Sheila James

Hello, I’m Sheila James, Director of Inspired Lives Support Coordination, providing both Level 2 Support Coordination and Level 3 Specialist Support Coordination across Adelaide and surrounding regions.

I bring both extensive lived experience and broad professional experience across disability, mental health, child protection, corrections, education, and complex community systems.  Through both family and professional experience, I have developed a strong appreciation for the importance of culturally safe, respectful, and relationship-based practice when supporting Aboriginal young people, their families, and communities. My work is grounded in strong values around social justice, trauma-informed practice, relational care, and supporting people to live self-determined and meaningful lives.

Over the years, I have worked alongside participants with a wide range of support needs, including highly complex psychosocial, behavioural, forensic, and exceptional needs presentations. I have extensive experience navigating the NDIS, coordinating multidisciplinary care teams, advocating within complex systems, managing risk, and supporting participants and families through periods of crisis, transition, and instability.

I understand that navigating the NDIS and mainstream systems can often feel overwhelming, particularly when participants and families are already carrying significant stress. My approach is to walk alongside people in a way that is practical, collaborative, honest, and person-centred. I value building strong relationships based on trust, communication, professionalism, and mutual respect.

At Inspired Lives Support Coordination, I focus on delivering high-quality, relationship-based coordination that goes beyond simply linking services. This includes bringing teams together, strengthening communication between stakeholders, supporting informed decision-making, advocating where required, and helping participants build long-term stability, capacity, and quality of life.

I am currently completing a Bachelor of Social Work through Flinders University, with most units completed and expected completion in 2027.

 Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my children and our dogs, staying active, and finding balance by the beach whenever I can.

I feel privileged to work alongside the people and families I support and remain deeply committed to delivering coordination that is compassionate, ethical, responsive, and grounded in genuine human connection.