Mandy Morris - Certificate III in Individual Support

I am one of the founding members of Cape Byron Playback Theatre Company and I am also one of The Curly Cousins, Coco, the red one. I have a creative arts background and have studied acting, visual arts, creativity arts therapy and massage. 

I love living in this part of the world but as most of you are well aware, finding enough employment here is a challenge. This challenge led me to Byron Community College in search of a career that allowed me to be my authentic self. A job where I could utilize my creative background in a meaningful way. I had a sense that I would find this in support work.  To be honest at the time, my life and the course challenged me and I seriously wandered if I was going to make it to the end and get my certificate. My friends were all amazed that I didn’t drop out. As a creative artist, it was not the sort of learning I was use to and I fought against it. But I hung in there and held onto my vision. 

To cut a long story short, I did my placement at Red Inc and I now have a great job there. As I have relaxed into the role of support worker in their day program, my experience has deepened. I love my work. I get so much satisfaction from theconnection with my clients. I get to sing, dance, draw, facilitate music sessions, playact, take clients swimming etc. Every day is different and every day I get to make a deference.   

I would like to acknowledge the college for their support, the teachers, as well as an amazing bunch of fellow students. They really helped me get through. I feel such gratitude. 

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