Despite spending a decade and a half away from Doomadgee, when David chose to return to his remote gulf community, he found many opportunities for connection. Not only did he still have friends and family in the community, but he also found new ways to meet people he had never met before.
Alongside stepping up to assist Doomadgee’s preacher at the local Gospel Hall church, David also began working as a Support Worker with My Pathway Disability Supports. Both roles have allowed David to rapidly build on his existing connections, and he is loving the opportunity they both provide to give back to his community.
These connections and the growing impact David has had in Disability Supports led to his promotion late last month to the team leader position in the service there. This is a significant step, not only for David, who has already been able to lead growth in the program, but for our organisation also as we have always aimed to develop the communities in which our supports are situated.
As outgoing team leader Liz Kyle eloquently put it, “My job here was always to do myself out of a job! [in David] we have found the ideal local person for this local role.”
David’s caring and nurturing nature is seen in his seven children, including one who has been receiving NDIS supports for some time. This not only gives David lived experience in the sector, but also solidifies his drive to ensure supports are tailored to individual participants.
This has been his greatest achievement so far, demonstrating how male Support Workers enhance the program and community outcomes. He has quickly built bonds with Elders he remembers from his childhood and is ensuring supports are able to be delivered in culturally appropriate ways to both male and female participants.
By leading by example, David has already mentored new recruits including Mark Murray into support worker roles, and with new capacity the availability to match and deliver supports to more of the Doomadgee community continues to grow. He is also hoping he can help participants better access other supports like Allied health services when they visit the remote community. Through tailored and comfortable connections with participants, David and the team will support participants to meet with external providers and improve the outcomes for all.
“A lot of people look up to David, he has the respect of the community, and it warms my heart to see him stepping into this vital role,” Liz concluded.
Congratulations David, we look forward to seeing your influence in this program continuing to make an impact for the people of Doomadgee.