June 9th, 2025‘Best job ever’: helping others say independent
Karen started First Stop Disability Services in February 2019 with two aims. The first was to offer support services for Hepburn Shire NDIS participants to support them to achieve and surpass their goals. The second was to provide a long-term financially rewarding career for local support staff.
And it’s working.
Karen says she has the “best job ever”, although she has worked hard for it, and is providing care by local people for local people.
“At the end of the day, to work close to home is a gift, to work in a rural town and have full-time work close to home is a monster gift.
“I have worked to obtain a diploma in counselling, Certificate 4s in disability, bookkeeping and business, these are now benefiting our own community – which is what I have always wanted to do.”
Karen said a lot of bigger companies were sending staff from Melbourne to regional areas like Hepburn Shire on a temporary basis and then looking for locals to eventually fill the role.
“I just want people to know there is an established company quietly providing support services already here, with staff and the means to look after people in the good, and the not so good, times.
“All my staff are local, they live here and work here, we only concentrate on the Hepburn Shire region. I have no interest in growing my company outside those borders. We want to be able to properly do the care that needs to be done. We just want to look after our own people.”
Karen said staff job security was also important and local work meant people were not driving long distances in the cold of winter or avoiding kangaroos in summer.
“I started the business because a friend of mine has a disability and had been telling me for years to get involved, but I also did a Certificate 4 in bookkeeping so we can do plan management as well.
“I like the administration side of things, I have the analytical skills and experience to do the plan management side and pay the invoices on behalf of the NDIS, and have a highly qualified team leader on the support services side and we work together to provide exceptional supports and training for staff.
“So, we have two specialty areas, plan management and support services, and we just want to grow organically. I want to look after the clients I have and let people know if they are ever in trouble, regardless of whether they are with me or not, we have services available in case of emergency or disaster of any sort.
“And I want to let the support workers living in the region know we are around and wanting to build a list going forward if they want to full time in Hepburn Shire. We offer on-the job training for those wanting to dip their toes into an industry which is critical for local people with disabilities within our community.
“We will remain a localised, high-quality service offering exceptional support to our regional participants, while offering a long term financially rewarding career for workers.
“First Stop Disability Services can help with plan management; assistance with personal care activities; development of life skills; assistance with daily routines; house tidying; and community and social participation.
“We recently purchased the (pictured above) accessible vehicle to assist all clients in the area, some advised us they were having trouble finding suitable transportation. We provide supported independent living 24/7 care to local residents and are always on the lookout for staff able to work overnights.”
