Zoe Moffatt
While the days of COVID-19 filled with breadmaking, exercise catch ups, and Tiger King, may seem like a distant memory, the workplace effects of lockdowns are starting to become apparent.
Research released by Melbourne University in March 2023 found that COVID-19 had a significant and lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of Australian workers.
The report found that workplace motivation is down for young and middle-aged workers, with more than one third of workers aged 18 to 54 years old considering quitting their job.
For Sunbury resident Joel Gersbeck, 25, who studied a bachelor of music, his current job supporting students with a disability was not always the career path he planned.
On Joel’s desk sits a handmade reminder of the impact he makes everyday as a disability support worker.
Picking up the card, which is covered with stickers and stars, Joel carefully opens it to reveal a message from a student that says “thank you for helping me Joe.”
“It’s very sweet,” Joel said.
“[She] might have spelt my name wrong but she did the whole thing herself.”
This card marks a cherished memory for the musician-turned-disability support worker, who is six months into his full time role at a specialist school.
Joel said he took some time to figure out this career move after graduating, and spent some time being a line cook in a restaurant.
However, a conversation with his sister led him to study a certificate IV in disability, which he said he finds rewarding.
“Going into it, I didn’t think education could be part of care and support work but my placement put me in a school, and I really enjoyed it … it’s super rewarding [and] every day is something new.
“With my background, I think music therapy for kids with disability could be something I’d enjoy [exploring in the future].”
Joel said this shows that there are avenues for different careers and if you do not like one particular thing you can try something else.
