A job where you’re never bored

Andrew got his first experience in the industry as a volunteer at a respite camp for kids with disability but it wasn’t something he considered as a career.

But later, while studying music, he got a phone call from someone he’d volunteered with about supporting a young man with an ABI.

“I was working as a musician and photographer and lots of random jobs and also teaching

music at different schools,” he said.

“I was studying at the University of Melbourne and I got a call out of the blue.”

Andrew started working with a client who had been living a normal life until a one-punch attack left him wheelchair bound and “locked in’’ unable to communicate.

It was confronting at first but gradually Andrew said he started to learn how to connect with the man and his other talents including music played a part.

“I was really lucky because I got taken under the wing of OTs and speech pathologists,” he said.

“I brought my guitar and started improvising based on his facial expressions and over time we really made a connection.”

Andrew also started working on music with the client and writing a song together.

“From then I just realised that there was so much potential to help people be creative and not just sit there and hope someone talks to them,” he said.

Andrew continued working one-on-one with clients and didn’t see his role changing but at InLife he discovered there was room to grow career-wise.

“As an adult I was diagnosed with ADHD so I never thought I’d become a Coordinator because I found working one-on-one with people was so much fun,” he said.

“I never really considered it as I was enjoying myself so much, until during lock-down I was misdiagnosed with MS (he was having back problems) - that made me really think about my future and what I’d be able to do.”

“I’d been at InLife for five years and all the Coordinators I’d met were amazing people - I had never experienced that before.”

“I expressed interest (in a role that came up) and here I am having the time of my life.”

Andrew said one of the best things about working in disability was that it was never boring.

“It’s such a diverse role (as a coordinator) - there’s so many different things. I love being able to support a client and fill in shifts as well.”

Andrew said he loved using games to achieve goals or create a connection

“I think what is my favourite part is getting to understand the client and what makes them smile.”

He encouraged people, including men from other industries to consider a career disability.

The sector, similarly to aged care, is currently female-dominated.

“I think there’s so many different things you can bring to the job,” Andrew said.

“I think all those skills are so needed and I think if people bring their own passions into work and find those matches (with clients’ interests) they're going to have the best time of their lives.”