Searching for support away from home, Hireup user Gisele connected with her support worker Tabitha after posting on the job board.
Gisele was travelling from her home in Sydney to deliver a presentation at an accessibility conference in Western Australia. “I was anxious about travelling to Perth and wanted to connect with a local support worker who could assist me while I was there,” says Gisele.
“Tabitha was waiting for me when I arrived in Perth with my guide dog, all cheerful. She made sure I was settled in my B&B hotel, came for breakfast the next morning, and was there by my side every step of the way. I never felt anxious.”
Initially the booking Gisele made was to provide support while travelling to and from the airport and conference. “Gisele’s personality really came through... I had to respond.” says Tabitha, of the job post. “We hit it off so well...I ended up spending nearly the entire day with her. It totally wasn’t in the booking description either, but I ended up helping her with the conference talk. It was a really cool experience, I learned some things too,” says Tabitha.
“Gisele’s personality really came through... I had to respond.” says Tabitha, of the job post. “We hit it off so well...I ended up spending nearly the entire day with her.
The pair checked out the sites of Perth and had a picnic by the Swan River which was on Gisele’s list of things to do. “The weather was perfect and the evening was just wonderful and memorable. We enjoyed good conversation and our two dogs played happily in the park”, says Gisele.
This was Tabitha’s first Hireup shift. “It was such a great experience to have as my first one,” she says. “It’s nice to have formed a friendship with someone I may not have met before in a usual sense. It all feels like serendipity.”
“The difference in our ages, our backgrounds or where we live did not come into it. There was just this natural connection. Initially all I was expecting or hoping for was someone to assist me during my stay. But Tabitha was much more than that,” says Gisele.
“I have now gained more confidence that it is possible to connect with a support worker in a different city and it can be a very positive experience. I think there is a shared hope that we will meet again [after the government's COVID-19 response eases]. In any case, with remote working, I am hoping Tabitha will continue to play a role as one of my support workers.”
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