04/09/2026
MEET OUR TEAM!
We’re kicking off a new series where we interview our amazing staff and learn more about their experiences and what they love about their work!
First up, meet Cristian, one of our amazing Team Leaders!
🔷What motivated you to work in disability and mental health?
I have a degree in Psychology, and when I started my career, I thought I wanted to become a psychologist, sitting behind a desk in an office. But when I started working in Italy, my first experience was in child protection, supporting children with complex histories and difficult experiences. I still remember one moment in particular. A six-year-old child was feeling anxious and struggling to fall asleep. They asked me for a goodnight hug, and after that simple hug, they relaxed and slowly fell asleep. It might seem like such a small thing, but it was such a meaningful moment. It made me realise how much our work can make a difference in someone's life.
Sometimes it’s helping someone fall asleep at night.
Sometimes it’s learning how to cook a new recipe together.
Sometimes it’s just sharing a joke and having a good laugh.
Being able to leave a positive mark on someone's life, even in the smallest ways, is one of the most rewarding and motivating parts of my job.
🔷What do you enjoy most about your role?
It’s definitely not a boring job! Every day can be completely different, and sometimes I find myself in situations I would have never imagined experiencing in my life. From looking for crabs on the beach with kids, to playing basketball in a high-risk section of a prison, or joking about paintings in a mental health ward…
You never really know what the day is going to bring. Unpredictability is probably one of the best words to describe this job.
🔷What is one thing you have learned from the people you support?
Happiness can often be found in the small things in life. Sometimes we focus so much on achieving big things that we end up feeling frustrated when we don’t get something we wanted, even when it’s something we might not really need.
But sometimes, all we need is to slow down and enjoy simple things in life.
🔷What are some challenges you face in your role, and how do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
I do find it quite easy to burn out in this job. There are periods when working in this field can be really difficult. The level of attention people need can be very high, I might have to deal with challenging behaviour, or sometimes it’s simply just a bad day. When supporting participants, they have to be at the centre of their care. Being fully present for someone, especially when something happens, takes a lot of energy, both mentally and emotionally. That’s why I’ve learned that taking breaks is not something to feel bad about. It’s actually an important part of being able to keep doing this job well.
🔷What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a support worker?
Be passionate about it.
This is a job that will allow you to pay your bills and save some money for leisure activities, but it won’t make you rich. That’s why being passionate about leaving a positive influence on other people’s lives is an important foundation.
🔷What makes a great support team, in your opinion?
Everyone in a team brings a different set of skills and experiences. When we put them all together, we can provide the best possible support to the people we work with. Cooperation and communication are so important in this field. They help us stay consistent and make sure everyone is working towards the same goals. When everyone is on the same page, the job becomes easier, not only for the people we support, but for us as well. Also support among staff is very important.
Thank you, Cristian Mevio !
