IDEAL Team

I’m a social person who likes spending time with my family and friends. Music is definitely my passion. I play the bass, rhythm and electric guitar and often spend my weekends playing in bands around the Mackay area. Although I don’t play any physical sports I am a rugby league fan and enjoy watching the games on TV and love catching a live game occasionally too. I also enjoy fishing especially when you are catching lots of fish. I used to work in construction but three years ago decided that I would have a career change and have been supporting people ever since. I thoroughly enjoy helping people achieve their goals no matter how big or small.   I like to joke and laugh a lot. Laughter breaks down barriers and is a great therapy.

I enjoy helping participants achieve their goals. I enjoy exercise, reading, dancing, singing. I also enjoy walks along the beach and am an avid lover of animals. I have the attitude of no task is too hard.   I believe I have a good sense of humour and enjoy making people laugh. I am a positive, outgoing role model.   I have completed work experience within a nursing home however IDEAL Placements is my first job role as a Disability Support Worker.

I am a mature aged female who is young at heart and always has a positive outlook on life. I am also a volunteer at Meals on Wheels, Homefield Aged Care Facility and the Tourist Information Centre and hope to continue with these commitments.   My interests in life include travel, movies, dancing (rock n roll, line dancing and ballroom), gardening, music (wide variety), theatre, art galleries, walking, running (I run 6 km every Saturday) and have done a couple of triathlons and run 10 km on the Gold Coast a couple of years ago which was exciting. I also love walking on the beach and visiting restaurants to experience a wide range of cuisines. I love to explore new places and things and have a quest for life to enjoy every day and my mission in life is to share my blessings and do things to improve the life of others.   I like to joke and laugh a lot. Laughter breaks down barriers and is a great therapy.   I have had a varied working career which included administration, public life, farmer, mail contractor which allowed me to show flexibility, adaptability and an attitude to always seek new challenges in life with a quest to learn new things.

I was born in Sydney but I have lived in Mackay for the last 15 years. My father has been wheelchair bound for many years due to injuries which have changed not just his life but my own. Since the injuries I have learned in great ways many life skills such as how to sit down with people and talk about things what are bringing them down, I understand how hard it can be at times when people are getting frustrated which has taught me what I believe is one of the best skills to have in life and that’s patience.   I have many hobbies I enjoy, from fishing, motorbike/quad bike riding to bowling, dancing and reading books and cooking. I enjoy working on cars, I have built a car to try something new, when I got the car I knew nothing about mechanics, the car I bought was just an old empty shell, now through my own research and all my own work the car is what I drive myself to work in. I also do a fair amount of volunteer work with the Mackay State emergency services.   I am a really easy going approachable guy who loves nothing more than a laugh and a good time, though when it’s time to be serious I am.   The last few years I have worked at a few restaurants such as sizzler, ribs and rumps, the vintage room and Tuscany’s I also used to work through an employment agency which meant I had a lot of different jobs to do, I have worked from building houses and shops, tiling, installing pallet racking, washing cars, packing shelves, to many other trade like jobs. I hold quite a few qualifications such as, first aid, cert II in surface extraction, cert II in construction, cert II in commercial cookery.

I love animals, comics, video and board games, hanging out, watching movies or going shopping. Then there is the old lady in me who loves to cook, bake, try new recipes or just having a cup of tea and a good chat. I don’t like going clubbing and I don’t drink alcohol. Other than that I am more than happy to try anything at least once or twice. Oh and I really don’t like snakes or spiders.   Some of my hobbies are swimming, going to the beach with my dog, creative and contemporary art and making things like sculpting, wire work and woodwork.   I am what most people would call an ‘old soul’. I like to learn new things and try different things. I am a very fun loving, friendly, open person and I like to meet new people.

I have a couple of hobbies when I have the time to pursue them, I like computer online gaming or Xbox gaming on my off time, though I do prefer to be outdoors with my family and friends. I like to think of myself as a bit of a budding photographer at times ranging from scenic, portrait to glamour, I love it all. I have other interests like restoration of vehicles, drag racing and my favorite one of all, pampering my two adorable cats.   I’m a 54-year-old dude living out my 20’s and 30’s again, I’m owned by a lovely wife and have two fantastic children, my motto is you’re never too old, the body breaks but the mind stays young, so NEVER dismiss a person if they have a broken body, because let’s face it, you’re talking to their mind, NOT their body.   I have worked in many industries though focused on heavy industry being the main source of income, age 54 came around and I wanted more, I wanted to feel like I made an impact in someone else’s life, to have helped a little to help others, my philosophy is if you make one person smile for a split second, you’ve made a spark of happiness for a day.   If I were to talk about what I can do, that would range anywhere from driving cranes, to tipping sugar bins in a sugar factory, I have been a detailer in my time as well as being a laborer and trades assistant. I am a stickler for SAFETY first.

I am married with a blended family of 5 adult children and 13 grandchildren. I’m a sensible, reliable, well presented and spoken person, who enjoys new and challenging opportunities.   My Likes and Hobbies are recreational fishing, such as sitting on the bank of a river relaxing and catching the ones that swim by, I love Old Cars especially vehicles from the 50s 60s and early 70s and have a Thirst for town and country History. I Like Vegetable and native gardening including Landscaping, I enjoy Travelling, Four Wheel Driving, Cruise Ships, Theatre, Stage Shows and going to the movies, also all types of food especially Seafood, Asian and Indian. My Dislikes are loud and Self-opinionated people, Political mismanagement, unnecessary noise, people who don’t try to smile and overpricing especially on food items, I don’t like seeing rubbish in the streets or mismanagement of public facilities.   I’m always keen to be actively involved in the workplace, possessing good work ethics and a flexible approach to work tasks and hours. I have acquired many skills and gained experience in various diversified fields that gives me the opportunity to adapt these skills into a wide scope of workplace practices.   I have workplace Management skills from Owning my own business as a School service and Charter Bus Operator for a period of 20 years, I have also held accreditation with Lifeline for 10 years.

Fishing, kayaking, bushwalking, gardening, cooking, camp style cooking on an open fire, music, playing musical instruments (singing, guitar, bass, drums) all sorts of music, movies. I’ll give any sport a go or any outdoor activity. I am not into computer games or social media. I prefer to experience real life.   I am a single dad with a 12-year-old daughter. I can use authority when needed. I am fun to be around, easy going always joking around, while still responsible. I am very independent and have been told by my friends I have an infectious positive personality that makes people feel good about themselves.

I’m Jen, I’m 21 years of age and family means everything to me. I love to be outdoors and enjoy the beach. I also have a passion for animals. Throughout school I interacted well with people with disabilities, I was always including them in extra activities. I believe my experience is within my family and friends with disabilities as I have dealt with a lot over the last few years. I have a big heart and I love to include everyone. If you were to choose me as your support worker, you wouldn’t look back, I wouldn’t just be a support worker but a friend as well.