Hi, I’m Cassie Despinidis – the Founder and Practitioner here at Nearish Support!

I’m a proudly multiply neurodivergent, chronically-ill social worker creating support that doesn’t expect you to mask, push through or show up in a certain way to access it.

I bring both professional experience and lived/living understanding of navigating systems, support and self. People who I work with often describe me as warm, compassionate, knowledgeable, and passionate yet gentle. 

I’m a qualified social worker and have worked across the mental health, NDIS and disability advocacy spaces for the last while. I’ve supervised mental health support worker teams, developed and delivered training, and supported people to try to navigate systems that weren’t built for (and also actively work against) them.  

As a social worker, my approach is based on human rights and social justice - always. My approach is trauma-informed, strengths-based, neurodiversity and gender affirming. Understanding and embracing difference, and our intersectional identities is at the core of my values as a human being.

I’ve created Nearish Support because support shouldn’t demand that someone show up in a certain way, hide parts of themselves or perform to access care. You shouldn’t have to pick up a phone if that’s a barrier. You shouldn’t have to let someone into your home if it drains your batteries. Support should adapt to you - not the other way around.