Support helps Chris find a new path after mental injury

Chris’s work as a family support practitioner with ATSICHS Brisbane (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service) had deep personal significance. He estimates his parents and other family members have a combined 120 years of experience in the same vocation. Working with First Nations people also offered him a way to connect with culture.

Supporting families facing early-stage child safety issues, however, affected his own wellbeing. Chris described the strain of supporting parents and children across multiple families, and how the stress built up over time. “I thought I was pretty good at being able to identify those things and then, they snuck up on me,” he said.

ATSICHS Brisbane Work Health and Safety Advisor Janice Janecic noticed that Chris sounded different during their conversations and was no longer making his usual jokes. Knowing he had transferable skills from previous work as a tradesman and in policing, she looked for other duties he could undertake within the organisation.

Janice worked with Environmental Services Manager Sharen Suman and WorkCover case manager Tarana Hayat to arrange suitable garden maintenance duties at Jimbelunga Nursing Centre. Janice described the process as looking at available tasks on site, then considering where else in the organisation someone might need help.

Tarana recognised Chris’s motivation to return to work. “From the very beginning I kind of knew that he was very purpose driven. He was always talking about return to work and you get that feeling that this person is motivated and genuine,” she said. Through WorkCover, Chris also accessed treatment and support, including sessions with a psychologist.

The garden maintenance work gave Chris a break from the pressures of supporting families. “I got to actually pause and not have to worry about child safety,” he said. In the transcript of his story, he described being able to focus on whether the mower had fuel rather than worrying about a family.

After several months at Jimbelunga, Chris had an opportunity to fill in as Asset Manager across all ATSICHS Brisbane sites. He was subsequently offered the position permanently. His responsibilities now include managing the fleet vehicles he previously used when visiting families.

Chris said the new role had preserved his sense of purpose while allowing him to contribute differently and support a team of his own. “In my mind I'm like, well, I can still do the same work that I did, but I'm doing it from a different place.” He credited the support he received with helping him take that step.

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