Watching clients grow and achieve their goals is the best part of the job for Mentoring Team Leaders Jessica and Hannah.
Jess and Hannah are newly appointed to the Team Leader roles in our Mentoring program, which supports more than 200 clients in accessing the community.
Jess had been previously acting in the Team Leader role, while Hannah has moved across to Mentoring from MyPath.
They both love that “no two days are ever the same” in Mentoring, which pairs clients with a disability support worker (mentor) who matches their interests and personality. Mentors help clients explore new hobbies, develop new skills, enhance social participation, and achieve goals in their NDIS plan.
“Mentoring is all about providing support out in the community, with activities that work towards the goals of the client and which create greater independence,” says Jess, who has worked as a mentor herself before becoming stepping up to the leadership role.
“It’s a really fun job and most mentors really love their job because it gives them an opportunity to be a little bit creative and use their initiative to help people grow and reach their goals.
“A mentor basically supports our clients to be the best version of themselves and that’s a really rewarding job to do. Now in the Team Leader role, I get to support the mentors to support the clients, and for me that’s especially rewarding.”
The client’s whole day is about what they love and enjoy, about what they want to do. That one-on-one attention makes the client feel a bit special, feel looked after, that their hopes and goals can be achieved.
Hannah says she enjoys seeing the rapport clients have with their mentors.
“That one-on-one rapport clients have with their mentors, sometimes it’s quite incredible when you see the confidence and growth in someone because they really have the chance one-on-one to shine,” Hannah says.
“The client’s whole day is about what they love and enjoy, about what they want to do. That one-on-one attention makes the client feel a bit special, feel looked after, that their hopes and goals can be achieved.
“The mentors work to ensure the goals are reached in a way that works best for the client – it can be anything from venturing out for a pub meal through to learning to ride a horse or doing yoga or getting some exercise.
“We support some really wonderful people and helping them reach their goals is something pretty special.”
Mentoring Team Leaders Hannah and Jessica.