2022 Allevia Annual Report

Ideal Team Player
Interview with Isabella Eid
I’ve been working with Allevia since Feb
2021. I know my calling in life and passion
is to be there for other people and make a
difference in their life, even if it would be
for one day. I love working face to face with
people, getting to see people grow, learn,
and make me laugh. It is what makes every
shift so enjoyable. I have built a rapport
with each person, getting to know them
and how situations will affect each of them
differently. The saying “If you do what you
love, you’ll never work a day in your life” is
the way I feel with my position in Allevia and
the difference I’m making.
Having been a youth worker in a previously
position has allowed me to build resilience
and maintain a sound mind when put in
situations where I must think on my feet.
I realised during COVID lockdowns that
everything had become so routine. As
workers we were distracted from our role of
supporting people to achieve their goals and
reach their potential. We were working so
hard all the time on keeping people COVID
free that we could only achieve the absolute
essentials. The weather this year also hasn’t
helped, making it difficult to support people
to get out and be part of their community
and engage in their life. Our meetings where
new staff and older staff share ideas on
what we should do to support people to
engage in their home life as well as social and
recreational activities are really important. It
is better already now we can walk along the
beach on the weekend, actually go shopping
again and support people to pick their own
healthier food options.
Seeing people change or do things
differently is what makes coming back
every shift worthwhile. Recently I supported
a gentleman at his 40th birthday party with
his family. His sister was so happy with
how the day went and my support of her
brother that she emailed my supervisor
complimenting me on the care I took with
my work. To have my work acknowledged
by the family like that is the sort of thing
that just makes everything worthwhile.
I don’t set out to be an example for other
workers. I have always just let everyone
know that I will say something if I believe the
people we support are not getting the quality
of service they should. I am committed to
following the strategies in people’s plans, and
vigorously convey to my fellow workers the
importance of adhering to the strategies the
specialists have recommended in people’s
plans.
I do what I do because I want to be there
for others, I want to make a difference
and make life enjoyable for each person I
support. When I come to work, I am here
to dance with the people I support, talk to
them, and make them smile, take them out
of the house and do something they enjoy.
“I’ve learnt these skills and gained this
knowledge from the life I’ve lived. My
understanding has come from dealing with
teenagers, raising babies and children but
most of all having a heart that just wants
to make a difference, that wants others to
enjoy life and to live it to the fullest.”
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