Meet Jodi Power, Support Worker

Meet Jodi, one of our dedicated Support Workers at our supported accommodation home in Lockridge.

In May next year, Jodi will be celebrating an impressive 20-year career at Rocky Bay! Starting her time with us as a support worker at our residential facility in Mosman Park, Jodi says her role allowed her the opportunity to learn so much as well as the chance to work closely with the on-site Community Nursing and management teams.

Jodi then supported individual customers within their own home, before moving to Rocky Bay’s first independent living community group home (now called supported accommodation) in Hamilton Hill. Jodi was here for 18 years, including four years working as a lead support worker and mentor.

“I not only made amazing friends (at Hamilton Hill) but I built a strong rapport with our customers over those years,” says Jodi.

She has now been supporting customers at our Lockridge supported accommodation for almost two years.

On 6 September 2023, Rocky Bay celebrates 85 years! In the time Jodi has been with Rocky Bay, she has seen some massive change, including the breadth of services offered, the growth of supported accommodation and SDA options for customers, the training opportunities offered to staff, carers and external organisations, and the number of staff now with Rocky Bay.

“When I started there were only a couple of hundred staff and most I could recognise. Now we have so many (over 1,100 across 11 hubs) and we are so culturally diverse.

“I love that Rocky Bay have given so much opportunity to people from overseas. We used to have a lot of staff travelling and working, but so many are now settling in with Rocky Bay to not only work and train, but to live here (in Perth) too. I’ve worked with so many interesting people, learnt so much and made many lovely friends.

“One of the biggest changes I’ve seen is the huge increase in opportunities for our customers to experience so much more in life – to help not only build their independence, but also feel included in their communities.

“Rocky Bay has allowed me to grow and find myself, build on my strengths and work on my weaknesses. I now enjoy passing on my knowledge to those coming into the organisation and take on any new and fresh ideas from those same staff as well.”

Read more about Jodi and her role at our supported accommodation home in Lockridge with our Q&A!

What does your role involve at our Lockridge supported accommodation?

I’m a morning person, so I’m sure the most irritating person to arrive on shift after night duty is finishing theirs! I love attending to my customers first thing in the morning. I feel this is when they have their best energy and when I get those awesome smiles.

I always assist my customers with playing music, so we can get stuck into the day with a happy and relaxed vibe. Lots of singing, interacting and laughter is how I work best in my role with everyone.

Apart from the direct assistance to my customers, my role can involve a variety of things. Meal prep with customers, cleaning, keeping stock orders up to date, taking customers to their varied appointments in the community, as well as sitting in for any in home visits from various therapists.

I take my customers out as often as I can to a variety of places. Sometimes we head out to buy some new clothes or other necessities, or to check out fun places like AQWA or restaurants in the nearby Swan Valley for a delicious lunch. Sometimes we will go to a nearby park or lake, or for a nice long walk for an hour or so when the weather is good.

Tell us more about your previous experience?

Rocky Bay is my first experience! I was lucky enough to be a stay at home mum raising my family before seeking employment at 34 years old. I had small jobs as a teenager in my local community before getting married.

What do you love most about the house?

I feel the house has a great vibe. The staff are a good team who are always willing to help each other out when needed. Gale has been a fantastic team leader, she’s always willing to listen to me and be there whenever I’ve needed her. She’s very supportive, and our customers are very much a priority to her.

Steven is a great part of the team, although I don’t see him very much. He makes himself available and is a great communicator and very approachable should the need arise. I’m happy I came to be a part of the Lockridge based team!

What do you love most about being a Support Worker?

I really feel this is what I was destined to do. There’s nothing I don’t enjoy doing, and the physical aspects of my job e.g. using the hoist etc. is what I seem to enjoy the most.

I like keeping busy and on the move, so my customers, my team and I can get as much fun out of the day as possible. I love that over so many years with Rocky Bay as a support worker I’ve received the best support I could ask for from everyone – from co-workers, team leaders, right through to upper management. I’m still amazed at how far Rocky Bay has grown over the years.

What are three things you can’t live without and why?

1. My awesome little Suzuki Jimny, LILPLAYA (yes, he has a name!) 
2. Time to go camping,4x4ing in the outback
3. My craft room where I indulge my love for resin art, pyrography (wood burning) and sewing.