Timothy Scott

11 Mar 2015
timothy scott

Where you are working now? Describe your current role and what you do.

I currently work at Centacare Brisbane within the Self-Directed Support Team.

My current role is a combination of assisting the ‘My Future My Life’ team, which is a initiative that supports students with disabilities to plan and prepare for their transition out of high school. I also assist Centacare Choices, which is a host provider for the ‘Your Life Your Choice’ disability support model.

Both of the teams I work alongside have a focus on supporting individuals with a disability to achieve their goals.

What is the best part of your job?

My favourite aspect of the job is being able to provide support to individuals with a disability so they are able to exercise more choice and control over their lives. I thoroughly enjoy working within the industry and trying to make a difference.
The ‘My Future My Life’ initiative is another enjoyable aspect of my role,  its great being part of a team that has so many success stories from supporting students achieves their goals for life after school.

What is the most challenging aspect of your role?

The most challenging part is not being hands on and working in the field. Whilst I’m still within the industry and making a difference, I do miss working and interacting with people in a face-to-face environment.

Can you give us a bit of an overview of your career journey? How did you come about getting to where you are in your career today?

My journey in the disability industry started when I enrolled in a social entrepreneurship course whilst undertaking a Bachelor of Business Management degree. I was having difficulty choosing what career path I was going to take and the social entrepreneurship course introduced me to an industry which I would have otherwise never been exposed to.

After having such a positive and fulfilling experience participating in the course in my final year, I made the decision to volunteer in Vietnam. It was a confronting experience but really gave me some perspective on how much of a difference can be made through helping others.
On arriving back from Vietnam, I was offered a job as a support worker with Centacare as a result of the contacts I made through the social entrepreneurship course. This really cemented my career path; I continued to be a support worker for two years, making strong connections with families and young people with disabilities. I have also revisited Vietnam twice throughout this time.

I loved my support worker role, but wanted to go full circle with my Business Management degree and obtain a broader role within the industry. My current role is a combination of my experience in the field and my university degree.

What is your proudest career achievement?

My proudest career achievement is definitely the strong relationships I have formed with the families during my time as a support worker.

How does the future look for you in your current role/industry?

The disability industry is in a period of serious change; with the NDIS being rolled out across Australia there is going to be a significant amount of new opportunities in the future. The workforce in the industry is expected to increase 40% over the next ten years.

What mentor or inspirational figure has guided or influenced your career/life?

The strength and resolve of the people I work with has been the greatest source of inspiration and guidance for my life and career.

How has your UQ Business School degree helped you in your career?

UQ Business School introduced me to and gave me experience in an industry that I had no prior knowledge to. It gave me direction that helped immensely when transitioning out of university.

What piece of advice would you give to anyone wanting to do a degree at UQ Business School?

Try as many things as you can. I was almost going to not enrol in the Social Entrepreneurship course because I thought it was ‘not my thing’. Exposure to different aspects of life is the best way to give yourself direction in what you want to do.

Why did you choose a degree at UQ Business School?

I chose to study at UQ Business School because I wasn’t sure what to do after school and wanted something that would be useful in a variety of different industries. Even though I branched off into the human services and social work industries, my business degree is still relevant.

Want to have the spotlight in the next Alumni e-news? We'd love to hear what you've been up to since graduating from UQ Business School. Share your story with us.
 

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