Central Coast-Hunter region support workers: Meet our dedicated team
Our support workers do amazing things every day. They support our clients in small and important ways, devoting themselves to a life of service and the rewards that helping others can bring.
Here, we get to know some wonderful people from our central team, servicing a large area of New South Wales that includes Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Wyong communities.
“Keeping someone at home has far more benefits for the client.” Melissa
"Just being there to help clients and to be able to meet their needs in staying home means a lot to me. Walking out the door and knowing I have made a difference and made their day.” Teresa
Melissa
New South Wales
How long have you been a support worker, and what have you learnt in that time?
I have worked in aged care for 36 years and I have been with integratedliving for 14 years. I have learnt that the quality of keeping someone at home has far more benefits for the client. There has been a lot of changes in the industry in 36 years.
What do you love about being a support worker?
That I make a difference with someone’s quality of life and being able to support and help keep them in their familiar surroundings for as long as possible. The benefit of keeping someone at home helps their longevity versus going into residential care. I also love that if the client has a carer, then I am helping by giving them some relief and a break.
What's the best part of supporting your clients, and what do they teach you?
You learn so much from their life experiences right down to their little expressions. Some of these expressions bring back so many memories from when I was a child.
If you take the time to sit down and listen to their stories and some of the challenges they’ve gone through in their life, it is just amazing, and you cannot possibly understand until you hear it for yourself.
Samantha
New South Wales
How long have you been a support worker, and what have you learnt in that time?
I started as a support worker with integratedliving in January 2022. In the time since I started I have learnt that I should have believed in myself and started in this great career a lot sooner than I did. Even though change is a bit scary, it has been the best decision learning new skills and putting my already learnt ones to use.
What do you love about being a support worker?
I love that every day at work is different. I pride myself in being adaptable and I love that I am in a job that brings that to my everyday life. Even if I am with the same clients every week, it doesn’t mean that I am doing the same thing, I love being there for people that need help and being able to do that in any way possible. I love meeting new people in clients and staff and working with a great team and a supportive manager in Sophie.
What's the best part of supporting your clients, and what do they teach you?
Every day my clients teach me something different. One of my favourite lessons from my clients is not to live life too fast – that even if you’re a bit slow at walking you take in all the sites on your travels and have a bit more of a chat. Not to rush through life. I think for a lot of our clients, they have pain and appointments to think about and I love if even for an hour I can help take their mind off that and talk with them about their families and their passions and their memories. I love seeing them light up telling me all about the things they have done in their life because they are amazing storytellers.
Amelia
New South Wales
How long have you been a support worker, and what have you learnt in that time?
I have been working for integratedliving as a support worker for a little over three years. In that time I have learnt a lot, the most important being how to be the best carer and support for our clients.
What do you love about being a support worker?
One thing I love about being a support worker is being able to help and make our clients lives that little bit easier with my help.
What's the best part of supporting your clients, and what do they teach you?
The best part about supporting our clients is seeing the smile on their faces when the service is done. During my time working as a support worker, I have met a lot of different people. One of the best messages I have learnt from them is to live your life to the fullest and smile because life is too short.
Teresa
New South Wales
How long have you been a support worker, and what have you learnt in that time?
I have been a support worker for four years now and before that in a nursing home. Being in the community, I have learnt a lot from the clients and met a lot of nice people as well. I get to spend more one-on-one time with the clients in community care, and at their speed and doing what they enjoy.
What do you love about being a support worker?
Just being there to help them and to be able to meet their needs in staying home. This means a lot to me. Walking out the door and knowing I have made a difference and made their day.
What's the best part of supporting your clients, and what do they teach you?
They can be very cheeky and learning about their past and what they a gone through. Also, the tricks of the trade from shopping bags and making beds, they really have fantastic ideas and I take home these ideas for myself.