2022 Allevia Annual Report

all the internal departments. I had to be on my
feet mentally, to cope with constant change
and when problems presented, I needed
to respond. I had to support customers,
educate them on how the systems worked,
advocate for them internally and intervene
for them when things weren’t working. I am
applying all these skills in my new role.
I can personally see myself doing this work
for the foreseeable future. While retirement
is a long way off, now that I have delved into
this line of work, I can’t see myself doing
anything else.
I am ‘experience hungry’
which means I am open to new opportunities.
I am also a details person, which I think is an
advantage in my new role where the reporting
and recording of important information
accurately is essential to be of benefit to
the people I support.
I would like to think my work has been
recognised because I respect and value the
people we support. I have had a great
mentor in Debbie my Team Leader, and
others in the ILO and Elevate teams. I have
had the wonderful opportunity to work
across the teams and enjoy the experience
and the teamwork it takes to deliver a great
service.
“I have learnt the importance of connecting
with each person, respecting, and valuing
them. Trust is hard to earn but easy to lose.”
Ideal Team Player
Interview with Lisa Baker
I started in 2004. I didn’t know anything
about disability. I was working in Home
Care. It was a long way from home, so I
applied at Allevia and was interviewed. I
started the next day. For the first three
months I asked myself what I was doing
here. My mother had memory loss but this
was very different. I had never dealt with
challenging behaviours before.
For many years now I have taken the guys
on train trips, and they pick which shopping
centre we go to. They do everything
everyone else does, like getting their hair
cut, buying new clothes and shoes and have
lunch in the food court. I take out three
gentlemen who have complex behaviours.
Because I have developed routines with each
of them, I can do it on my own, but I do have
to be very aware of the environment around
me. I have learnt to be aware of triggers
and pre-empt a negative reaction. I scan the
environment before we get to a potential
trigger.
On one occasion one gentleman’s
behaviours were triggered when I reminded
him the food he wanted was not suitable
because it could be a choking risk. He
promptly took of his shoes and threw them
across the food court.
I often discretely dismantle the food
chosen, cut finely the bits that could be a
risk and then put it back together. I check
all their food choices to make sure it is
not a risk. I strongly believe in supported
decision making even when the options are
unpopular e.g., meal recommendations in the
Mealtime Management Plans. I am very aware
of my responsibility to support people to
understand the need for caution with food
preparation and choices.