Jemma Swanson
St Leonards,
Summary
Experienced with providing comprehensive support to residents in various settings, ensuring their safety and well-being. Utilises effective communication and empathy to enhance residents' quality of life and foster a nurturing environment. Track record of handling challenging situations with patience and problem-solving skills, ensuring positive impact on residents' daily lives.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Therapeutic Residential Support Worker
Gateways
07.2025 - Current
- Provide 1:1 participant-centred care for two adolescents in a residential setting, supporting their emotional and physical wellbeing.
- Implement behaviour management strategies in line with the PACE model to promote safety, trust, and positive relationships.
- Collaborate with team members across multiple CAYS houses to ensure consistent supervision and care.
- Support daily household functioning, including routines, cleaning, and maintenance.
- Encourage residents’ participation in community activities, prioritising fun, skill development, and social engagement.
Social Connect Support Worker
Gateways
04.2025 - Current
- Provide 1:1 support to participants, encouraging safe and enjoyable engagement in daily program activities.
- Assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) and self-care, including hoist use, personal care, and safe wheelchair transport.
Individual Support Worker
Gateways
02.2025 - Current
- Met participants individually in their homes and communities to provide person-centred support.
- Assisted with community engagement, household tasks, behaviour regulation, and progress towards individualised NDIS goals.
Camps and Recreation Team Leader and Support Worker
Gateways
04.2024 - Current
- Facilitated camps and recreation programs for children and adults with disabilities, ensuring safety while creating enjoyable and inclusive experiences.
- Supported participants in community-based group settings to achieve NDIS goals, promoting choice, control, and capacity building.
- Led teams of support workers, overseeing participant wellbeing, safety, risk management, documentation, and medication administration.
Service Navigator for the Well Connected Program
Wellways
05.2024 - 03.2025
- Conducted participant intakes, risk assessments, safety planning, and brief interventions using the IAR tool, K-10, and K-5 (for First Nations participants).
- Collected, managed, and analysed service data using BRIDGE, Carelink, and Excel to monitor demographics, delivery, and KPIs.
- Ensured service navigation met Western Victoria PHN’s psychosocial support targets, maintaining program funding.
- Networked and liaised with healthcare providers while promoting Wellways services.
- Reduced program wait times by developing procedures and guidelines, resolving an inherited six-month backlog.
- Supported a team in achieving service entry and performance outcomes.
Therapeutic Behaviour Support Practitioner
CBChange
10.2023 - 03.2024
- Developed evidence-based Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs) to understand and respond to behaviours of concern, enhancing participant quality of life.
- Collaborated with participants, families, support networks, and healthcare providers to gather insights and apply psychological theory to behaviour functions.
- Supported a team in delivering consistent, person-centred behaviour support.
Disability Support Worker
Hireup
08.2021 - 10.2023
- Provided individualised support to a teenage girl with ASD and ADHD, building rapport through humour, empathy, respect, and open communication.
- Assisted with social skill development, daily routines, and self-care to improve confidence and independence.
- Implemented calming strategies and identified early signs of anxiety to promote emotional regulation and wellbeing.
Education Support
Yarraville West Primary School
06.2021 - 10.2023
- Supported students across all primary grades through both 1:1 assistance and whole-class support.
- Developed and implemented tailored behaviour and classroom management strategies, including social stories, de-escalation, and breakout activities.
- Facilitated emotional regulation in breakout spaces and supported smooth reintegration into the classroom environment.
Educator and Morning Supervisor
Yarraville West Primary School
11.2020 - 10.2023
- Actively supervised students in a safe and engaging environment.
- Built positive relationships by being a fun, kind, and supportive educator.
Education
Bachelor of Psychological Science -
Deakin University
01.2022
Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science Advanced -
The University of Adelaide
01.2024
Skills
- Client-centred care
- Behaviour support and intervention
- Program and team Management
- Educational and therapeutic support
- Disability support
Certification
- NDIS Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core Level)
- NDIS Screening Check – valid until 10/2028
- Working with Children Check – valid until 09/2029
- First Aid Certifications: HLTAID010, HLTAID011, HLTAID012 (completed 01/2023), CPR HLTAID009 (completed 03/2025)
- DV-Alert Lifeline Training & ASIST Training – 2024
- Enrolled: Residential Care Skill Set (RESCARESS1), Melbourne Polytechnic – commencing November 2025
Timeline
Therapeutic Residential Support Worker
Gateways
07.2025 - Current
Social Connect Support Worker
Gateways
04.2025 - Current
Individual Support Worker
Gateways
02.2025 - Current
Service Navigator for the Well Connected Program
Wellways
05.2024 - 03.2025
Camps and Recreation Team Leader and Support Worker
Gateways
04.2024 - Current
Therapeutic Behaviour Support Practitioner
CBChange
10.2023 - 03.2024
Disability Support Worker
Hireup
08.2021 - 10.2023
Education Support
Yarraville West Primary School
06.2021 - 10.2023
Educator and Morning Supervisor
Yarraville West Primary School
11.2020 - 10.2023
Bachelor of Psychological Science -
Deakin University
Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science Advanced -
The University of Adelaide