They say when one door closes, another one opens, and newly recruited Disability Support Worker Julian Miller is a firm believer in that phrase.
Julian first came to Minda to study the Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) through the SA Learning Centre, but with a keen interest in gaining more experience he put his hand up to become a volunteer.
“I wanted to get more experience and get to know some of the clients and staff,” Julian says. “I was in the music and drama section at MyPath and joined in with the music sessions with Jazz.
“Jazz has a great repertoire of music and was really engaging clients with what he was doing, and he just asked me to join in, we even had one of the clients Shannon who would sing.”
I just want to do a good job and further the progress of every client and while the future is unknown, we’ll just take it one step at a time.
While also completing his training modules and lectures, Julian’s volunteer time would turn out to be limited.
“It was a great experience but as I was about to start there was a lockdown. That was just before my placement for a month in accommodation, so it worked out that after I’d finished the placement and had completed the course, I ended up with two Tuesdays at MyPath.”
His previous working lives including nursing and teaching English and Julian has now added Disability Support Worker to his credentials, recently starting in community accommodation in the south.
“A friend at Minda suggested I do the certificate course and I’m very happy that I took it on,” Julian says. “I’m still learning, so I am getting to know staff and clients and I’m very impressed with the way things are run.
“I just want to do a good job and further the progress of every client and while the future is unknown, we’ll just take it one step at a time.”
