Who we are

Sonia Payne is a accredited Social Worker having graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2003.

Following graduation Sonia spent time working in rural Western Australia, the United Kingdom and Perth developing her Social Work skills in areas such as palliative care, rehabilitation, general surgery and burns . Finally settling into the role of Senior Social Worker within the Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit of Shenton Park and subsequently Fiona Stanley Hospital where together she worked for 16 years. Sonia’s passion and speciality is Acquired Brain Injuries- particularly supporting those individuals  with high care needs. Sonia has worked with hundred’s of families and their carers and has great networks within the ABI community. More recently Sonia has developed her skills in supporting those with spinal injuries and amputations also.

Sonia knows the challenges facing clients with newly acquired disabilities and how a new diagnosis can impact on a person's entire network. She has extensive experience in assisting individuals move from hospital and back into the community, ensuring that they have the resources and supports that will allow them to achieve their own personal goals.

Over the last 5 years Sonia has been working as a Specialist Support Coordinator and Case Manager. Refining her understanding of the NDIS, legislation and processes. She is well adept in the areas of Home & Living, Reviews, Planning Meetings and reporting.

Sonia founded “Stepwise” with the understanding that NDIS is a very complex system. Life following a acquired disability can be overwhelming for both the individual and their loved ones. Sonia’s number one goal is to be side by side on this journey, to help make that road a little less bumpy and navigate systems with professionalism, ethics and a good resource base.