Testimonials
My Time at Taldy
Taldy has helped me with my life skills such as paying off debts and paying bills on time and they also helped me save money which is something I thought I could never do. Taldy has helped me limit my drug addiction which is fantastic so I now I have more money.
Taldy has also helped me deal with family issues, which in general, used to make me agro but I now have a better understanding of what my problems are and how I can fix them.
They also helped me make friends in environments I would have never imagined myself in. Thanks to Taldy pushing me to do something with my life, I’m now a lot happier and now I have more friends but most of all
" they never gave up on me like my family did."
My Stay at Taldy
I heard about Taldy through a case worker at the hospital, so I thought I’d give it a go and see what it was all about. …Everyone was younger than me; I feel I acted more immature to try to fit in with the others. I got on with most of the residents and didn’t feel the age gap because we all had fun together.
I suppose some workers here saw me as lazy, but I don’t like to think of it like that. I see myself as slightly unmotivated and I’m also still in the recovery stages of my illness so I try not to stress myself out too much as I don’t want to relapse.
I feel I’ve come a long way since first arriving at Taldy. I’m more settled and slowly gaining back motivation. My week is structured and I need this to help me through.
There have been a few setbacks but it turned out that in most cases these experiences helped me grow as a person. I’ve been pushed a bit there and although at the time I did not like it, looking back, I can see it was all for the best and the workers here only want the best for me.
I have enjoyed my time at Taldy ……..and believe it’s helped me grow as a person, I’m really grateful for that.
I never really thought I could gain so much from living here. ……..”
Testimonial from Juvenile Justice
… thanks for the assistance provided from Taldumande this week. Three days ago we found ourselves with the physical care of a young women of tender years whose mother refused to take her home. We exhausted all placement options…
Taldumande came to our rescuse and that of the young woman. I understand she was not an easy proposition but it was important she be accommodated somewhere urgently until exigency plans could be made.
I have been hugely impressed by the service and staff at Taldumande. This was another good example of putting young people’s real needs first.
Manager, Sydney: Dept Juvenile Justice
Reflections of a parent...
Four healthy, beautiful children – tick; Stable marriage – tick; Family support – tick; All grandparents alive – tick; No sickness in the family – tick; Secure job – tick; Annual holidays – tick; Parent participation in every conceivable school activity – tick. We are not rich but we are a happy family or at least we were until life changed for all of us because of one child. The impact was immense.
Trouble became the order of the day, first at school, then at home, then his job, then the police. Psychiatrists, physiologists, councillors, medication, additional activities, programs, you name it - we tried it… but life for this kid became “too hard” and we were all struggling to find answers.
So what went wrong – we don’t know and still don’t know. But what we do know, is Taldumande Youth Service provided an urgent release. The police youth liaison officer had referred Taldumande to us. We were desperate and were still dealing with the shock of having to talk with police on a weekly basis. In the space of 12 months and at 16, our son had left school and had been dismissed from his first real job. Our son had turned away from his family and found some new friends, alcohol and drugs.
Our case worker (Suzi Pawley) immediately realised the gravity of the situation and the potential impact on the other siblings. She showed genuine compassion for our son, while still acknowledging that the current situation of living at home couldn’t continue. Her ability to gain his trust and present the situation in a way in which he accepted his shortcomings, faced his problems and accepted solution strategies was quite amazing. Nothing of course is that easy and although many of our son’s issues continue to exist, he has been able to find a network which he can trust and gives him on-going support in accommodation, work and life skills which we as parents were not able to achieve. We see him regularly and he appears happier and more self confident.
This is still very early days for us and the road will be long, however we are and will be forever thankful to Taldumande and its caring staff.
