COVID-19 has seen many of us lose reliable employment, be stood down indefinitely from roles we've been in for years or look to make a career change into an essential services sector such as care and support work.

The skills and experience gained in other industries or through caring for a family can be successfully and easily transferred into care and support work to make a difference in someone's life.

We have interviewed 2 of our wonderful care and support workers who have made the change and how they draw on their existing skills and experience to deliver a valuable service to their clients.
Here's what they have to say.

Matt McGuire

What was your career before commencing work as a care and support worker?

Prior to commencing at Careseekers I was a senior executive in the IT&T industry. I have led teams of up to 500 people so I had a vast experience in dealing with people.

What day to day tasks in your previous career have helped you deliver care and support with Careseekers?

Leading people with a wide array of diversity taught me the you must deal with the individual, not stereotypes. Taking the time to understand people and “putting yourself in their shoes” are lessons that I have learnt and bring to Careseekers. Appreciating that each client is different and has different needs is paramount in my work at Careseekers.

What would be your advice to those looking to move in to care and support work?

Firstly you must want to work with people. Secondly each client has different needs which can vary on a day to day basis and not judge your clients. Lastly you must act with both integrity and resect of your clients.

How has Careseekers helped you transfer your many skills into this new career path?

Careseekers has given me the opportunity to make a contribution in supporting the less privileged. Working at Careseekers has provided me with an opportunity to give back to the community. Careseekers are not prescriptive in the what and how and largely leave it up to me to improve the lot of my clients. However Careseekers are always there to support me if support is required.

To learn more about Matt, please click here.

Suzanne Bertozzi

What made you initially register on the Careseekers website?

I had just moved to NSW from WA and after looking after my mother with dementia and seeing how hard it was to get good support workers I wanted to try and help another family to make the process slightly easier

What was your career before commencing work as a care and support worker?

I worked as a PA and Office Manager for years and then a full time mum to three children - now all grown.

What day to day tasks in your previous career have helped you deliver care and support with Careseekers?

I often feel like I am a PA to the lady I support! I try and think ahead of her needs and, as we now know each other very well, I can anticipate her needs in advance.

What would be your advice to those looking to move in to care and support work?

It is hard work but it is also incredibly rewarding. I know people always use the word rewarding but I am honestly so happy when I can make her day a bit easier and to see her laugh and enjoy herself and not worry about all the
little things she can’t do anymore that used to frustrate her.

How has Careseekers helped you transfer your many skills into this new career path?

Careseekers has been a great platform for me to realise this is a career path I really enjoy. They have also shown me more courses in the field of Dementia that I can do online and continue to learn as a Support Worker.

To learn more about Suzanne, please click here.

To become a care or support worker, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/carer

To find aged care services, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/services/aged-care-workers

To find disability support services, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/services/disability-support-workers