Nour Ladkani

• At With Light, I work as both an Independent Support Coordinator and a Psychosocial Recovery Coach, supporting NDIS participants to build capacity, navigate services, and achieve goals that reflect their values, strengths, and long-term vision for recovery.
  As a Support Coordinator, my role is to: Assist participants in understanding and implementing their NDIS plans, connect them with appropriate services, providers, and community supports, problem-solve service gaps, build crisis plans, and advocate for their needs, and build each participant’s ability to exercise choice and control in all areas of their life. As a Psychosocial Recovery Coach, I bring a mental health-informed, person-centred approach that goes beyond coordination. I:
  Walk alongside participants living with psychosocial disability to support their recovery journey
  Work collaboratively with clinical teams, families, and natural supports
  Support skill-building in areas like emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and independence
  Help participants set and work towards recovery-oriented goals, including social connection, employment, and meaningful activity
  Across both roles, I am guided by the principles of trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented practice, and cultural sensitivity. I take pride in providing consistent, ethical, and empowering support that upholds each person’s right to live with dignity, autonomy, and hope.
  Being independent means I’m not tied to any particular service provider. This allows me to advocate solely in the interest of the participant, ensuring that all supports are genuinely tailored to their needs—not just what's available.At With Light, I work as both an Independent Support Coordinator and a Psychosocial Recovery Coach, supporting NDIS participants to build capacity, navigate services, and achieve goals that reflect their values, strengths, and long-term vision for recovery. As a Support Coordinator, my role is to: Assist participants in understanding and implementing their NDIS plans Connect them with appropriate services, providers, and community supports Problem-solve service gaps, build crisis plans, and advocate for their needs Build each participant’s ability to exercise choice and control in all areas of their life As a Psychosocial Recovery Coach, I bring a mental health-informed, person-centred approach that goes beyond coordination. I: Walk alongside participants living with psychosocial disability to support their recovery journey Work collaboratively with clinical teams, families, and natural supports Support skill-building in areas like emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and independence Help participants set and work towards recovery-oriented goals, including social connection, employment, and meaningful activity Across both roles, I am guided by the principles of trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented practice, and cultural sensitivity. I take pride in providing consistent, ethical, and empowering support that upholds each person’s right to live with dignity, autonomy, and hope. Being independent means I’m not tied to any particular service provider. This allows me to advocate solely in the interest of the participant, ensuring that all supports are genuinely tailored to their needs—not just what's available.
• Skills: Disability Rights · Support coordination · Job Coaching · Strengths Development

As a senior hospital social worker, I worked across high-acuity settings including cardiology, ICU, neurosurgery, vascular, brain injury, trauma, and general medicine, providing advanced psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, and discharge planning for complex patient presentations. I led care in subacute rehabilitation, stroke recovery, and falls management, where the slower pace enabled deeper engagement and long-term planning.
I regularly supported critical incidents such as cardiac arrests, trauma alerts, and domestic violence, often while on overnight on-call duty, balancing this alongside a demanding full-time role. I provided crisis counselling, risk assessment, and rapid coordination with community and legal services during these acute events.
I played a key role in NDIS and aged care discharge planning, including preparation of detailed reports and advocacy for NCAT applications around guardianship and financial management. My work involved navigating ethically and legally complex situations, always grounded in social justice and patient-centred practice.
As a senior team member, I supervised university social work students, conducted job interviews, and supported junior staff through informal mentoring. I was frequently consulted by colleagues for guidance on sensitive, high-risk cases, especially involving mental health, drug and alcohol use, homelessness, or family breakdown.
I worked extensively with multicultural communities, ensuring culturally safe care through interpreters and culturally responsive planning. My role was built on strong clinical judgment, leadership, and a commitment to delivering compassionate, holistic care in the most critical moments.

As a hospital social worker, I supported patients and families across subacute rehabilitation, stroke and falls management, aged care, mental health, drug and alcohol, palliative care, and discharge planning involving the NDIS. I worked closely with multidisciplinary teams to complete psychosocial assessments, provide emotional support, and develop safe, person-centred discharge plans.
In the subacute setting, the slower pace allowed for deeper engagement, holistic care, and advocacy for rehabilitation and community reintegration. I supported patients adjusting to life-changing conditions like stroke or functional decline.
In aged care and falls management, I addressed risk factors such as isolation or unsafe housing, coordinating referrals to My Aged Care, home care packages, or residential care. I regularly supported patients through the NDIS process, preparing reports, evidence, and urgent submissions to secure essential supports.
In mental health and AOD, I provided crisis intervention, risk assessment, and problem-solving around housing, capacity, and family conflict. I also contributed to NCAT applications in cases involving guardianship, financial management, or accommodation decisions—ensuring vulnerable patients had appropriate legal protections and advocacy.
In palliative care, I supported end-of-life planning, family meetings, and culturally sensitive care. I worked with multicultural communities using interpreters and culturally appropriate practices to ensure dignity and inclusion. Report writing, ethical practice, and a strong commitment to social justice were central to my role across all settings.

