For Blake, the heart of Yindyamarra Care begins with his brother, Shane.
The Story Behind Our Passion
Inspired by Shane
Behind Yindyamarra Care is a story that is deeply personal to Blake and his family.
Blake’s brother, Shane, lived with Friedreich’s Ataxia, a progressive genetic condition that affects the nervous system and can impact movement, coordination, speech and overall physical ability.
As Shane’s condition progressed, he eventually became a wheelchair user and faced challenges that would have been difficult for anyone to navigate.
But Shane was never defined by his disability.
He was defined by the way he lived his life.
Shane had an incredible determination to make the most of every opportunity and to live life to the fullest. He faced challenges with strength, courage and a determination to keep moving forward.
He became a passionate advocate and mentor for people living with disability and used his own experiences to help others. Shane was also a public speaker for a number of organisations, sharing his voice, his experiences and his message with others.
Shane’s legacy
For Blake, watching his brother navigate life with a disability had a profound impact.
It showed him the importance of genuine support, dignity, inclusion, opportunity and having people around you who believe in you.
It was through Shane that Blake developed a deep and personal understanding of the importance of supporting people to live life on their own terms.
Shane’s determination, advocacy and the way he lived his life became a lasting inspiration for Blake and ultimately helped shape the passion behind Yindyamarra Care.
Today, Yindyamarra Care carries a part of Shane’s story forward.
We have the privilege of continuing the values he stood for, advocacy, inclusion, dignity, independence and the belief that disability should never limit a person’s opportunity to experience a meaningful life.
Continuing Shane’s legacy
The care we provide is deeply personal to us.
When we support someone, we think about the kind of support, respect and dignity we would have wanted for Shane.
We want the people we support to feel heard, valued, respected and empowered.
We want to encourage people to discover their strengths, pursue their interests, build their independence and experience opportunities that are meaningful to them.
And we want to walk alongside people through the challenges as well as the achievements.
Shane’s story is a part of who we are.
His determination continues to inspire Blake.
His advocacy continues to influence the way we think about disability support.
And his legacy continues through the work we do every day at Yindyamarra Care.
We are proud to carry that legacy forward.
