From Challenge to Comeback: What Nick Santonastasso Taught Me as an NDIS Support Worker
As an NDIS support worker for RVP Care Services, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside people as they navigate some of life’s toughest challenges and emerge stronger. But every now and then, a story comes along that shifts your perspective in a profound way. For me, that story was Nick Santonastasso’s.
I first learned about Nick thanks to Nadia De Silva, Director of RVP Care Services based in Pakenham. She shared his inspiring journey with our team during a professional development session. It wasn’t just moving, it was a reminder of what we, as support workers, are really here to do.
Nick’s Story: Defying the Odds
Nick was born with Hanhart syndrome, a rare condition that left him with no legs and only one arm. Doctors gave him a 30% chance of survival. But Nick didn’t just beat the odds, he transformed them. He’s now a bodybuilder, motivational speaker, and author, using his platform to help others build resilience, purpose, and self-belief.
One line from his philosophy really stuck with me:
“Focus 10% on the problem, 90% on the solution.”
In this line of work, that’s not just a mindset, it’s a lifeline.
What Nadia Helped Us Understand
When Nadia spoke about Nick, it wasn’t just about what he’d achieved; it was about how he got there. She talked about how his parents allowed him to struggle, to fall, and to learn because that’s where real growth happens. That really resonated with me as a support worker. It’s so easy to want to protect the people we support from hardship, but sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is walk beside them, not ahead of them.
Nadia also explained how our team uses Nick’s story in our own work to reinforce the importance of mindset, language, and belief systems. It reminded me that we’re not just supporting physical needs, we’re helping shape how people see themselves.
Helping Participants Reclaim Their Story
In my role, I’ve supported people through many different kinds of adversity physical limitations, emotional challenges, and barriers that can feel overwhelming. But I’ve also seen how the right support can spark transformation.
At RVP Care Services, where I’m proud to be part of the team, we focus on more than just providing care. We help our participants take ownership of their journey. We work alongside the participant to identify personal strengths and passions, exploring what drives them to see what’s possible; we put them in touch with people best equipped to help navigate the confusing and oftentimes frustrating system that is the NDIS, such as the Support Coordinators at our sister company, iDeal Care Services; and we help to promote choice in control in everyday life.
Through promoting and helping to facilitate independence, we support our participants to feel more confident to take ownership over their own stories and lives.
The Real Meaning of a Comeback
Nick’s story reminded me that disability doesn’t define a person; their mindset does. And as a support worker, I’ve learned that the most meaningful victories don’t always look like big milestones. Sometimes they’re quiet moments of courage: asking for help, trying something new, or showing up when it’s hard.
Comebacks aren’t just the stuff of motivational speeches. They’re happening every day in this job, in living rooms, therapy appointments, support meetings, and community spaces. They’re happening when someone believes they can, maybe for the first time.
And being part of that? That’s the reason I do what I do.