A story of resilience, despite every hurdle
Justine’s story is the epitome of resilience at every turn.
She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2011, a chronic disease that she watched her mother battle from when Justine was just 10 years old.
“We were always told MS wasn’t hereditary, and yet, here we were. My neurologist told me that I’d never be able to work again, and that I should probably try to find a hobby,” said Justine.
Justine’s struggles didn’t stop there. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, Justine underwent three different heart surgeries and was then diagnosed with three different cancers in 2016.
“Throughout all of this, I had been engaged, and that fell apart. I went from an amazing, well-paid job to nothing. I started feeling an anxiety that I’d never quite felt before.”
Despite all the hardships that Justine had to overcome, she’s still managed to pull through – throwing herself into the world of business and even being awarded the Geelong Business Leader of the Year, making her the first person with disability to win.
Justine credits a lot to her success – her resilience, her hard work and maybe most importantly, her use of art therapy.
The power of art to provide purpose
Justine has always had a keen eye for painting.
“I’d always wanted to paint, and when I was diagnosed with MS, it felt like the perfect time to start. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to walk through the art studio door – it was three or four months of contemplation before I finally got into it.”
Once Justine got started in the painting world, she took to it like a duck to water.
“It changed my whole life. I started with the MS-specific art classes at a community center, and I was the youngest attendee by 25+ years, but I was hit with an immediate sense of relief as soon as I got started.”
Justine eventually entered an exhibition and sold her first piece of art for $300. That was the ultimate game changer for the way Justine viewed herself.
“It felt like a million dollars. Suddenly, I’d made my own money. I felt like I could contribute to society, especially from a cultural point of view. It really revolutionised the way I felt about my worth from that point on.”
Disability Expos as an avenue for independence
As our ambassador for this year’s Geelong Disability and WorkAbility Expo, Justine views these events as a one stop shop for people with disability.
“You can go and talk to providers and get a feel for what everyone’s like. Sure, you can go online and look at different providers, but you won’t have that real connection that you get when chatting to someone in person.”
Ultimately, Justine is a huge advocate for believing in yourself, not what others might tell you.
“In 2011, my doctor should have told me “You will have to work differently”, not “you will never work again.” That was his false belief, not mine. Don’t let someone else’s false beliefs sway you on what you can and can’t do.”
“You need to go into employment with the mindset of adapting and modifying. It’s okay to accept that life might look different now, but having the strategies in place that you need is the key to a flourishing, full life.”
The Geelong Disability & WorkAbility Expo brings together countless support options for people with disability, their families and the wider community. Hundreds of exhibitors will come together to demonstrate their services, including assistive technology, support work, plan management and more.