A little about me.

What inspired you to become a Support Coordinator?
I am very passionate about working within the community. I started out working as a support worker and quickly worked out that this was the industry I needed to be in, I find so much joy in helping others achieve their goals. I see Support Coordination as an opportunity to connect the dots between various services and ensure that individuals have a clear pathway toward achieving their full potential.

How long have you been working in this space, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I have worked within the disability sector for just over three years now. What I enjoy most is working with my clients to help them build their capacity and give them the opportunity to show what they are capable of. I also like to see their journey from where they have started and how far they have come. I also find satisfaction in finding the right community support programs that align with my participants goals, as it really shows the community support that's accessible to help people with disabilities.

What types of support services do you specialise in or have experience with?
I have a strong background in helping clients get into open employment. I am very skilled at helping develop my clients and providing the right kind of support networks needed to get to a place where the individual is ready for employment. I have worked with a range of different types of barriers such as different types of physical barriers, developmental, and I have worked very closely with people with complex mental health conditions. Each individual is unique and I am experienced in building great relationships with my clients, getting to know them, and working together to achieve their goals.

Can you tell me about a particularly rewarding or memorable experience you've had while assisting someone?
One of my most memorable experiences would be when I was working closely with one of my participants with finding her employment. My client was very experienced but lacked confidence.  At the time She was also in the process of getting dental work done to get new teeth. Unfortunately there was a miscommunication with the dentist she went through. She thought she was getting a whole new set of teeth, when in fact they were only pulling out her old teeth and then needed to wait 18 months to get her new dentures. My client started to slowly decline in her heath as she was very limited on what she could eat. I was able to find a student dental program, where they were able to fit a new set of teeth for her within 3 months time. The confidence this gave my client was amazing to see. From this we were able to find her dream job, relieve some financial burden now that she was earning an income, but also watch her quality of life change. Something I will never forget.

Are there any resources or programs you find interesting and beneficial for a lot of your participants?
I like to reach out to a lot of community programs that can help with socialising and build confidence and let individuals express themselves. Like art classes, photography, and meditation and yoga. These programs can help build up the individual's capacity to reach their desired goals.

What do you believe are the most important qualities for a Support Coordinator to have?
I believe that it's important for a Support Coordinator to have empathy, patience and understanding. The right Support Coordinator really needs to get to know their participants and be passionate about helping you achieve your goals and live your best life.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Any hobbies or interests you’d like to share?
I enjoy spending quality family time with my fiance and two children. We love being outdoors spending time at the beach, supporting them with sports activities. I love organizing family and friends getaways and making memories.

Tell us something we don’t know, but need to know?
A couple of years ago I did charity walk called Coastrek for Beyond Blue. It was a 30km walk from Mooloolaba Beach to Noosa Heads. It took 8 hours to do and by the end of it I literally could not walk. It was a great achievement, and our team raised over 2K but I don't think I will be doing that one again.