Disability support worker case study – Clinton and Denise

Clinton:

Hi, I'm Clinton and I'm a disability support worker.

So, I've worked with Denise for the past six months, and

I'm always sitting there watching her do art and

just having casual yarns to her, yeah,

making a cup of tea and stuff, she loves that.

Denise:

Clinton's support means everything to me

because if I didn't have it

I wouldn't be walking around smiling,

I wouldn't be able to do the paintings that I do.

I'd be still in my house shutting down,

locking all the doors,

pulling down all the blinds,

shutting off the whole world.

I think the reason why Aboriginal people

are suited for these carer roles

is because they are one of us,

they know,

because they've seen it through their own family,

so who better to take care of you

then someone who actually knows,

who lives it too when they go home.

Clinton:

This job personally rewards me because

every day you come to work

and don't know what you're going to do,

so, some days you go fishing,

some days you go surfing,

some days you're helping someone out

or sitting at the hospital with someone,

so you never know, it's always like a humbling experience

and yeah, you just never know.

Denise:

I think people who want to support me,

the skills they need,

would have to have a heart of gold,

they could have their mistakes sure,

but always willing and were able and ready to be there

when they're needed,

that don't think it as a chore,

but see it as

just looking after Aunt,

that's another family member, it's no,

not really a job at all.