In my role as an intern Community Rehabilitation and Support Worker at Neami National, I supported individuals with complex mental health needs under the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI)—a program designed to assist people to live independently in the community with stable housing and psychosocial support.
Working within a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and person-centred framework, I provided goal-focused support tailored to each participant’s NDIS goals or recovery needs. I worked collaboratively with consumers to develop and implement individual support and recovery plans across key life domains, including housing stability, community participation, physical and mental health, and capacity building.
My responsibilities included:
Delivering psychosocial support through both outreach and in-home services
Supporting skill development in areas like daily living, social connection, budgeting, and tenancy maintenance
Facilitating group-based programs and promoting access to community, health, and NDIS-funded services
Maintaining accurate case notes and contributing to risk assessments, recovery planning, and team reviews
I worked as part of a multidisciplinary team, alongside clinicians, peer support workers, housing providers, and external stakeholders to ensure coordinated care and holistic support. Through this work, I developed strong skills in NDIS navigation, collaborative care, cultural safety, and strengths-based practice—all highly transferable to NDIS support coordination, case management, and social work roles.

As a Social Work Volunteer at Braeside Hospital, I supported patients and families within a sub-acute and palliative care setting, working alongside qualified social workers to provide compassionate, person-centred care.
Key responsibilities included:
Offering emotional support and a calming presence to patients facing serious illness, end-of-life, or rehabilitation
Assisting social workers with psychosocial assessments, family meetings, and referrals to community services
Providing practical support such as helping families navigate hospital systems and access information about aged care, NDIS, or palliative care options
Supporting patients from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, with a strong focus on dignity, respect, and empathy
Observing and learning about grief and loss support, advanced care planning, and the ethical considerations involved in complex discharge planning
This role helped me develop skills in active listening, crisis support, and interdisciplinary teamwork, while deepening my understanding of social work in healthcare, particularly within palliative and geriatric care contexts.

Whilst completing my degree, I worked as a Support Worker at Hireup! In my role as a Support Worker, I supported NDIS participants to build independence, increase social inclusion, and achieve personal goals through community participation and capacity-building initiatives.
Key responsibilities included:
Assisting participants to engage in meaningful community-based activities, including recreational programs, educational workshops, social outings, and volunteering
Supporting the development of communication, social interaction, and decision-making skills
Encouraging participants to set and work toward personal goals aligned with their NDIS plans and individual interests
Promoting confidence, community engagement, and inclusion, especially for individuals at risk of social isolation
Maintaining accurate documentation and progress notes using strengths-based, person-centred language
Collaborating with families, allied health professionals, and service providers to deliver consistent and effective support
Applying the principles of empowerment, dignity of risk, trauma-informed care, and cultural safety in all aspects of practice
This role strengthened my capabilities in NDIS support delivery, participant engagement, and capacity-building support, while helping individuals actively participate in and contribute to their communities.

As a volunteer at Youth Off The Streets in Bankstown and Merrylands, I supported vulnerable and at-risk young people—many of whom faced challenges related to homelessness, family breakdown, mental health, substance use, and disengagement from education or employment.
In this role, I:
Engaged young people in a safe and supportive environment, offering emotional support, mentorship, and a consistent positive presence.
Assisted with the delivery of drop-in programs, including recreational activities, life skills workshops, and community events aimed at fostering social inclusion and trust.
Helped serve meals, maintain a welcoming space, and provide access to essentials such as clothing, hygiene items, and referrals to external services.
Built rapport with young people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, many of whom had experienced trauma or systemic disadvantage.
Worked alongside youth workers, case managers, and other volunteers to promote protective factors and reduce the risk of harm or disengagement.
Through this experience, I developed strong skills in youth engagement, trauma-informed practice, active listening, and cultural competency, while gaining insight into the complex social issues affecting young people in Western Sydney.

During my social work placement, I gained practical experience in Community Palliative Care and Older Persons Mental Health, working with multidisciplinary teams to support individuals with complex medical, psychosocial, and emotional needs.
In Community Palliative Care, I:
Provided psychosocial support to individuals and families facing life-limiting illness
Conducted needs assessments, emotional support sessions, and assisted with advance care planning
Liaised with nurses, doctors, and allied health staff to ensure holistic, person-centred care
Practised sensitive communication around grief, loss, and end-of-life transitions
In Older Persons Mental Health, I:
Supported clients with conditions such as dementia, depression, and psychosis through person-centred interventions
Observed and contributed to case reviews, capacity assessments, and mental health care planning
Engaged in risk assessments, safety planning, and discharge coordination alongside the clinical team
Advocated for older adults’ rights, autonomy, and access to appropriate community resources
Across both settings, I applied trauma-informed, strengths-based, and recovery-oriented principles. I developed my skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical decision-making, and cultural responsiveness, while deepening my understanding of ageing, chronic illness, and mental health in vulnerable populations.