12/12/2025
This time of the year brings a lot of anxiety and triggers for people in general but in the disability sector the percentage is unfortunately much higher.
Each week we have a weekly email that goes out to all our staff. It's a way that we keep everyone informed on important information, updates, birthdays, training and of course we also take this time to thank the staff that have gone over and above to help the people they are supporting.
This is the list from the email today from this last week.
I am so proud of the team at United Abilities Australia.
Note: I have taken out any name reference to staff and the people we support. (SW - Support Worker, SL - Support Leader, A*O - Admininstration Service Officer)
Lots of staff shout outs this week, It's the time of year where we have a lot of positive feedback coming in from families and external stakeholders, as well as clients struggling with mental health due to the complex time of year for all. We really appreciate the work that you all do.
Staff Shout out: SL J, SW D, A*O C and SW T - Working together to support a client last Friday through a very tough situation. Thank you all for your understanding, empathy, compassion and teamwork through this process.
Staff Shout out SL K, SW V and A*O C - Tuesday morning assisting a client with starting a shift early with emergency support and care, helping deescalate a delicate situation and helping support a client as a team.
Staff Shout out: SW M - Shout out to SW M The last two weeks he has helped a client through escalated behaviours in public. SW M has been calling and working with the A*O team to try to resolve if we need to reach out to family. SW M has offered his support and willing to talk to family if needed without crossing boundaries SW M has been amazing through the process!
Shout out to R’s Team: SL K, SW B1, SW K, SW R, SW B2, SW D, SL N
Seasons Greetings to all and many thanks for your care... R's life is certainly the best possible. Kindest regards from Sister S
Shout out to SL K and SW V : Big thank you from a client's developmental educator, due to exceptional and detailed case notes, they were able to provide the hospital detailed information in regards to a health issue that both staff assisted the client with, the week before “Please thank your team for the fantastic work. It meant the client received the best medical treatment available at the hospital. Well done SW K and SW V, and a fantastic reminder as to WHY detailed case notes are so vital to this industry!
2025 at United Abilities: As 2025 comes to a close, it's good to stop and think and reflect as a reminder of why we do what we do as a collective of caring human beings at United Abilities. As we lead into Christmas and the end of another year, everyone is challenged with possibly feeling overwhelmed, with struggling to make ends meet, with losses of family members or just trying to stay in a positive mental health space.
We are all part of an organisation that is doing its best to make a positive difference in people's lives, whether that be our clients, their families/guardians and United Abilities employees and their families/ loved ones. Perhaps a time of year to take a deep breath and be thankful for what we have achieved, and continue to achieve. Take a moment to give ourselves a "pat on the back!" Reflect on the "wins" we have experienced. I look forward to celebrating Christmas and the end of the year, and the start of new opportunities for 2026.
Lovely words by Geoff Potter
