"I love helping people, and working with them as they formulate their goals and work out ways to improve their lives."

I started with ACSO around 4 months ago, working in ACSO’s Assertive Outreach Service (AOS) program. We work intensively with people who have complex needs and may slide between the cracks with other services. It’s a cohort of people who are real characters, each with their own story and their own ways of seeing the world.

I love helping people, and working with them as they formulate their goals and work out ways to improve their lives. I really enjoy being there by their side through all the ups and downs, working together to make meaningful differences in their lives.

I began my career by enrolling in a Certificate IV in Disability Support, at the time thinking that this qualification would be all I needed for the industry. Once I began in the sector, I found a real joy in the work I was doing working closely with clients. This led me on an educational journey, and I’m currently completing my last year of a Master of Social Work.

Before I joined ACSO, people in the industry told me the organisation offered a very supportive work environment, and within just four months working here I’ve learned it truly does offer an encouraging and positive team culture. Working somewhere that genuinely practices what it preaches is really refreshing.

Assisting people who have complex needs can often mean needing to think outside the box. I think the best part of my role in the AOS team is the infallible support offered by my teammates – particularly when we come together to brainstorm different ways we can better help the participants we work with. This role also allows us to work closely with other teams within ACSO, and learning from their diverse experience and knowledge really benefits our own daily work.

For me, ACSO’s motto of ‘Understand the story, support the change’ is about taking the time to truly listen to what the people I’m interacting with are sharing with me. It means making sure we are genuinely hearing their story and working with them to keep their story going and improving.