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Career changers from Newcastle are finding fulfilling work in the disability sector that is predicted to see a labour shortfall of 75,000 by 2022.
Jed Dickson, a trained engineer and psychology graduate, and Aaron Coote, a former Buddhist translator, are employed by two separate NDIS providers whose services are as diverse as the needs of the people who use them.
Mr Dickson is now a coach and coordinator at the Newcastle-based service provider Healthy Change Challenge (HCC), while Mr Coote provides his labour via a Sydney-based online platform that matches people with support workers based on interests.
Both men are happy in a sector that the Productivity Commission says will double to around 150,000 people, by 2020.
Trying to find the perfect match
When Newcastle woman Debbie Hamilton went looking for a support worker to help her with daily tasks, she knew what she wanted and what she didn't.
"The thing that I was looking for was not someone who was trained in mental health work, or would have pre-conceptions of and ideas about me," Ms Hamilton said..
Ms Hamilton, who receives funding for personal support, six hours a week, was looking for "someone with fresh eyes, so that I could just be myself and not be put in a box".
She went to NDIS provider Hireup, a Sydney-based online service that helps people with disability "find, hire and manage support workers who fit their needs and share their interests".
That's where she met Aaron Coote, a former translator and interpreter, now studying psychology at the University of Newcastle.
"I just thought 'God, this guy's interesting'," Ms Hamilton said.
According to Poppy Malone, head of community at Hireup, support workers are as "diverse and varied as the people and families seeking support".
"From sector professionals, to return-to-work parents, health care students, and those simply looking for new ways to share their skills and interests with the community."
Mr Coote said the work suited his schedule as a university student.
"Practically, it works for me as a university student, so that sort of flexibility is helpful," he said.
"But I also look forward to spending time with Deb, to get paid to hang out with a friend."
From engineering, psychology to support worker
Marnie Robertson has lost 17kgs since joining HCC, a Newcastle-based NDIS-funded program aimed at building the capacity of its participants through physical exercise and nutrition.
"I've changed from eating a great deal of junk food, now I'm buying hardly any of that," Ms Robertson said.
The 47-year-old Maitland mother has a range of disabilities, including ADHD, autism and some intellectual impairment.
"I've felt so lonely most of my life and if I'm not part of a group of some form I become more withdrawn and put myself down more," Ms Robertson said.
"It's hard to deal with but I have improved [and] I put it down to the HCC, and all the effort and time they put into everyone.
"The whole group has made a big difference in my life and I don't know what I would do without them."
Jed Dickson made the career change to disability support work after receiving degrees and then working professionally in engineering and psychology.
"The days consist of getting [participants] out and getting involved in some form of physical exercise session," Mr Dickson said.
"We then head off for a shopping session where the challengers choose what they're going to cook.
"I really enjoy being a part of the connection with people, and being able to see the part of the community that you're involved in, more so than office work."
Career changers part of the solution
Part of meeting the NDIS skills shortage would come from career changers, according to a Sunshine Coast academic Tess Parker.
Ms Parker told ABC Radio "direct care workers" would be in demand, as well as allied health professionals.
She said school leavers would do well to consider careers in these areas, but so too might people considering a career change.
"Tradies wanting to change the direction of their work, stay-at-home mums," Ms Parker said.
"For anybody who has the right attitude and aptitude and preparedness to walk alongside another individual, there's a huge need."
In 2017 the Federal Department of Employment predicted that 1 million new jobs would be created in the period to 2022.
Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott told ABC's 7.30 program the full rollout of the NDIS would be a major driver of new jobs.
But Ms Westacott predicted a crippling skills shortage "unless more funding is urgently returned to vocational education".
Topics: mens-health, mental-health, health-insurance, health-policy, disabilities, small-business, newcastle-2300