Rachel came to Aspect with some knowledge of autism but it was the learning opportunities that provided her with a deeper understanding. Rachel uses the training she has learnt during her time at Aspect to support the students every day.

"The rapport and bond developed with children has been amazing. Seeing that relationship grow and it flowing through to that child being able to sit for longer or achieve more academically or socially. "

South East Sydney School has a base school at Peakhurst and 11 satellite classes in the area. Teachers, teacher aides, support staff and allied health professionals are just some of the roles that make up the team.

"It is amazing, we are so blessed. Our Principal Jo Tisdell is incredible, she is so understanding. She understands that we all have our jobs and that we're all passionate. She also understands that can also come with problems, needing to debrief and needing to be educated. I can't say enough about Jo."

"It is a real team environment. We all band together and we all get the job done. We all work together to get the best for the kids."

In addition to her role as a Teacher's Aide, where Rachel has worked in a primary school setting for the last seven years, she also works with Aspect Choose and Connect's School Social Group working with young people on the spectrum aged 8 to 18.

Some advice Rachel would give to someone looking at a career at Aspect would be to “learn as much as you can about autism. One of the key sayings is that ‘no two children with autism are the same'.

"The number one thing that I do, that I think is important, is to build rapport with the students in my class. If you have a good relationship with the children you can accomplish so much."

For people thinking about a career in an Aspect School, Rachel believes a unique and rewarding opportunity is available to those who are passionate - but it's important to make sure you're the right fit for the role and the culture at Aspect.

"There is no day that is perfect where you will have all your ducks in a row, you just have to roll with it and keep on going and rely on that relationship to get you through to the end of the day."

"The more people I can encourage to come along, the better for everybody. It's the best job in the world. "

"After working in retail for many years, I was ready for a change and I knew I wanted to be in a role where I could connect with people. While I was working in retail I met a customer with intellectual disabilities and we actually became friends; she would come in every day and we'd have lunch together. It became the best part of my day! I quickly realised I wanted a career where I could spend time with people."

Matthew now manages the team and provides support to them through training, supervision, and providing necessary resources. At Aspect, we support our people but require teams to be flexible and thrive with independence. This is something Matthew really encourages. Although people in his team could be working alone, he keeps them all connected.

"In this space, it's so important that we join together and become a team. We can't do it alone because it takes a network of people to achieve success. We all pull together and support each other to celebrate wins and overcome the challenges. It's a really nice place to work."

Aspect helps thousands people on the spectrum each year. This wide-reach is what really attracted Matthew to join the team; because while our size is large and provides the expertise in autism, we're small enough to adapt our approaches.

"I get quite excited by Aspect. We provide amazing services and we have the resources to be flexible and try out new evidence informed ideas. We have a lot of history and relationships with international organisations. This ensures we have leading information and approaches to always work towards best practice. We don't stop, we are always improving on our work."

From his experiences working directly with people on the spectrum for over 3 years, Matthew is inspired by the Aspect philosophy. He is constantly striving to motivate, and in turn inspires his colleagues. He has a distinct passion for helping people and it's clear he's found his place here at Aspect.

"I really believe that everyone is 'a different brilliant' and we should appreciate those differences. It means different skills, ways of thinking and personalities that can be amazing, beautiful and truly brilliant if we recognise and support that."

For those considering whether a role with Aspect is right for them, Matthew believes people need to consider whether they have one vital trait.

"We need people who see the inherent value in others. If you can do that, you're going to love the job and will have the best time. Never focus on what people can't do, only what they can to lead meaningful lives."

Before she joined she Aspect, Emma was a paediatric OT specialising in early intervention for children with intellectual and physical disabilities. She also worked as an OT in a rehab hospital specialising in work with stroke patients. Her extensive experience and breadth of skills meant Emma was perfect for a role with us.

"I have a passion for working with children and incorporating therapy for individuals into everyday life in natural environments, promoting their independence and daily function. Aspect was actually my dream job! I also love that the role offers so much independence, supervision and support."

Emma's role provides a lot of flexibility, meaning she manages her daily schedule which is something she has grown to really respect and value. Driving from homes, schools and community visits, Emma experiences the ocean and hinterland views in between sessions, giving her time for reflection and to refresh.

"As an independent person, I love working for Aspect. It has given me incredible opportunities to support families in various locations of the Far North Coast."

'A different brilliant' is something that truly sings true to the work Emma does with families and her personal approach to her role. She supports children on the spectrum and enables their families to support them through unique, and often challenging, situations.

"The people that we have the pleasure of working with at Aspect are brilliant. They're all so different in their own unique ways. It is such a rewarding job. Aspect Therapy has fantastic opportunities for learning and professional development. Aspect is extremely supportive of its staff as well as the clients we work with."

Emma speaks so highly of the team she works with and it is clear that working at Aspect means you have the opportunity to work with experts within the autism space. If you need help or you just want someone to have a chat to, people are always willing to lend a hand. It's important to remember that together, Aspect can achieve what's possible.

"I have the best team ever! My team are so passionate, hard working, caring, hilarious and down to earth. The support coordinators are incredible and they're so motivating. I feel 100% supported in my position and this really does contribute to my own job satisfaction and wellness. I really encourage people to explore roles at Aspect. It's an amazing place to work no matter the role you take on."