Leon is a gentleman. Ask anyone on his support team and they’ll tell you the same thing. He loves food, the gym, a good film and being out in his community. He lights up around people he trusts, and he has a warmth that, according to Sheridan, “melts your heart.”
For Leon, the Pancake Kitchen has always been one of his favourite spots. But for a long time, eating there wasn’t possible. Parking was too far away, the walk too difficult. His support workers would phone the order through and bring it home. Leon always had his pancakes, just never at the table.
That changed recently, and the moment it did, everyone who’d worked to make it happen knew exactly why they do this work.
As Leon’s mobility changed over time, getting out into the community became increasingly challenging. Before he had the right mobility support in place, Leon fatigued easily and required close physical support when moving around. Tommy, who has supported Leon for over two and a half years, describes Leon’s awareness of those limitations and his frustration with them.
“The biggest difference I’ve seen is the places Leon can now safely access. He can comfortably go from A to B in the community without those limitations.” -Tommy, Disability Support Worker.
Sheridan, who has supported Leon for around three years, recalls what taking him out looked like before the wheelchair arrived. “I noticed just how important that level of support really was,” she says. “It gave me an understanding of where we were at, compared to where we were when I first started supporting him.”
Getting the right mobility solution in place for Leon took four and a half months and a genuine team effort across multiple organisations. Sebastian Walsh from Optimise Physiotherapy Group had been working with Leon for over three years, focused on maintaining his independence and mobility for as long as possible. A pivotal moment came during an International Day of People with Disability celebration with the eQuality Support team, when Seb helped walk Leon to the car and saw first-hand how much Leon was struggling. He sat down with Leon that day and raised the idea of a wheelchair. For the first time, Leon agreed.
Leon’s Support Coordinator Michael Pickford from Recovery Stars coordinated closely with allied health providers including Geelong Neuro Centre and Optimise Physiotherapy Group to have the right wheelchair scripted. It was a process with more than a few hurdles along the way.
“It gives him freedom. The ability to try new things and do things he otherwise might have avoided or not felt confident doing. All of a sudden, Leon’s got all these other doors that are open now.” said Sebastian, Physiotherapist, Optimise Physiotherapy Group.
Matt, Leon’s House Lead at eQuality Support, was determined to find a solution. When he discovered a lightweight wheelchair had previously been recommended but not approved, he took the initiative to investigate further, even visiting Aidacare himself to ensure the chair met manual handling requirements before speaking with Leon’s mother, Anne.
Lucy Sheahan, Occupational Therapist and Team Leader at Geelong Neuro Centre, worked with Leon to trial a number of wheelchairs, assessing which best met his functional and postural needs while ensuring his support team could continue to care for him safely. Importantly, the process was one Leon himself helped drive. “Leon was able to identify that a wheelchair would be a great support to him to continue to get out and about in Ballarat,” Lucy says.
Anne didn’t hesitate.
“It’s like parents buying a pram for their new baby. They wouldn’t buy one that’s hard to get in and out of the car, would they? I’ll fund Leon’s wheelchair.”
– Anne, Leon’s mother
Since then, Leon’s world has expanded steadily.
“I was determined not to give up until Leon could safely access the community again.”
– Matt, DSW and House Lead
On the day it happened, Matt suggested they head somewhere Leon wanted to go. Leon said “Pancake Kitchen” straight away. Matt asked if he wanted to take it away or eat in.
Leon said “eat in.” It was the first time he ever had.
The Pancake Kitchen staff were kind and patient. Leon beamed. Matt watched on, taking it all in.
Lucy, who had worked closely with Leon throughout the wheelchair process, reflects: “I know going out and food are meaningful to Leon, so seeing that he was able to participate in this activity with ease was so positive.”
“Before going out, Leon might be at home looking a bit pale. But when we return, you can see the colour back in his face. That’s what it’s all about.”
– Matt, DSW and House Lead
Michael, who has supported Leon’s coordination for nearly six years, reflected on seeing the photo from that outing. It reminded him of something Leon’s late sister Julia had once said to him after seeing a photo of Leon smiling: “Leon doesn’t smile like that anymore, it’s amazing.” Seeing Leon’s face at the Pancake Kitchen, Michael thought of her words.
Julia always told the team: “If Leon gets upset, just get him Pancake Kitchen.” With the right support and accessibility in place, he was finally able to do exactly that; sit down, order his meal, and enjoy every moment of it.
With greater accessibility and support around him, Leon’s confidence and independence have continued to grow. He dines in at the Indian Grill, where staff know his order. He visits Roy Hammond, his favourite bar in Ballarat, where he’s becoming a well-known regular. He’s back at the gym. He’s requesting more community access overall, coming to find his support workers to let them know where he wants to go.
He’s even been to Jamaica Blue Café at Wendouree Village, somewhere he’d never been able to reach before. On his first visit, he surprised everyone by ordering avocado off the menu. A small moment, but one that speaks to a man rediscovering what’s possible.
Jodie, another one of Leon’s DSWs, who recently took Leon to see an artwork display along a Ballarat laneway, describes the shift she’s seen in him since the wheelchair arrived.
“His mood is lighter because his world has become bigger. Just watching his world open up again has been really, really great.”
– Jodie, DSW
Sheridan agrees: “He’s not limited. Like all of us, he’s a person and deserves to do what he wants to do, when he wants to do it.”
Michael puts it simply: “Leon has an A+ support team. Great support starts with caring and compassion for others, and all involved should be very proud of what they’ve put in to help Leon achieve his goal and enjoy life.”
Lucy agrees: “Collaboration, open discussion and person-centred care results in really great outcomes.”
For Leon, this isn’t just about pancakes. It’s about freedom, access, inclusion, and being part of his community on his own terms. With the right support around him, more doors are opening every week.
Early in his career, Matt was told: “Community support doesn’t have to be a miracle. It just has to matter.” For Leon and his team, it clearly does.
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