Tania works as a full time receptionist for STEPS in Maroochydore. STEPS are an Employment Service Provider for people with disability and barriers to employment.
Tania first came to STEPS as a client, seeking their assistance to find work. Tania has suffered from severe depression and anxiety throughout her life making it difficult for her to enter the workforce. Through the STEPS program Tania worked in a number of supported roles allowing her to gain a variety of work experience, including administration, which helped her secure her current role.
Her major barrier in the workforce has been her anxiety, which is largely triggered by feeling overloaded with work. Her anxiety attacks result in stomach cramps and even vomiting, making it impossible to work during these times. Today, these anxiety attacks are virtually non existent, because Tania works in a supportive work environment where her colleagues are all conscious of her condition.
Tania’s support at work has been simple and inexpensive. The most crucial support has been the open communication between her and the manager. Tania feels comfortable knowing she can talk to her manager whenever she feels that work is getting too stressful. Her manager is then able to assess the situation and make adjustments to her duties to relieve the stress.
Tania’s manager is mindful of the pressure of giving too many new tasks to her at once and therefore allows extra time for the training of new duties. Flexible working arrangements are also available if Tania needs time off to relieve her feeling of stress.
Tania is described as a ’great and loyal worker’ by her manager. Her personal experience of living with a disability has been invaluable in being able to help other job seekers who access the STEPS program. Tania is ecstatic because she feels useful and able to help others in a similar situation.
Tania feels that she would have difficulty coping in her current position if it was not for the continual support of her colleagues at STEPS.
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