Vantaggi
This role provided me with entry into the field and an opportunity to gain valuable experience. I had the privilege of working alongside incredible therapists who taught me a great deal, many of whom have become valued friends. The nature of the work itself was highly rewarding and allowed me to make a meaningful difference in participants' lives.
Svantaggi
1. Leadership and Management High Staff Turnover: Over 28 staff members across various levels departed in the last year, creating significant instability. Many of these departures were due to poor work conditions or, in some cases, staff were reportedly dismissed without adequate explanation. The constant restructuring further contributed to confusion and a lack of support for remaining staff. This instability led many colleagues to conclude that the environment was not conducive to long-term career growth or happiness. Ethical Concerns: There were occasions where staff were encouraged to meet targets in ways that raised professional and ethical dilemmas. For example, I felt pressured to utilise participant funding in ways that did not always align with their best interests, such as exhausting funding unnecessarily. On one occasion, a safety issue at a participant’s home was raised by a therapist but, to my knowledge, was not addressed before the participant was reassigned to another staff member. Favouritism and Handling of Complaints: In my experience, leadership appeared to show favouritism, and complaints about safety or bullying were not always taken seriously. Conversely, I observed that other allegations were acted on without a thorough investigation, which created distrust among staff. Pay and Contracts: There were instances where contractual reviews were delayed or denied, and I felt the company misrepresented industry-standard pay rates, suggesting staff could not expect better conditions elsewhere. 2. Workplace Environment Inappropriate Conversations: I witnessed multiple occasions where leaders, managers, and senior staff engaged in inappropriate and unprofessional conversations in the workplace, often in shared spaces. This included speaking poorly of past employees and blaming them for others leaving the company. These conversations sometimes occurred directly in front of staff members or were overheard during phone calls. This kind of behaviour created an uncomfortable and unprofessional environment. Micromanagement: Staff were closely monitored and felt pressure to meet KPIs, sometimes in ways that conflicted with professional judgment. For example, I often observed an emphasis on achieving billable hours over ensuring participants’ needs were met appropriately. Inadequate Facilities: The Moonee Ponds office, in my experience, lacked private spaces for sensitive conversations. Confidential calls were often conducted at desks or in public areas, compromising the privacy of participants and staff. 3. Handling of Resignation: My final week was marked by mixed signals—initially, I was offered the chance to stay, but by the end, I felt as though my decision to leave was viewed as a betrayal. This shift in tone left me feeling disrespected and unappreciated, which made an already difficult transition even harder. 4. HR and Compliance Professionalism Concerns: In my dealings with HR and compliance, I found their communication style to be confrontational at times. I personally experienced delays in addressing safety concerns and observed similar issues with other staff. This contributed to a lack of trust in the processes designed to support employees. Final Reflections: While the role itself was fulfilling, the organisational culture created significant challenges. By the time I left, I felt that the environment negatively impacted my well-being, particularly due to the lack of support and professionalism from leadership. My decision to leave was driven by the belief that I could no longer provide my best to participants while working under these conditions. The company adopts a ‘family’ and ‘casual’ approach, which can be appealing, but in my experience, it often blurred the boundaries of professionalism. Combined with micromanagement practices, it created an environment where staff felt undervalued and unsupported. I would recommend this role for gaining experience, but I encourage potential employees to consider the challenges and assess whether this environment aligns with their personal and professional values.