A true role model

Laveda went from feeling lost and struggling at school to becoming an incredible role model. NASCA and her family empowered her to believe in herself and gave her the confidence to chase her dreams.

It is no exaggeration to say that 15-year-old Laveda is one of the most determined and resilient people you are ever likely to meet. 

The Dunghutti and Gumbaynggirr young woman, currently in year 10 at Kempsey High School has been part of the NASCA program for four years now, and in that time through sheer grit, hard work, and determination, has completely turned her life around. 

“I was a bit of a stir-up muck-around in years seven, eight and nine. I was suspended a couple of times, I was getting caught up in drama, I wasn’t going to class, I was getting stressed out and upset,” says Laveda. 

Then something shifted. Laveda was on the precipice of beginning her senior years at high school. She saw what her future could be if she kept traveling down the path she was on, and in that moment she decided to turn things around. 

“I want to be somebody. I want to achieve my goals of going all the way to year 12 and uni and getting my dream job as an Occupational Therapist, so at the end of year nine I just put my head down and focused on school,” says Laveda.

But it wasn’t just her career goals that motivated Laveda to change, it was the constant support she had gotten from her Nan and Pop and NASCA that helped her forge a new path.

“Without my Nan and Pop and NASCA, I’d be lost, completely lost if I’m being honest. They’ve been by my side, and that’s helped me turn my life around,” says Laveda. 

Looking back on her earlier school years Laveda recalls those times when she relied on the support of NASCA to get her through. 

“NASCA has been pretty amazing for the past four years, when I’d get in fights they would pull me away, when I wasn’t going to class they would make me go. I knew I could always go down to NASCA if there was something wrong. It’s safe there, and calm. I can talk with Aunty Misty or Aunty Marcia and they won’t judge you, they will let you be who you are and will respect you.

“If I didn’t have that support from NASCA I’d probably be expelled right now,” says Laveda.

“It’s amazing, to see how she has grown and built this resilience from year seven to now, she has grown into a mature young lady who has her goals, she has changed her life around and hopefully, she will just keep growing,” says NASCA Team Leader Misty Kelly.

Laveda’s Pop, Uncle Eddie agrees.

“When she first came to us she was one troubled girl in a mixed-up world, we looked at her and she was in a mess, now look where she is today.”

“NASCA and my Nan and Pop have shown me how to be a role model by showing me that I just gotta believe in myself and if I want to be somebody I can, I want to make them proud because they made me feel safe, they’re pretty special to me because they gave me that special feeling and family love,” says Laveda.

Today, Laveda is a true role model, not only in her family but in NASCA, at school, and in the community.

“This job can be very challenging, a lot of our kids are like Laveda, and they come from trauma and intergenerational trauma so having that support and structure and stability can make that whole difference. It leads to successes like this, seeing Laveda grow into a strong, resilient young woman who is a real leader, that’s the best part of the job, it makes all those hard times worth it,” says Misty.