Steve Innes work for Kurri Kurri Community Services in the Hunter Valley. Together with his colleagues, Steve is paving the way for individuals with disabilities to gain employment and social inclusion. Steve explains how workplaces in all industries can reframe their understanding and attitudes towards individuals with disabilities; seeing them as an asset rather than a burden. This is a really interesting conversation and one that I would love you to listen to.
If you are like me and you are the parent of a child with a disability this is a terrific episode for you to engage with.
Enjoy!
Steve Innes work for Kurri Kurri Community Services in the Hunter Valley. Together with his colleagues, Steve is paving the way for individuals with disabilities to gain employment and social inclusion. Steve explains how workplaces in all industries can reframe their understanding and attitudes towards individuals with disabilities; seeing them as an asset rather than a burden. This is a really interesting conversation and one that I would love you to listen to.
If you are like me and you are the parent of a child with a disability this is a terrific episode for you to engage with.
Enjoy!
Hi there, my name is Emily and you're listening to the mumble road Podcast. Today I interviewed a man called Steve Innes. In his previous career, Steve was a police officer. He was well regarded within his industry and conscientious within his role. For reasons that stable explained during this podcast, he chose to leave the police force, and he took a job within the disability industry. Today, Steve is the social inclusion curator of innovations and partnerships at Curry curry Community Services. Steve is a passionate advocate for the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in workplace and community settings. This is a really brilliant interview, and I really encourage you all to listen to it. This podcast does discuss topics including depression and PTSD. Please be mindful of this, if this is going to impact your mental health today. I hope you enjoy this podcast, you will get so much out of it. I'd love to hear your feedback. Steve, thanks so much for joining us today. It's terrific that you have been willing to give some of your time to explain your story. And the difference that your work is making in Australia today. You work in an organisation organisation within the disability industry now, however, you haven't always worked in this industry. Can you offer us an insight into your working career in its entirety, and give us a bit of a snapshot about yourself. My working crew started at the age of 18, where I enlisted into the military. And I think my motivation at that particular point was obviously identified within myself there were person service. So I found myself in the military at a young age, I said, the other half years, I saw active service in East Timor, I came out of the military with a plan to pursue education. And in that time, I found myself in the police force. And we spent the next 14 years specialising as a detective, doing criminal investigations from the journey devote so much identified with myself that I was struggling with some mental health issues, a very intense process. So then, you know, go through psychotherapy are diagnosed with complex PTSD in terms of depression and anxiety. But the nature of the work that I did for so long, made it to more complex, the fact that the trauma that of my exposure to trauma was not mine off it was through years and years of work. And that, that really, I guess that processes really made me see the world a little bit differently. I had to reinvent myself a little bit. But in that journey of reinventing myself, I found myself networking drawn to the disability employment sector, I find I'll find some purpose there promoting social inclusion through employment. I think for some reason that works for me, I think community and social inclusion is the key that I find that the disability sector in particular really attracts a like minded community. And I think that's, that's what is my strength, there are fine, what's my connection to the community there. So today, I work within an organisation that provides a number of business units or a number of services to the communities community focused and with a real focus on promoting social inclusion and creating employment for people with disabilities. But it's more showing the world that you can't have models that promote people with disability in the workforce. Can we lead by example. So we're advocates in that space? You've brought up a couple of really important conversations there. And I just wanted to highlight one quick phrase that you've brought up a couple of times that social inclusion phrase, do you think in your work that you've Is there any and I'm not a specialist necessarily in that field, but do you think there is a general relationship between social inclusion and better mental health for all individuals including individuals with disabilities? Yes. By the sacred You know, to better mental health is participation. With community and social inclusion, it's when you go down a journey of poor mental health, you find yourself socially not included those symptoms and those feelings of depression and anxiety, somewhat highlighted. So to my own experience, being involved in community, social inclusion and having support networks or having having a supportive people around you, who can say, look, it's okay. What you're feeling is normal, we understand there is more, one more than one way to go about going about your day in work. And having a little bit of flexibility as well as really key. So absolutely, I think better, promoting community promoting social inclusion. That's what I like about the employment sector, it promotes that work is a social exercise in some capacity. And it's really important, it gives you purpose, it gives you an idea, it gives you something to work on a big something to think about. And that in itself is providing social inclusion, working with other people in like minded situations. I also wanted to just have a quick discussion about the fact that you've also raised the term, people with disabilities or people with additional needs, and the fact that you and your organisation are very open and very willing to accommodate me the needs of people to get them into a workplace situation, I feel that there needs to be more proactive, workplace action in this regard, from your, in your mind, and certainly where you work today. What's it like to be able to accommodate the needs of somebody with a disability in a workplace, first of all? And second of all, what would be your general message to other employers who, who could and should be doing the same sort of work model? A think to answer that in a broad way? I think we need to get companies to understand that disability integration is not about finding disabilities, that suit goals, business structure, but rather to about changing your structure. So in training was structured to suit people with disabilities? I think that's the key point. They're working as an employer. And I think in the hunter, I wouldn't say way, the highest I don't know what the statistics are. But in the Hunter Valley, this one of our business units is one of the highest employers that people with disabilities, I really like that the idea of the connection, I really because I envisage the fact. And I want to come back to the fact that you don't look for the disabilities, you look for the way you can reduce the barriers. So have you heard the saying, you know, take the detail of the disability and focus on the