Helen can’t help but smile as the people she supports sing praise and worship songs at the top of their lungs. “It just gives us great peace to start the day off,” she says.

Helen embodies Wesley Mission’s mission to continue the work of Jesus Christ in Word and deed. She often wears what she believes. Today it’s a T-shirt with ‘Trust in the Lord’ and earrings with ‘Relax. God is in control’.

A higher calling

“I feel like God put me here for a reason,” Helen confidently says.

Helen is the Support Lead at Wesley LifeSkills Woolooware, a disability day program in southern Sydney, which supports people with disability to become more independent. And every day Helen exudes joy.

“In everything that I do, I want people to see joy because I’m a real happy person. I want to create a positive space and through my joy, I hope I’m reflecting Jesus,” she says.

Around the centre, Helen has hung multiple canvases with positive messages to empower the people she serves and her colleagues.

“I have this sign here that has the ‘dis’ in disability crossed out because they are differently abled. I have another sign that says, ‘We rise by lifting others’,” Helen explains.

Finding her place

It’s easy to assume Helen has been supporting people with disability her whole life because of her caring nature, her dedication to helping people thrive and her strong communication and leadership skills.

But before Wesley Mission, Helen had worked in youth work, entertainment, events and administration. When she applied for a Youth Worker role and was offered a Support Worker position, she jumped at the opportunity to work close to home.

In just nine months, Helen’s career soared from Support Worker to Support Lead. When her former manager left, Helen saw a gap and filled it. Taking on responsibilities beyond her role, Helen began building relationships with the centre’s families and stakeholders, sending families photos of daily activities, coordinating activities and completing administration work.

“Helen started reconnecting everyone and sending these emails that I thought were brilliant,” says Hugh, Wesley Disability Services’ Operations Manager and Helen’s supervisor.

Helen also introduced new activities like hydrotherapy and themed activities for special events like NAIDOC week and State-of-Origin. Everything Helen’s done has improved the lives of people with disability.

“I want to introduce activities that cater to each person we support and incorporate who they are driving to be, not what we want them to be,” Helen says.

Going above and beyond

Going above and beyond is Helen’s mantra. When she discovered Dominica’s* passion for riding bikes, she secretly coordinated with Dominica’s mum, who provided the funds, to buy Dominica her dream bike from a local seller. Helen brought it back to the centre that same evening so Dominica could be surprised the next day. And indeed, she was.

“Dominica’s eyes lit up while riding her bike. So, we incorporated bike riding into Dominica’s day program,” Helen explains.

Helen is grateful for a recent opportunity to step into a managerial role under a four-month secondment. She’s also thankful for being nominated to participate in Wesley Mission’s Frontline Leadership program, a hybrid of courses and individual coaching and development for managers and emerging leaders.

“For someone who has never had any experience with disability, it’s been a huge blessing just seeing where God has taken me in the last year.”

As her secondment ends, Helen will remain in her Support Lead role but will work alongside the manager who oversees our centres in Granville and Woolooware. The position will give Helen valuable opportunities to grow as a leader and set her on the path to becoming a fully equipped manager. When necessary, Helen will also take on the manager role at any of our three Sydney centres.

“She’s achieved so much in just a few months because she’s a natural leader. She’s got a genuine passion for serving people and has the ability to walk together with clients, stakeholders and their families,” Hugh says.

*Name changed to protect privacy.