inclusion Group, contributing to real, meaningful change.
Empowering Independence
Beyond physical activities, Hayley champions Christine’s voice. Knowing that Christine, a person with disability sometimes struggles to articulate her ideas in meetings, Hayley helps her rehearse conversations and organise her thoughts, ensuring her contributions are clear, impactful, and valued. With Hayley’s guidance, Christine’s ideas are not only heard — they inspire action.
Christine’s passion continued to grow, break new barriers and she explored her adventurous side too. When she wanted to explore sailing, Hayley took it upon herself. She researched, enrolled Christine in a local program, and supported her every week — assisting with onboarding, offboarding, and ensuring Christine felt safe and confident on the water. From the waves to the boardroom, Hayley empowers Christine to embrace every opportunity that sparks joy.
Christine continued to push forward and give back to her community. With Hayley’s encouragement, she secured a meaningful position at an Aged Care Home providing companionship to socially isolated residents. Her volunteer work has become a meaningful part of her life, giving her purpose and pride. It has given her a chance to connect with others in her community.
Christine’s gratitude for Hayley’s unwavering support is heartfelt. In her own words:
“Hayley has made a very significant difference in my life. She engages with me as a friend, makes me happy, and helps me connect with the community beyond my group home. She focuses on what I want to do, supports me in achieving my goals, and encourages me to push beyond my comfort zone. I wholeheartedly support her nomination for this award.”
Nomination for NDS 2025 Awards
Great support workers do more than support — they empower. Hayley Stopp is proof of that. It’s why we are thrilled to celebrate her nomination for the WADSA 2025 Disability Support Worker of the Year Award. She’s Christine’s mentor, coach, and biggest supporter. She helps Christine find and express her voice — especially during meetings and advocacy work. They rehearse Christine’s ideas, ensuring her thoughts are clear and impactful. Christine now speaks confidently, shaping real change for accessibility.
At Interchange, we are proud to share this inspirational story of people with disability achieving extraordinary things. We take pride in having dedicated support workers like Hayley who make it possible. As we enthusiastically cheer Hayley’s well-deserved award nomination, we also recognise the remarkable partnership between these two inspiring women — a partnership built on determination, trust, and shared goals. Together, they’ve shown that independence, inclusion, and adventure know no age limits, proving that it’s never too late to pursue new dreams and create lasting change.
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