Gosh the ACE training family is growing fast!
Today we welcome the fabulous Bridget Wickert, our new Diploma of Community Services trainer and managed to get 3 quiet minutes to take a little behind the scenes look at her career. Thanks Bridget for sharing and being such a good sport on your first week.
ACE: What’s your career journey looked like Bridget?
BW: Well I worked in educational and larger service settings as a teachers’ aide, supports coordinator, direct support worker, teacher/facilitator and a self-managed consultant. Plus I also had the opportunity to lead a small community development team.
My interest and motivation is to work with people with disability, to help them achieve their goals. I think this comes from my strong sense of social justice, commitment to inclusive practice and a belief in seeing difference as uniqueness.
ACE: You’re delivering our Diploma of Community Services course. Can you tell us what a typical day might look like for people employed in the sector with this level of qualification?
BW: Working with community, coordination of support, assisting people, planning and plan management are the critical elements. You would also be listening well to people, supporting clients and their families to essentially do for themselves wherever possible and ensuring we are respectful of our role in being of service to people.
ACE: Is there ever a dull moment, and can this lead to something else?
BW: If you are passionate and really interested in seeing people live good lives then you won’t ever be bored.
A Diploma in Community Services can lead to support coordination, LAC (Local area coordinator) in the upcoming NDIS and possibly options to move into management level, advocacy, teaching or facilitation – the career pathways are really endless and the rewards are great, both professionally and personally.
