“[My sister] reminded me of my dreams of becoming a counsellor and encouraged me to enrol in a counselling course,” says Ryan.
After returning to Australia a few days before COVID hit,the pandemic gave Ryan plenty of time to reflect. She paused her counselling course,but knew she was ready to find more meaning through work.
Caring for her sister had shown Ryan the rewards of supporting someone with their daily living,so she enrolled in a fee-free certificate III in individual support in ageing and disability with Macquarie Community College.
‘There is a beautiful satisfaction that comes from seeing the joy in your participant’s face,it’s an appreciation that you will never get sitting at a desk job day in day out.’
Beverley Ryan
Next,a work placement with therapy care in Blacktown,NSW,led Ryan to her first job in her new career as one of the organisation’s disability support workers.
“There is a beautiful satisfaction that comes from seeing the joy in your participant’s face,it’s an appreciation that you will never get sitting at a desk job day in,day out,” Ryan says.
Retraining taught her how to undertake the role and empower the individuals she would go on to support.