I have worked on Skills Options, at Kurrajong Waratah for three and a half years – for me that’s a record! As you can probably guess, I really like my job. It took me a long time to realise that I wanted to work with people with disabilities. In the past, after working in a job for a few years, I usually wanted to change and try something different, but now I’ve found a job I like.

In this post, I want to write about Carolyn, the manager at Skills Options. She is very supportive in her role and she now has the distinction of being my longest ever boss!

Carolyn has worked with people with disabilities for many years. Caz, as most of the staff calls her, has lots of ideas and knowledge to share. Some days are very challenging but with a supportive manager some situations seem easier.

She once told me that sometimes when you hit a wall you need to become like water, and then you just find another way around – this stuck with me. Sometimes this is what it’s like working in the field of disability. I know that if I have a problem, Caz is there for me to help sort it out or to give me another perspective. Caz will step in and do part of another staff member’s roster if needed and I know that she wouldn’t ask us to do anything that she’s not prepared to do herself.

 I admire Caz for the person she is but also her sense of humour. I enjoy her stories about things that have happened in her life. She thinks that she’s not very good with small talk but I think we all can dispute that. Sometimes humour alleviates stressful conditions and I believe a sense of humour is important when working in disability sector.