Ellie McInerney, who was born with a mystery paralysis, graduated from school last year and is learning to cook so she can one day have her own place.
She is undertaking the Cook, Eat, Repeat program run by Kathryn Doudle, who started out making meals for people unable to cook for themselves.
Ms Doudle said that given cooking was a key health factor for many NDIS clients, she had decided to empower her clients with the new program, handing over the apron and kitchen utensils so they could learn to fend for themselves.
"They're gaining confidence and independence, the capacity of living on their own, because eventually their parents won't be around and eventually they might want to leave home and this is a basic life skill," she said.
Ms Doudle said food was medicine.
"When you eat well you feel well, and some of your symptoms may even disappear," she said.
"To teach these people how to cook for themselves in a healthy way using fresh ingredients, not using packet stuff and not relying on takeaway products, it's going to be a win-win for everybody — and for the health system too."
She said some clients were relying on fast food takeaways for meals.
"That's what I'm hearing, and that makes me sad, because that food is not going to make them well. It's full of chemicals, full of salt, sugar," she said.
Director of NDIS service provider Empowrd, Bec Kolpondinos, said there was a growing demand for home-cooked meals.
"It could be a case of grown people with a disability still living at home with their parents, then one of their parents might go into aged care or even pass away, and often the participant doesn't have the ability to prepare their own meals or healthy options," Ms Kolpondinos said.
"So quite often they're just accessing takeaway foods, anything that can be delivered, so just pretty non-healthy options."
The introduction of healthy meals encouraged some clients to "look at their whole health".
"We've got a few who previously lived on takeaway food. Now they're accessing these meals and they're wanting to get out and about more, go to the gym, or for walks," she said.
"It's making a difference."
Carer shortage
Ms Kolpondinos said the NDIS has created possibilities, but smaller regional towns were hampered by a shortage of support workers to help implement plans.
Born with a motor-neuron weakness of unknown cause that affects her legs, Ms McInerney gets around the kitchen using mobility aids and can work standing at benches.
She said the cooking lessons had made her more independent.
"Hopefully, if I'm living by myself, I can cook for myself and cook something healthy, rather than something simple," she said.
Her mother Nardine said the cooking made a big a difference to Ms McInerny's self-reliance.
"We want her to have the independence to be confident to go about life like everybody else would — confidently, independently, and not having to rely on other people," she said.
"It's just fantastic that she can cook for the family."
