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SSI MPN MODEL

Case studies

Amrina

Amrina

1/10

Amrina is a mother of three boys – 10-year old Nasir, 8-year old Abdul who has autism, and the youngest 3-year-old Hassan.

Alongside full-time parental care, Amrina is currently undertaking part time studies. Amrina has both been a participant in the Multicultural Peer Network program and undertaken the MPN facilitator training.

Amrina 2/10

Amrina has been involved as a participant in a MPN group for people with disabilities, their families, and carers.

The group was made up of Urdu speakers and they connected over traditional Indian snacks and sweets.

Amrina appreciated the flexibility of being able to join the group either online or in person, which allowed her to prioritise her son’s sensory needs.

Amrina 3/10

This culturally appropriate environment meant Amrina felt comfortable speaking to others about her son’s emotional regulation issues for the first time.

The peer group validated her experience and supported her to explore her options.

Through the group, Amrina and her son were provided with a safe space to socialise, relax, and gave them a sense of community.

Amrina 4/10

“The best part about the program was when we went out… that really helped, you know release our

stress”

Amrina 5/10

Amrina recalls a particular incident where her son was having difficulties with settling in at school and being bullied by other children. With the support of the MPN participants, Amrina received advice on how to advocate for her child and herself within the school system to be able to address the issue.

Amrina 6/10

Expert speakers were regularly invited to the MPN meetings to present on various topics.

Through these presentations Amrina was able to identify accessible and appropriate future education and employment opportunities for her son.

Amrina 7/10

Similarly, the MPN acted as a channel for organic promotion of local service providers through word of mouth.

Amrina 8/10

The MPN was also open for local cultural groups to attend, such as representatives from a local Indian women’s group who were seeking information on how to better accommodate children with a disability in their program.

Amrina 9/10

Amrina continues to share with other parents all that she has learnt through her MPN facilitator training and feels that the benefits of the MPN were numerous – to herself, her son, other participants, and even the broader community.

Amrina 10/10

Amrina looks forward to her youngest child joining school so she can explore putting her facilitator training to practice and hosting her own MPN Facilitator training sessions.

Participants