Hugh Couper

• As a support worker I work with a diverse group of clients with a range of different disabilities and consequent needs

In summary:

• Acquired Brain Injury and Bi-Polar disorder – I work with this elderly man with very high needs. My client’s challenging physical and mental requirements has helped me to develop a strong resilience in dealing with often difficult and confronting situations
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy – I work with this young adult and his family to assist in everyday tasks. I have been able to develop an appropriate caring relationship with my client and his mother, creating an environment of trust and respect which allows me to effectively care for him
• Asperger’s syndrome – I work with this young adult, driving him to and from TAFE. While this is not a difficult undertaking, I have learnt to create a trusting relationship to appropriately communicate with and importantly listen, assisting to navigate him through his educational and social life and experiences

Placement working on the LEAP-CP program:

• The Learning Through Everyday Activities with Parents program is a peer delivered early detection and intervention program for infants within Indigenous Communities at high risk of cerebral palsy. During my 6 weeks placement I assisted the senior research team to develop and refine the field resources used by Indigenous support workers to connect with parents and implement the program. This involved completing an in-depth review of hundreds of existing resources and editing, restructuring and adjusting those resources to culturally appropriate language
• I participated in meetings to develop the approach to uplifting the resources, networking with industry leading researchers, field workers and other key stakeholders
• The feedback from my placement supervisor complimented me on my work ethic, my ability to work independently and my proactiveness in seeking out additional work upon completing assigned tasks ahead of schedule

• As a hospitality worker I learnt the importance of good customer service and teamwork
• I was able to develop relationships with regular patrons by building rapport and conversing while preparing orders
• I assisted to train new staff on customer service and food preparation and maintained good working relationships with my co-workers and employers

• As a hospitality worker I learnt the importance of good customer service and teamwork
• I was able to develop relationships with regular patrons by building rapport and conversing while preparing orders
• I assisted to train new staff on customer service and food preparation and maintained good working relationships with my co-workers and employers