From pharmacy to complex support: "It's the best decision I've made"

Kimberly signed up to Hireup this year as an account manager for her daughter Jessica. It would be the first time in 12 years that Jessica would receive support, and they “couldn’t be happier.”

“I'd gotten to a stage where I needed help so that Jess's world isn't so dependent on me. Jessica and I are together 24/7 so it was nice to have someone come in and be able take over,” says Kimberly. 

One of the workers Kimberly chose was Donna, who has been supporting Jessica since June this year. “Out of probably 30 or 40 people on Hireup [in my area], I selected Donna, we had a meet and greet. She met with Jessica. Then we slowly started. I just think it's fantastic. Jessica finds it a bit difficult to get to know people, but with Donna she just had a connection.”

“Donna came in and started straight off with personal care, showering and brushing teeth, that sort of thing. Then Donna did Hireup’s online training, so she started to provide bowel care [support] as well. Donna was also able to feed Jessica.”

“Donna walks in the door on time, starts her shift and doesn't stop working until the shift is up. Jessica's a funny girl and she's very habit-forming and Donna just seems to understand her.”

It’s for these reasons that Kimberly nominated Donna for a Hireup Good Life Award. 

“I’m excited to be in the top 24,” says Donna. The shortlist for Hireup’s Good Life Awards was announced in late September, recognising 24 Hireup support workers from 700 nominations. 

“I’m loving it,” says Donna. “I fit and gel really well with Jessica. I want to help Jessica out, but mainly also for the family.” 

Before joining Hireup as a support worker, Donna managed several pharmacies. Then, when COVID-19 arrived, she was made redundant. Donna was encouraged by her daughter, a previous Hireup support worker, to join. 

“I always knew the service and that she [my daughter] absolutely loved it. She said, ‘Mum, you should do it, you would be good.’ I was scared to leave my full-time job. But when it happened, I thought ‘You know what? I don't want to go back into pharmacy anymore, I want to do something that I really will love.’ It’s the best decision I've ever made.”

For Donna, her enjoyment comes from being part of the growth that Jessica is making. “The progression that she's made only in the few months that I've been one-on-one with her I can really see and her mum can really see it too. Jessica couldn’t walk very well, but now, even the other day she got up and started walking by herself, and I'm like, ‘Oh!’. She's just becoming really independent. I love it.”