Working in the Leisure Centres during COVID-19 was undoubtedly one of the most difficult times of my career. It was a stressful time, with changing restrictions coming through all the time, and then long periods of lockdown. It was my colleagues, and our motivation to keep each other cheered up, that I think got us through that time. There was a strong spirit of mateship, of finding the fun where we could. We were also completely committed to helping our customers to have a safe and enjoyable experience when we were open.
I’ve been at Sutherland Shire Council for 19 years – since I finished high school. I started as a Learn to Swim Instructor, and I worked my way up to Squad Coach, Duty Manager, and Senior Duty Manager. It was during this time that I became heavily involved in health and safety initiatives, ensuring the safety of our staff and our customers.
My passion for health and safety led me to a new career path – and I left Council for the private industry, to become a claims assessor. 10 months later, I returned to Council to join the Safety team as a Return to Work Coordinator.
I find my role very fulfilling – I get to help employees in their journey back to the workplace after an injury or illness. It’s very rewarding to be able to witness firsthand the tangible difference when people are able to return to work – where they can find joy in engaging in meaningful work, to have a return to routine, and to be able to connect with their colleagues.