Getting a taste for a disability support career with Yooralla

Eleven potential new disability support workers completed the first intake of Yooralla’s Disability Support Work Taster program in the last week of February. Participants, who came from a variety of backgrounds and roles, attended three days of free training.

On day one, participants learned about the role of a support worker and different types of settings they may work in. Day two built on this by introducing the person-centred approach, and the group participated in a range of activities to give an understanding of active support. Participants also heard from clients, including Yooralla Neurological Services client, Janine, about what qualities she looks for in a disability support worker. Of particular importance to Janine was a commitment to supporting her to live the life she chooses. They later interacted with the people Yooralla support during visits to several Yooralla locations, including residential services in Box Hill, Vermont and Carnegie and Community Hubs in Box Hill and Noble Park.

The Taster Program is a free introductory training program designed to help people understand more about what disability support work involves and to find out if it is something they might like to do. A second Melbourne metropolitan Taster program intake starts this week, and we look forward to meeting a new group of people who share our interest in supporting people with disability to achieve their goals.

Yooralla is always recruiting for disability support workers across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, and we have current vacancies for people who are looking for great work/life balance and a rewarding career.