Gellibrand support worker and administrative assistant Evan Nicefero learnt about disability from an early age – and he’s always willing to learn more.
Being a Gellibrand support worker can involve sleepover shifts at clients’ shared houses. Is it fair to say Evan Nicefero, who worked previously for Forty Winks bed company, should be an excellent Gellibrand sleepover team member?
“I worked in retail for Forty Winks,” he laughed, “so, yeah, that was a completely different role!”
Evan has been a support worker and administration assistant with Gellibrand for four years. He said he’d always wanted to work in the disability sector because his mother, who receives NDIS support, has an intellectual disability.
“I always supported my mum so I thought I could support other people as well.”
Evan mainly supports clients who live at Gellibrand’s Brooksby and Willow houses. He said working with clients is where he “thrives the most”, but that he enjoys learning about the administration that’s needed to ensure clients continue to receive the best possible support.
Evan said the best part about being a support worker is the connections he makes with clients, including clients who cannot communicate verbally. He said with one client, the conversation flows so easily and clearly through gestures and other signs that he forgets he is in non-verbal communication.
“Once you get that connection with individual clients, it makes you think how you don’t need to speak to build a connection with someone,” he said, adding that he had still been able to build connection with another client who had almost no intentional communication at all. “Working here has really taught me a lot about the human experience.”
Evan said he finds it “super rewarding” when he arrives at a house for a shift and clients are excited to see him, which makes him feel highly appreciated for his work. He said it takes a combination of learning about clients, developing skills, and understanding your own personality to develop strong rapport with clients.
“Some support workers are naturally shyer, but if you learn to just talk freely and not be scared to approach people…It does help to have an outgoing personality, but you also have to learn when to use it,” he said, adding that some clients are quiet and reserved so support workers have to adjust. “The more you get to work in different houses with different clients and their different support needs, the more you learn.”
Evan said Gellibrand’s work culture “is really good” and that “everyone is super friendly and approachable.” In addition, he said the organisation is also good at career development. “If you want to learn something or take an opportunity, they will find a way to fit you into it.”
He added, however, it’s the organisation’s client focus that really sets it apart.
“Gellibrand focuses so much on client outcomes. There is so much listening to clients here.”
