My Career: Coming out of retirement to start disability support work
InLife assistant Trisha O'Keeffe took up disability support work in her 70s after working as a librarian for most of her career.
After a long and varied career spanning more than 50 years, you might think that Trisha O’Keeffe would want to put her feet up in retirement.
Instead, the former librarian and boarding school staff member has taken up a new job in her 70s as a disability support worker.
A self-described “people-person'', Trisha works with three clients through disability support provider InLife.
“I love it. I think it’s opened up my eyes to the value of disability support in the community.” she said.
“It's definitely a lovely job for anyone to consider if they like people and want to get to know them.”
The decision to give disability support work a go came about after Trisha moved back to her hometown of Geelong from the Southern Highlands to be closer to family in 2017.
“I wasn’t really ready to retire,” she said.
“I worked in an international boarding school in Pakenham for a year, then I thought I would do volunteer work in Geelong.”
Trisha had volunteered with people with disability in her spare time for many years and signed up to an Integration Support in the Classroom course as she wanted to help out at a specialist development school.
She also completed a course about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as her youngest brother (she is one of seven) has cerebral palsy.
“I thought I would learn a bit more and it was so interesting,” she said.
When the COVID-19 pandemic put a (temporary) break on volunteering plans, another opportunity came knocking.
InLife was looking for a support worker for an arts-and-craft-loving client when Trisha’s name came up through a contact.
A keen knitter, she was the perfect fit.
Trisha officially became a support worker last year and highly recommends the job to people of all ages.
“I was reluctant and thinking I’m too old and I don’t know enough,” she said.
“But they (InLife) give you enough time and support to know you are able to do it.
“Finding out if you can do this sort of work - I suppose life experience comes into it.”
The flexibility associated with disability support work has also been a bonus.
“I have always worked full time since I was 16, when I started working at the Geelong West library. But with this work, you can be flexible with time,” she said.
Trisha has also found the work both enjoyable and rewarding.
“You might get paid but it doesn't seem to come into it when you’re doing the work,” she said.
“It can be meaningful and you feel empowered because you’re trusted.”
Have you made a career change to the disability sector? Email [email protected]
Read more in InLife's My Career series here:
