Last year I finished my Certificate III in Disability and obtained a statement of attainment. This year, I'm looking forward to finishing my Certificate IV as I only have a few modules left, which I’ll hopefully finish before the end of February. I really enjoy the extra work and the knowledge I am gaining, so I think the next step will be a diploma.

I’ve always liked studying but somehow I enjoy it more when studying with colleagues. Ideas are bounced around the room and because we all work in the field of disability, it seems easier.
 
I have always liked to challenge myself at work too so I’ve developed a few goals this year.

For a long time I've wanted to teach a few staff members how to work our papermaking machine and to do bookbinding. I think it's a great idea to share skills and knowledge at work - everyone benefits. Staff members can learn a new skill for themselves and they can then teach it to our clients.

We have our planning days at work soon. At these planning days we usually work through the aims and goals of our clients and discuss procedures too. This year, I've also been given the opportunity to teach some of my skills to other staff members, in some training sessions.

I will also learn how to screen print in another training session, which I've wanted to learn how to do for a while as I'd like to show our clients how to make different designs for Skills Options' annual Christmas cards.

My manager has come up with a great idea that will incorporate our handmade paper with a print for our Christmas cards this year, and while I know it sounds wrong to be talking about next Christmas already it usually takes a whole year to get the artwork ready for our art exhibition and cards!

I'm lucky that my employer provides many training opportunities and as a result I am currently studying four components of a Certificate III in Disability, and I have also enrolled to do a Certificate IV in Disability.

I'm also studying for my Certificate II in Auslan (the language used by members of the deaf community in Australia), but I'm thinking I might defer that until next year.

Last week I also had the opportunity to attend a course on dementia. I didn't have a great deal of knowledge about dementia before doing the course but I'm now more knowledgeable on the subject.

The most fulfilling part of my job is the interaction between the clients and myself. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I can help someone with a disability achieve a goal or even complete a task. My job as a Support Worker is not perfect but I must say that when I go to Music at Midday, lunch in the park or visit the pub for a social gathering in the afternoon, I feel like a bit of a fraud because I’m getting paid for it!
 
I do admit that working with clients with difficult behaviours is sometimes very challenging. I learn every day and some days when we have experienced challenging behaviours from a client, or a few clients at the same time, I take a deep breath and just get through the day. We have a great team of staff members that all help each other so I don’t feel alone or isolated.

I like to keep my roster fairly full and also change some activities at planning days. This keeps my interest, as previously the longest job I have stayed in is 2.5 years. I am now into my third year as a Support Worker.