ID: A photo of a women and a man smiling.
Across three very different journeys, a common thread emerges: sometimes the most meaningful careers begin in unexpected places. For three of the MAP team, the path into disability support didn’t start in healthcare or community services—it started in the fast-paced, high-pressure world of commercial kitchens.
As chefs, Subi, Lana and Chris mastered long hours, intense environments, and the art of staying calm when everything around them demanded urgency. Over time, each of them was pulled toward something more sustainable, more balanced, and ultimately, more purposeful.
Drawn to disability support by a deep motivation to connect, to care, and to make a tangible difference in people’s lives, the diversity of career experience amongst MAP’s team showcases how transferable skills like resilience, organisation, and empathy opens doors to an entirely new career.
The importance of work-life balance
As chefs, Subi, Lana and Chris were accustomed to long hours, and busy weeks. “I used to be working sixteen-hour shifts,” Subi says. “It was very intense.”
Transitioning into disability support offered not just a change of role, but a shift in lifestyle. “I used to be a chef for seven years,” Chris reflects. “But then three years ago I got married … and I couldn’t balance my work/life.” Being able to prioritise time with family, the transition to the disability industry offered increased flexibility and structure. This has led to a renewed sense of balance and wellbeing, Importantly, this balance didn’t come at the cost of fulfilment—quite the opposite.
“I decided to pursue opportunities that would provide a better work-life balance,” Lana says. “And I find the work highly rewarding. Seeing the smiles on the clients’ faces brings me daily joy and a real sense of fulfillment in my work.
Subi agrees. “To see people smiling, a smile on their face is all we want. That’s the most satisfying thing in this role.”
From pressure to people: transferrable skills
“Being a chef was a very demanding job,” Subi remembers. “Disability is not an easy industry either. But it’s a very fulfilling job. You can make a difference in people’s lives.”
Despite leaving the kitchen behind, none of our team started from scratch. In fact, their hospitality experience became a strong foundation for success in support work. Working under pressure is a critical strength, as Chris highlights: “It’s pretty demanding working in the kitchen. I moved to a pub in Melbourne; in the first weekend we did 4000 meals. But I was calm and focused. That’s one thing that I bring into this sphere. Then I started as a support worker. For the first time, I was greeted when I walked into a job. By the client. That felt different for me. It’s very rewarding.”
“I can handle pressure and be calm,” Subi agrees. “I’m very good at dealing with people.”
Organisational skills and time management are other key things our team attribute to their time in the kitchen. As Lana shares, “My strong organisational and time management abilities enable me to stay on task and ensure that all responsibilities are completed efficiently for my clients.”
Growth through opportunity
For Subi, Lana and Chris, the move into disability support work initially seemed like natural stopping point. However, all three describe their experiences with MAP opening doors to leadership opportunities and career progression—an often overlooked avenue in support work.
“I never thought of being in a leadership role of being a Key Worker,” Chris says. “I took it because working with different clients changed my mind. I’m almost a year into the leadership role and now I believe that I’m the perfect fit.”
“I did not initially see myself progressing into more senior roles,” Lana agrees. “However, my commitment to my clients grew and I developed a strong desire to do more. As a result, stepping into a higher-level role became a natural progression in my career.”
Subi shared a similar experience, and adds, “If you have the right team around you, it gives you confidence, it helps you to see the things that you have not discovered by yourself.”
Challenge and reward – the real impacts
The strongest theme shared is the emotional impact of support work. These moments capture what makes disability support unique—the ability to see, feel, and be part of meaningful change in someone’s life.
While deeply fulfilling, all three acknowledged that the work comes with challenges and requires the right mindset. “If you’ve got … a good attitude and you feel empathy and you want to do something rewarding, I would definitely recommend disability support work,” Chris says.
“Stepping into disability support work is both a meaningful and rewarding journey,” Lana agrees, while Subi says, “If you do the right thing, it can make an impact on people. There was a client with us, we had a very hard beginning with him. The whole team could see the difference in his life, the positive impact our support had on him. That hit me hard.”
Chris, too, shares a highlight moment in his journey so far. “I have my client who doesn’t speak at all, speak for about two minutes. Twice! I just laughed and cried, I was so over the moon, it was very rewarding.”
For Lana, this experience comes often. “Since joining MAP, I have experienced this feeling many times. The growth I have seen in our clients—their increased confidence and capacity building—is truly remarkable.”
From the intensity of the kitchen to the impact of disability support, Subi, Lana and Chris’s stories celebrate change and finding meaningful work that supports not just their clients, but also themselves. They’re united by where they came from, as well as where they’ve arrived: roles grounded in empathy, purpose, and connection.
For anyone considering a similar move, their experiences offer a simple but powerful message—your skills are more transferable than you think, and the right opportunity can lead to professional growth and a deeper sense of fulfilment in both work and life.
If you have experience as a Support Worker in aged care or disability and are looking for the stability of a rostered line of 38+ hours per week, we’d love to hear from you. Explore current opportunities and apply via My Ability Pathway Careers.
