Manfred's Story

My name is Manfred, and this is my story in a nutshell. I began my journey with adult disability services when I joined WALK in 2012. Initially, I worked as a social care worker on the relief panel for residential services, with no prior experience in disability services or supporting adults with intellectual disabilities. Over time, while studying full-time, I was offered contracted hours at one of the residential homes.

I later transitioned between residential houses before accepting the assistant psychologist role, where I supported the day-service teams. During this time, I witnessed WALK’s day-service grow exponentially, which required a focus on developing front-line social care staff teams. At this point, I moved into the newly created role of well-being practice developer. My focus shifted from the people we support to the people who support them. As the day-service expansion plateaued, I found myself returning to the assistant psychologist role, with some additional responsibilities in well-being and training.

I’ve been with WALK for quite some time, and the main reason for that is the sense of belonging that comes from working with a group of people who share the same values, philosophy, work ethic, and dedication. It’s hard to step away from such a team.

I have been privileged to meet and support a large number of unique and engaging individuals who allowed me into their lives. It’s a humbling experience and a selfless profession, but one that has made me a better person.