Read Sarah's True Story about working in the disability and community care sector:

"I work at the Australian Foundation for Disability (AFFORD) as a Team Leader for the Community Participation Program, Jamisontown. The Community Participation Program gives adults living with disability the opportunity to learn valuable life skills such as cooking, shopping and using public transport, whilst also having a great time with music, art, sport and community activities. Each person in the program is encouraged to be the best they can be and to have fun while achieving their goals. Jamisontown has 20 clients and 6 staff.

I haven’t always worked in disability. When I left school I went to Business College and became a secretary, progressing after 5 years or so to the level of executive secretary in a company which manufactured metal cutting tools. While I really enjoyed the work, I was over the office politics and felt I needed to try something new.

Growing up, my grandmother had lived with us all my through my childhood and we had cared for her, and my mum spent her working life as a Registered Nurse in an aged care facility. I was familiar with the industry and I thought I’d give it a try. I began working in a nursing home and studied to gain a Certificate III in Aged Care. I’d always respected older people and I found the work there really enjoyable.

I progressed to community work in aged care, then I worked with people who had paraplegia or quadriplegia, and then I worked in respite and accommodation for children and adults. Across those years I completed a Certificate IV in Disability. 5 years ago I started with AFFORD..."

Read Sarah's full carecareers story or learn more about frontline support roles in the disability and community care sector.

"I’ve been working with people with a disability since I was 14. As a lot of adolescent girls do, I was babysitting for extra pocket money, in Armidale, where I grew up. One of the kids I was babysitting turned out to have a disability. When I was 14 and 9 months (thus officially able to work) I got registered as her respite carer.

Now, 13 years later, I am a Case Manager for the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Mary MacKillop Outreach.

After I finished school, I started uni and was working in home care to get me through study. But I thought I was only doing it til I got a “real job.” I ended up moving to Sydney because I got a “real job” as a personal assistant in a big office in the city, but I lasted my 12 month contract and then I was gone so fast! It turns out I am not suited at all to office work like that. It was really dull. I went straight back to work in the disability and community care sector.

For me, the sector is a safe space. As a rule the staff I’ve worked with are more socially aware and accepting. You can be as gay as you like, have whatever colour hair, be from any cultural or religious background... Just do your job well..."

Read Emily's full carecareers story or learn more about frontline support roles in the disability and community care sector.