Neuroaffirming Support Workers in Canberra

Nikita is a Support Worker at Social Living Solutions, who joined the team in 2022. She's passionate about providing compassionate, individualised support that recognises each person's strengths, preferences, and unique way of experiencing the world.

Drawing on her own lived experience of ADHD and autism, Nikita brings a genuine, deeply informed understanding of neurodivergence to her work. Her approach is strengths-based and neuroaffirming, focused on helping clients feel understood, respected, and empowered to be themselves.

Nikita is trained in Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid, and has completed specialist training in neuroaffirming support practices, giving her the skills to provide emotionally safe, responsive care during periods of anxiety, emotional dysregulation, or change. With a long-term goal of becoming a counsellor, she's committed to continually growing her skills.

Whether she's helping a young person build confidence, supporting someone to participate more fully in their community, or simply providing a calm, accepting presence, Nikita's approach is grounded in connection, trust, and empowerment, giving her clients greater choice and confidence in their everyday lives.

Outside of work, Nikita enjoys her dog and cat, craft projects and aquariums, and getting out on her motorbike. Her curiosity and enthusiasm carry through into her relationships with clients.

Nikita is proud to be part of the Social Living Solutions team, helping build a more understanding, affirming community for neurodivergent people and people with disability across Canberra.

Alicia is a Support Worker at Social Living Solutions, where she brings warmth, dedication, and a deep belief in the power of individual strengths to every client relationship.

Currently studying a Bachelor of Social Work, Alicia completed a placement at a primary school in rural Victoria, focused on supporting and advocating for neurodiverse students.

She has a particular passion for working with children, especially since receiving her own ADHD diagnosis in early adulthood, and hopes to help children access the kind of positive, understanding support she wasn't able to find in her own experience growing up.

She believes everyone deserves the right support to build confidence and realise their potential, and she finds great meaning in helping others reach their goals.

Alicia is trained in Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid, and has completed specialist training in neuroaffirming support practices.

Combined with her social work studies and firsthand experience of ADHD, this gives her a strong foundation to provide respectful, strengths-based, and emotionally safe care to neurodivergent individuals and families across Canberra.

While Alicia is open to exploring different fields within social work, she remains deeply committed to disability support services and the positive change they can bring to individuals and families.

Outside of work, Alicia enjoys reading, socialising with friends, and discovering new restaurants, events, and activities around Canberra. Her curiosity and love of connection carry through to her role at SLS, where she builds strong, trusting relationships with clients and families.

Alicia is proud to be part of the Social Living Solutions team, contributing to a more inclusive, empowering world for neurodivergent children and their families.

Lily Dwyer is a Support Worker at Social Living Solutions, where she brings a strengths-based, person-centred approach to every client relationship.

Currently studying a Bachelor of Social Work, with the goal of going on to a Master's in youth and young adult mental health and maternal mental health, Lily has always been drawn to supporting people with visible and invisible disabilities, neurodivergence, and mental health experiences in ways that promote independence, confidence, inclusion, and self-determination. She particularly values strengths-based approaches and is committed to recognising neurodivergence as a strength, working alongside individuals to identify their goals and build genuine independence and participation in their communities.

Lily's interest in disability and neurodiversity is shaped by her own lived experience of neurodivergence, ADHD, and anxiety. With the right support, she gained a better understanding of herself, discovered learning styles suited to her needs, and built a toolbox of neurodivergent-friendly approaches that continues to grow. She draws on this firsthand understanding, alongside core social work theories including strengths-based and person-centred practice, to support neurodivergent individuals and families across Canberra.

Outside of work, Lily enjoys true crime podcasts, getting lost in a good book, and going down fan theory rabbit holes for her favourite shows.

Lily is proud to be part of the Social Living Solutions team, contributing to a more inclusive, empowering world for neurodivergent children, young people, and families.

Meet Cara, our newest (and smallest) team member in training. Cara is currently working with a registered animal trainer to become a certified therapy dog, with her formal assessment planned once she turns 2 years old.

What we love about Cara so far: she's steady under pressure - happy to keep working through loud trucks, vacuum noise, and even fireworks sound effects without losing her focus on the people around her. She's learning to read social cues with other dogs, building the patience and impulse control that make a good therapy dog, and she genuinely lights up during play. She takes gentle handling - paws, collar, the works - in her stride, which matters for the work she'll eventually be doing with people.

She's still a puppy in training, not yet a qualified therapy dog, but she's building exactly the right foundations: calm, food-motivated, engaged, and resilient.