Caring Professional's Profile (example)
Hi, my name is Lisa Wegnall, I am 47, a case worker/counsellor with Western Area Healthcare. I have two children, Samantha, a dental nurse in the city, and Gordon, a bricklayer who lives nearby. Gordon and his partner Kerri, have a son Jake, who I get to mind now and then.
For as long as I can remember I have loved helping people. I wanted to be a nurse, but I got married and had children instead. After my husband left me, I did a diploma of counselling by off-campus study. It took me over five years to complete it, only working when the kids were off to school. My mum looked after them when I had weekend sessions. It enabled me to get a good job and I love my work. Now my children are established, I have decided to up-grade my skills.
I have found that there are more emotionally distressed people than ever before, and more young people in the system unable to cope with life. I am not sure that current approaches are working all that well, people seem to be in the system for longer and we don't seem to be making much of a difference. Too often we just accept it as the way things are. This new approach to emotional health appeals to me. I might even go on and do my master's or something.
Apart from my work and my family, I love to travel to out of the way places. I have been to Cambodia, Tibet and Nepal, and last year I went to South America and trekked around the Inca ruins. One day I plan to go back to Peru and work, maybe with a church organisation. Not that I am all that religious, I just like the way many people in those organisations dedicate their lives to helping people.
I look forward to meeting other people on this course if we have workshops together.
