Aana Cookson’s journey to joining a Hawke’s Bay disability service isn’t one you might expect. “The bulk of my career was in finance and insurance,” Aana says. After starting in superannuation while living in Melbourne, Aana climbed the corporate ladder, eventually taking on a resolutions role at an insurance company. But everything changed when she moved to Queensland with fewer corporate job opportunities.
From then, Aana’s work life took some unexpected turns. “I ended up working in a box factory, a mango winery, even selling wine.” But one day, while watching a support worker with two clients in town, Aana felt inspired. “I thought, ‘I could do that, that’d be a great job,’” she remembers. A conversation with a local support worker and a chance meeting with a Kiwi CEO from her home region of Bay of Plenty confirmed that disability support work felt like the right path. “Ever since then, I’ve never looked back.”
Two years ago, Aana joined Enliven Disability as a support worker, bringing valuable disability experience with her from her previous roles. Today, Aana is a House Coordinator and has recently completed leadership training. Her role is a balance of direct support and administrative tasks. “Basically, I’m there to assist with the running of the house, mentoring, and helping staff on the floor. Half my role is on the floor, the other half is admin,” she explains.
What does it take to succeed in disability roles like these? “Patience, common sense, and being a creative problem solver,” Aana says. “You have to think outside the box to find ways for people to do things in their own way.” Observant and empathetic, Aana has found that the key to doing this work well is understanding that every individual’s needs are unique. “You never stop learning because two people may have a similar type of disability, but they’re never the same individuals.”
For Aana, working in disability is about much more than a job. “I love this job; it’s something I feel very passionate about,” she says. Despite the challenges, she finds great satisfaction in making a difference. “It’s opened my eyes up to things I took for granted. You can make a big difference in big ways or very little ways,” she reflects.
Of course, there are challenges in this line of work. “You have to take good care of yourself because it’s easy to get compassion fatigue when you give so much,” Aana shares. The work can be both emotionally and physically demanding, but it’s also deeply fulfilling. “The clients I work with are generally some of the happiest people I’ve ever met,” she says. Aana has found a career that challenges and rewards her every day. “It’s without a doubt challenging, but very rewarding. A lot of things about the role come very naturally to me. It makes you look at life differently, from a new lens.”
Do you thrive on variety, enjoy thinking creatively, and feel ready to see the world from a new perspective? If so, then you might fit right in with us. Enliven is looking for all kinds of people who want to make a difference in the lives of locals. Whether it’s for a paid or a volunteer role, we would love to talk to you if you’re as passionate about supporting people as we are. Visit www.psec.org.nz/careers to learn more. Follow us @EnlivenDisability on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Photo: Aana Cookson with flatter Ngatamaine Tauranga
