My day is centred around supporting participants to work towards their individual goals, particularly around employment, independence and participating in the community. No two days look exactly the same. I might start the day checking in with participants, reviewing their goals and planning the activities or supports we need to provide. I could then be supporting participants with practical skills such as communication, travelling in the community, organisation, workplace skills, confidence, social skills or preparing for employment. A big part of the role is building positive relationships and getting to know each participant – understanding their strengths, interests and what motivates them. I also work with families, employers, support networks and other services where appropriate.

I have a Bachelor of Primary Education and a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, along with several years of experience working in education, Learning Support and community-focused roles. My experience includes supporting children with diverse learning and support needs, developing individualised strategies, building positive relationships and working collaboratively with families and other professionals. I have also worked as a Learning and Support Teacher and in a teaching role, which has strengthened my skills in communication, behaviour support, goal setting and adapting my approach to individual needs. I also bring strong Aboriginal community experience, including working with Aboriginal students, families, Elders and community organisations to promote culturally safe and inclusive environments.

What drew me to Bunji is the opportunity to use the skills I have developed through teaching, Learning Support and working within Aboriginal communities in a different way. I really enjoy supporting people to recognise their strengths, build confidence and achieve things they may not have thought were possible. In my teaching and Learning Support roles, I have seen how important it is to understand the individual, build trust and then break goals down into achievable steps. I was also drawn to Bunji because of its focus on supporting people to participate in their community and work towards greater independence. My connection to Aboriginal community and my experience creating culturally inclusive and supportive environments is something I would really value. For me, it feels like a natural progression where I can take my skills in communication, relationship building, advocacy and individualised support and use them to make a meaningful difference in participants' lives.

The role is focused on people, relationships and helping participants achieve their own goals. What I enjoy most about my work is seeing someone build confidence and achieve something that may initially have felt difficult for them. Through teaching and Learning Support, I have learned that progress can look different for every person, and sometimes the small steps are the most important ones. I also really value the opportunity to work within a team and build genuine relationships with participants, families and the wider community. My Aboriginal background and experience working with Aboriginal students, families, Elders and community members is another part of the role that really appeals to me. I think Bunji would allow me to bring together my skills in teaching, support, communication and community engagement while continuing to learn and grow myself.

I can support Bunji participants by building positive, respectful relationships and helping them develop the skills and confidence they need to work towards their individual goals. My teaching and Learning Support experience has given me strong skills in breaking tasks down into achievable steps, adapting communication to individual needs, using visual supports and providing encouragement while still promoting independence. I understand that every participant will have different strengths, goals, communication styles and support needs, so I take a person-centred approach rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. I can support participants with practical skills such as communication, organisation, community access, social skills, problem-solving, following routines and preparing for employment or further education. I also help participants identify their strengths and interests and use these as a starting point for building confidence and engagement. My experience working within Aboriginal communities is also important. I can build culturally safe relationships, listen to participants and families, and work respectfully with Aboriginal community members and services. Most importantly, I encourage participants to have a voice in their own goals and decisions. My role is not be to do things for participants, but to support them to develop the confidence, skills and independence to do things for themselves.

I really enjoy being involved in swimming and the local community. My daughter is a competitive swimmer, so I spend a lot of time at swim carnivals and supporting her goals. I’m also involved with Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club, where I help with social media, fundraising and connecting with local businesses. I really enjoy the community side of swimming – seeing people of different ages and abilities come together, supporting each other and celebrating their achievements. I think it has also taught me a lot about persistence, teamwork and encouraging people to have a go, which are qualities I bring into my professional work as well. I also love reading.

If I could have any superpower, it would be a combination of teleportation and being able to eat absolutely anything without getting sick! I love travelling and trying different foods, so imagine being able to teleport anywhere in the world, try all the local food and never have to worry about getting sick afterwards! I could have breakfast in Paris, lunch in Bali and still be home in time for dinner. It would definitely make travelling a lot easier.