Meet Callan, Workpower’s Support Coach Making a Difference

With less than two years of experience, Callan has already left a remarkable impact as a Support Coach at Workpower.

Callan's career journey is defined by both compassion and dedication as he makes a positive difference on the lives of people living with a disability.

"Before this, I was managing my dad's liquor store down in Busselton," Callan shares, reflecting on his unconventional path to support work. However, it was an encounter with a colleague during a fundraiser on a golf course that sparked his interest in disability support.

“At Dad’s liquor store, I worked with a guy who suffered from seizures. I had seen him deal with his seizures before, but it was the first time that I had to deal with one firsthand. We were alone at the time, so no one was around to help the situation.”

Callan quickly called his colleague’s foster mum, and together they resolved the situation. Dealing with a seizure firsthand made Callan realise the importance of support for individuals like his colleague.

“I was moving up to Perth shortly after, so I thought it was a good avenue to explore.”

Discovering Workpower through a friend in the disability sector, Callan found his calling as a Support Coach. He initially started as a Community Support Coach before transitioning into Employment Support as well.

"I enjoy the healthy balance between supporting individuals in their workplace and spending quality time with them outside, going to the movies or taking them to the shops," he explains.

When asked about his future at Workpower, Callan shared his commitment to his role.

"I really do see myself here for a while. It took some time to settle into the role as I hadn’t done it before, but now that I have, I really enjoy it."

Callan beamed with pride as he reflected on some of his career highlights and the progress he's witnessed in his clients, particularly Josh, Julian, and Aldi.

"Building a respectful relationship with Josh has been really rewarding, and seeing Julian's growth in managing his anxiety and changing routines is great to see," he shares.

“I’m very proud of Aldi; he went through the 12-week job-ready program and got himself into employment after finishing school.”

Callan offers some words of advice to aspiring Support Coaches;

"I’d say go for it but patience and understanding are key. It's crucial to have a solid foundation of disability awareness and empathy.”

Callan emphasised the diverse spectrum of disabilities that are encountered in the disability field.

Callan won a Golden Egg Award last month. The Golden Egg Awards is a peer nominated program presented to Workpower’s Community Supports staff whose dedication and hard work have been recognised by their colleagues and customers.

Grateful for his nomination, he shared “When I got nominated for the Golden Egg award I was stoked! I was shocked but I have been lucky enough to be nominated a couple of times now. I read the nomination and it was nice to read such positive things about my work.”

Callan added, "It is a good program to keep you motivated but it does have to come from within."

Beyond his role, Callan aspires to explore avenues like custom clothing for wheelchair users and sensory toys for individuals with autism, inspired by his meaningful role at Workpower.

He has no plans to leave his role anytime soon, and if he wasn’t at Workpower, he humorously added, "I’d probably still be at the liquor store."