I firmly believe that good quality support, empathy and giving people choices (no matter how small they seem), encouraging skill development and community integration all add up to enhancement of quality of life. And of course, this needs to be done with positive partnerships with families, other providers, the community and within the team.
Qualifications
Master of Disability Studies Newcastle University 2017
Graduate Diploma Community Development (RMIT)
Associate Diploma Welfare Studies (RMIT)
Advance Diploma in Disability Studies (Customised Training)
Numerous non-certificate courses relating to disability care on subjects such as medication administration, autism, keyword signing and augmented communication, epilepsy, behaviour management, manual handling, Cerebral Palsy, dietetics and food handling, diabetes and dementia.
Victorian Drivers Licence
First Aid and CPR
Working with Children’s Check
National Police Check 2019 (conducted by DHHS)
Background
Helen started working in disability care managing a Family Group Home. This model of children’s care is no longer around, but basically it could be described as a professional foster care service. Helen looked after a group of five siblings for nearly 8 years – 24/7. They all had learning disabilities and lots of challenges. Helen believes these years gave her a genuine insight into the pressures of being a carer. It certainly led her to a life-long passion for disability rights and quality service provision.
Since then Helen has worked and volunteered in many different areas:
Case management
Developing and managing new services e.g. Melbacc Respite Care in Melton
Managing a disability specialist employment agency – Brunswick Employment Agency (7 years), including developing supported businesses for which BEA won the Victorian Disability Agency of the Year Award.
Executive Officer of Disability Connections Victoria (formerly Western Region Disability Network) – a network of over 1000 people with disabilities, carers and service providers across the Western and Northern Suburbs of Melbourne (7 years). The
Network passed information to the members but more importantly passed the voice of the membership back to providers, Local Governments, State and Federal Government. Examples include what the NDIS should look like, and how to make voting easier for people with a disability and/or who are older. Helen was awarded the inaugural Victorian Disability Professional of the Year for her work with the Network.
For 2 years Helen managed the respite services of a large aged care and disability organisation in Geelong. She says this was an invaluable experience as she learned so much about supporting people with high physical support needs and/or dementia.
For the last 6 years Helen has been working with DHHS (the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services) as the Supervisor of Residential Group Homes (CRU’s) supporting people of all ages and with a wide range of support needs including autism, cerebral palsy, sensory and cognitive disabilities and behavioural concerns. Some of the residents have been verbal and/or quite independent and others non-verbal and/or very dependent.
Eddie Inostroza - Direct Care Coordinator
Values
I love what I do and have a passion for making a difference to the lives of the people I support.
I have always enjoyed physical fitness. I go to the gym often, love outdoor activities - exploring new places and trying new experiences. and will enjoy encouraging and supporting our guests to explore the world.
Qualifications
Master of Disability Studies Newcastle University 2017
Diploma of Teaching Deakin University
Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (RMIT)
Advance Diploma in Disability Studies (Customised Training)
Numerous non-certificate courses relating to disability care on subjects such as medication administration, autism, keyword signing and augmented communication, epilepsy, behaviour management, manual handling, Cerebral Palsy, dietetics and food handling, diabetes and dementia.
Victorian Drivers Licence
First Aid and CPR
Working with Children’s Check
National Police Check 2019 (conducted by DHHS)
Background
Eddie was a primary teacher for 15 years with the Victorian Education Department specialising in Physical Education, English as a Second Language and Art. Before this Eddie lived in Chile where for 8 years he taught English in secondary schools.
In 1999 Eddie decided he wanted to focus on disability support and joined Melbourne City Mission working as part of the team in a residential group home (CRU).
In 2009 he transferred to DHHS (the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services) and for the past 10 years has been working in residential units with people with a range of disabilities.
Eddie is bi-lingual i.e. fluent in both English and Spanish. He can also speak basic Italian.
