Darren

Darren joined Alkira in March 1998, a young man at just 28 years.  Darren quickly became an active member of the community, participating in a broad range of activities, programs and services offered through Alkira’s Training & Support Services at Thurston Street.   Not only facilitating his personal growth and development through joining program streams like the arts, personal development and academics, Darren has always been keen to give back to the broader community by volunteering.  Meals on Wheels, an Alkira volunteer program supporting the City of Whitehorse to deliver meals to elderly people living in the Box Hill area has been a ‘staple’ in Darren’s working week with Alkira.  So too was the Dog Walking program.  People who were unable to walk their dogs could utilise this service, and Darren with his expertise as a long-time dog owner himself, was a perfect fit.  Gardening was another volunteering program which Darren keenly sought, again assisting members of the local community who could no longer manage their gardens on their own.  As a member of ‘The Bandits’, Darren honed his musical skills and enjoyed performing in the community.

Like all of us, with the passing of time came some challenges and changes in Darren’s needs.  Alkira continues to support Darren to build skills, achieve goals and aspire to a live a full life with programs and activities offered through our range of services.  Currently Darren is accessing Alkira’s Market Street site on a daily basis where the ambience is more suited to Darren’s needs, and is regularly spending time in our short term accommodation facility.  Darren remains connected to his friends and colleagues as well as the broader community.  He swims weekly at Nunawading Swimming pool followed by lunch with his 1:1 support person. He still gardens as part of the Kevin Heinze Gardening program; fulfills his passion for art through Creative Arts; and remains physically active through the Balanced Bodies, Swimming, and Sport & Recreation programs.