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Feeling lost and lacking purpose, Mary says she confided in a friend who happened to work at Just Better Care Hills
to Hornsby.
After listening to Mary’s story, her friend encouraged Mary
to apply for a Support Worker position at the same office.
“I thought about it, and
I thought it would be good assisting people in the community, so I applied for a
She soon realised that as
with older people or those with neurodiversity, her disability clients needed the same type of personal care – shopping, cooking and domestic assistance - that she’d provided to her daughter and Reg.
After a few months in the role, Mary says she realised that while some days are harder physically and mentally, she was happy in her work and was buoyed by the knowledge that she was helping
her endeavours, granted the opportunity from Just Better
Care Hills to Hornsby to undertake a Certificate III in disability and aged care in the community.
It has now been over six years since she first joined the Just Better Care team as a 59-year-old, and Mary says she has few regrets about her decision.
With the option of working buddy shifts for personal care, Mary says she has met many
“I have learnt so much and am still learning, because every client has a different story, and circumstances are different.”
position. I had no qualifications
at the time, but the local Just Better Care office put me through a thorough orientation, trained me and helped me gain the skills required for the role. I’ve never looked back!”
Every client has a story
Mary says initially she had no idea what to expect as she had no experience working with those who live with disability.
to make the lives of others that much easier.
“I’ve learnt so much and am still learning, because every
client has a different story, and their circumstances are different,” she says.
A rewarding career
Four years ago, Mary – who has added four grandchildren, and a great grandchild to her family – was officially recognised for
wonderful carers, and made “many, many lovely friends. I’ve had many clients that I’ve formed a wonderful bond with over that time. You become a part of the family when you have regular clients. You put
a smile on their face and make a difference to their lives. This is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had in my life. My only regret is that I didn’t start this type of work earlier in life as there are so many people out there that need us.”
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