Xander de Haan joined My Supports as a Support Worker in January 2017.
Seven months ago, he become a Neighbourhood Team Coordinator in Joondalup, WA. Get to know him below.
What do you like about your work?
I like that my work has a meaningful impact in the lives in other people. I don’t dread going to work; I look forward to helping my clients in whatever they need assistance with. It’s a unique aspect of this line of work you don’t get in many other jobs.
What does ‘inclusion’ mean to you?
Inclusion to me is everyone being accepted and respected within social groups and communities — regardless of their gender, race, religion, or disability. It also means being open to have your attitudes changed on topics that you may have an outdated or different view on.
What are your tips for other Support Workers and Coordinators?
Attend team meetings when possible. They are a great opportunity to meet other support workers in your area, and discuss issues you may be facing that only Support Workers could understand.
My tips to other Coordinators are to take time to look after yourself! I didn’t realise how easily this job can burn you out mentally, especially if you work around the clock. Develop time managements skills and block out your calendar with reminder to do tasks, like sign offs, so you’re not doing them after hours. These little steps will help in the long run.
What’s your biggest challenge?
As a Coordinator, my biggest challenge would be boundaries. Not checking my phone for emails over the weekend, or not working late at night. This can be beneficial in the sense that I’ll have less work to do the following day, but it’s also not healthy to work around the clock, regardless if I thoroughly enjoy my job or not.
What are the challenges you see for Coordinators?
The challenges would be client expectations on Coordinators to know everything. I manage this by letting clients know early on that I only know what I know, and if there’s anything I don’t know, I’ll chase it up and get back to them.
Another challenge is living so far from the office. I work from home, so I don’t have the ability to pop into my boss’s office and ask a question to get an answer right away. I manage this by going into the office once a week and continually touching base with everyone there.
What are your hobbies?
My main hobby is bodyboarding. It’s the thing that keeps me going and what I do to keep me sane in a highly intense job. Another major hobby of mine is collecting old cassette tapes and vinyls. Aside from that, I enjoy exercising and going to the beach.
