Interview With My Support Worker

Meet Nadia

Hello everyone, welcome back to my little space on the Internet. I am loving the feedback on my piece from last week about therapy especially the messages about people implementing the go-bag or the window of tolerance into their routines.

This week, I wanted to bring you into the world of support work and how it helps me function every day, as a person with cerebral palsy and anxiety. I conducted an interview with my support worker, Nadia, who I've worked with since November 2019.

Nadia works with other clients who have a wide range of disabilities. This interview is mainly based on our experience working together, how our time together is, but each client has a different set of circumstances, and she is brilliant at balancing us all and making sure she is there for us whenever we need it.

I have been to Nadia's baby shower and her son's birthday parties. We are friends who work together. That's not always the case for everyone, but I am so grateful for the relationship we do have. There is always a time to be friends and times I need to rely on her as a support worker to get through the day.

Nadia's last day before maternity leave, meeting her son for first time, meeting GFlip, Barbie Movie

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Meet Nadia.

How long have you been a support worker for, and what were you doing previously?

I have been a support worker since mid-2019. I was a receptionist for a short time, and from 18 to 25, I worked in bars and restaurants.

What made you want to switch into support work?

I kind of fell into it. I didn't know it was something I wanted to do. I started to do my Cert 3 in education, and I was doing a teacher's aid course. I was paired with a few of the kids who had learning disabilities (both diagnosed and those awaiting a diagnosis), and I really liked it.

What were the next steps you took to become a support worker?

I started to get my police check and everything: my blue card, my yellow card, and my first aid and CPR, and I thought I'd have a go at joining on Mable, the profile where anyone can put up a job, (eg. I need someone to clean my house and cook some meals) and I - the support worker - can apply for it.

How did we meet?

Through Paul—my physiotherapist and Nadia’s husband—when I was working as a receptionist and had only done a couple, maybe five or six, different jobs with different people, adults and children with different disabilities, and we met at the front desk, Paul was treating you for physio, and we got talking that you were looking for a support worker.

What is our average day together?

It is usually two days a week. One of the days is usually coming to yours, doing a little general clean. Bedroom, kitchen, laundry, and then we go to physio. These days we've started to drop little Billie at doggy daycare, and then we go for like a little outing to get out of the house and get some fresh air and sunshine.

days spent in the sunshine

Six years in, we are still finding the balance on how to structure our days due to my fluctuating energy levels.

I am still learning when to encourage you and when to just be aware that you have had a bad sleep and that today is just a chill day, and so just being flexible to whatever suits your needs best.

What change have you seen in me since we started working together?

Oh my gosh, so many. You have just blown me away with your incredible endurance and willpower for your health and well-being mission that you've been on to better yourself, and you no longer have your dietician appointments or have therapy as regularly as it used to be. It's just so cool over the time we've been together to see how well you've pushed through all those different types of challenges and come out on the other side.

So, as everyone knows here, I'm anxious. So, what type of things have you helped me push through?

In the beginning, when it was pretty constant, there were a few things we went to. We made it maybe like 15 minutes into pottery. We went to Abbie Chatfield, and we made it like 10 minutes in. I am always reminding you that you still got that far, and that it's not a fail, even just 15 minutes is so big when you're in that state of panic and anxiety. There's always another day, and there are always other things that we can try again.

What is the most fun thing that we've done together?

I think we're very similar that our fun is just sitting at the beach and just enjoying the waves and the sunshine and getting a smoothie. In terms of bigger things, we have gone to concerts (Louis Tomlinson in 2021 and Harry Styles in 2022). We saw the Matildas play and went to a silent disco. Many painting classes, watercolour classes, and we have been to cafes. They were really big things for you a few years ago, things to get through.

seeing Harry Styles, attending a silent disco, at Matildas v Brazil, at Louis Tomlinson

What have you learned about the disability community since you've started working as a support worker?

The world is not accessible enough, there's so many things still that that people with disabilities are fighting for to have the equal rights that I didn't realise until I've supported people. It's opened my eyes a lot. I felt like I knew the basics, but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done.

What advice would you have for anyone reading who is looking for a support worker? What are your top tips?

I think you should listen to your gut instinct. Obviously the first couple of times you might be a bit nervous, and you know you're feeling each other out still, but be open and give them a chance, and if it's not the right vibe, then share that.

What advice would you give to anyone reading that wants to be a support worker?

You need some physical strength for, in our case, lifting the wheelchair in and out of the car, or I have helped you get up after a fall and there's the moving the cleaning equipment around. It's just like any job where you show up and you give 100% and you're helping that person in their life with things that they can or can't do, and they might be vulnerable.

You need to have grace and compassion and understanding and to be empathetic. This a job where you can create community not only with amazing clients but their families who have opened their home to you. Sometimes it feels like you're this distant cousin that hangs out and helps them with their life, I think is pretty cool.

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I hope you enjoyed the interview, and it gave an insight into what support work is and how it helps me every day. If you have any further questions, leave them down below, and I can answer them for you.