This was Jodi’s response when I asked her why she jumped at an opportunity to become a trainee Support Worker with We Care NSW. This was twelve months ago. On Friday night Jodi was a finalist for the Hunter and Central Coast Trainee of the Year award.
In completing the traineeship, Jodi combined being a support worker for several participants as part of the Community Access team and studying a Certificate III in ‘Individual Support’. Along with a family to organise and care for this was no mean feat.
The ever-self-depreciating Jodi took it all in her stride. As a self-confessed micromanager she cares for her broader family and takes the time to speak up about anything that can be done better, even if it is out of her field of control. This is what makes having Jodi on your team more than worthwhile. She makes a positive difference wherever she goes.
Breaking down stigma, accepting people for who they are and celebrating even the smallest milestones with her clients represents a normal day at work for Jodi. At We Care NSW we focus on Psychosocial disability. An often-unseen disability which impacts a person’s ability to fully participate in life, requiring support to overcome the barriers to social inclusion. Psychosocial disability may restrict a person’s ability to:
- be in certain types of environments
- concentrate
- have enough stamina to complete tasks
- cope with time pressures and multiple tasks
- interact with others
- understand constructive feedback, and
- manage stress.
Working closely with those experiencing Psychosocial disabilities has made Jodi realise a few things. It has made her feel confident in her belief that all disabilities are a superpower. But ultimately it has made her realise that we all pigeonhole people, even without realising it. She praises the support of her manager for giving her support to get through a hard day, our training coordinator for talking to her about We Care after recognising she was the perfect fit, and her trainer from Lead RTO in undertaking her requests to change the way she presented class material for easy absorption.
Give Jodi another twelve months and she hopes to have completed her Certificate 4, but her focus will also be on her participants whom she sees as an extension of her family. Congrats Jodi for everything you have achieved.
If you are looking to join an organisation that can support you or you wish to be considered for a future traineeship in Support Work then please get in touch - https://www.wecarensw.com.au/about-us/work-with-us
