When employed in an industry that involves working with people and supporting people, we often need to bring little pieces of our own lives into the workplace. This is what helps us connect with the people we are supporting, their families and other colleagues.

Let me explain.

We support people better when we know who they are, what their likes and dislikes are, who their friends and families are, and what their dreams and aspirations for the future entail. It is not fair for a Support Worker to expect someone they are supporting to share all or even some of this information with them, if that support worker is not willing to share pieces of their own life journey in return. This is how relationships work, and although a support working role is a paid role, it is still a relationship which is built on a level of trust and understanding of both parties.

Relationships are part of almost every workplace, but it is the opportunities we have as Support Workers to really get to know someone that often draws people to the caring or human services sector. This also means that people employed in this sector need to ensure they have their own support networks around them. We become ineffective as workers when we don’t have avenues to seek out support for ourselves and replenish our caring, compassionate and empathetic thresholds. We risk becoming callous in the way we interact with and relate to the people we are supporting. This is why it is so important to have a sense of community and support between staff in the disability and community care sector.

Leaders within the sector need to be urging their teams to rely on, support, encourage and challenge one another. It is these intentional actions of a group of people that fosters a sense of community and allows it to grow. It is this same sense of community that creates an environment of appreciation and acceptance, an opportunity for people to lean on each other when they need support in their roles and even in life outside the workplace.

Current ways of thinking and practice are encouraging us to use person-centred approaches to supporting people. This same approach needs to be extended to our teams, our valued employees. Having a team that feel comfortable and safe in talking through challenges, sharing ideas and celebrating successes will inevitably lead to better support and satisfaction in the workplace. We have so many diverse people working in our sector, who impart a rich level of skill and knowledge. It is our role as leaders to ensure they feel supported in their roles, and continue their career in the caring or human services sector.