ability and look at, don't look at our differences, but look at our similarities, you know, things like that they're they're things that you look at. So to give you an example, what makes a workforce with people who have certain limitations? First of all, I believe you promote a workforce that shows more resilience. So a person with a disability has to be resilient to they troubleshoot, they risk assess every day, to provide unconsciously to them, they don't understand. But for someone else, that you can see that for them, for a person with a disability, they have to assess everything, to be able to function. You incorporate it into a business and a business structure. He's starting to look at things differently. And I love that because that promotes innovation. I think a lot of the workforces are based on a very traditional workforce, that for people who have who are able to go to work, but it's not built on a person who sees the world differently as a person with a disability. But if it was built on through the eyes of a person with a disability, it would be a very much different workforce. It'll be a lot more innovative, I think, lately. And so it's the as the resilience is the innovation. But I also find, working with paid for directly in an employment side. People with disabilities have a lot of empathy. And that that is a really case and empathy promotes loyalty, compassion, and I think, see a shift in today's world where that's probably more important that people are more reliable, they're loyal. They prompt and they do their job with empathy. I think a lot of employers these days are looking at people who can do fulfil contracts with that attitude. And I think this is what the strengthen they added, added advantage of working with people in a disability area they provide. That's excellent. It's really, those words, in my mind, would would benefit any workplace, any educational setting, any community setting. Certainly, the word empathy brings up all kinds of positive connotations, in my mind, being a mother of a child with a disability, we, we also come as a team so fresh in our mind, when I think of, in the future, when my son is applying for a job, we are all going to be so invested in that workplace together as a unit, because that's what families of children and people, sometimes with, with children with a disability, you had to work as a tight, a tight knit group, and the the personal investment is huge. And I also really think that's, that's quite beneficial as well. And it comes back to that loyalty, you brought that word in as well. So if in my mind, if somebody was willing to give my son a shot at employment situation, we would embrace them, hugs and all, we'd be all in boots and all and and it would be terrific. I don't always advocate for businesses, you want to employ people with disabilities, with a hidden agenda, I advocate for people with disabilities, because they can perform the role during more than able to do this included in society, it gives them a purpose, but it does make sense to employ people with disabilities, because it does promote better business because the extended family could also you know, everyone knows someone with a disability, they go to a workplace, and it's okay, they see someone with a disability, it's going to attract more business for that business. But that's another thing. Somebody's motivation or agenda, but it has been a proven thing as well, that the greater community was supportive business for the person with a disability. I interviewed in this podcast series, my husband, Tim, and in PE raised a really important issue from a person who prior to having a child with a disability didn't have a lot to do with individuals with disabilities or additional needs in any capacity. And he really looks at the life prior to having a child with additional needs. And after that, okay. And he feels like he just he missed out on a really excellent learning experience when he was younger. So he's really learnt about the, the different lens that this that disabilities can place on families and workplaces and individuals. And he was really great to get that insight into his thinking for you. Do you feel a little bit the same? Maybe, from a younger Steve's point of view, and then in an older Steve's point of view, where you've had that insight into some mental illness and looking at things differently, and really having to have mindfulness and all of these sorts of different different tools? Do you feel a bit the same to how Tim described his experience? Yes, yes, I would say, the younger version of myself so my, who I am today would be an evolution of experiencing lived experience, you know, live life, that's how I've evolved today in my influence. And through that experience, the younger version of myself, was very naive to mental health. In fact, I would say an influence on my family, who was more you know, you there was no way that you would talk about feelings of a sudden you didn't do I didn't grow up in an environment which was nurtured where there was full of lots of we spoke of feelings, it was very, you know, what are you crying about? You know, get over it was are you feeling like that or it was always dismissed? Essentially. The person I am today thinks completely opposite to that. The importance of sharing your feelings, talking it out. But providing it even as a parent now, providing the opportunity and a safe place, I guess, to have someone be able to express their feelings or emotions in a judge free environment, that there's no consequences of what you say saying it's what you feel, let's talk about it, let's explore how it makes you feel what strategies would you could do to make that better. We implement that here in a workforce. You know, we understand people with mental, mental health actually will have their bad days. And as a business, instead of making that an issue or punishing someone for having a day off, or the threat of losing a job, we in fact, to regain your job is safe, we often offer a care package for those who are in a little bit more financial strain. And then we go take your time your job is safe, you're more than welcome to come back. When you're ready, and we hold we hold people's jobs. And that's an additional fear a lot of other employees don't do that. But I think it's because we're so much more attuned now. That that's an experience that we've learned to live. And I think businesses would have done that before. This is a question. And if you're uncomfortable to answer, that's completely fine. But I'm also thinking about your previous personal experience in the police force. If you were a police officer or a detective today, would you do you think you could have any of these insights into your professional work? Or do you think is is? Is this role that you've got now really, where you can stretch your wings? And or the other way I want to think about this question or statement is, how can the police force begin to or look at this area differently as well? Is that something that you can talk about? Or is that too difficult? Yeah, I'm happy to talk about it. It's complex. Funnily enough, was on a tombstone about this morning, but the place is an organisation and the nature of their work exposes you to very traumatic events day in day out, dealing with it's very complicated, and it's very complex. And it'd be very hard to find the right approach. But my experience with the police, is their understanding of mental health or their work was very poor, when I was employed, there was no formal training or time to go out and learn more about individual mental health or something, but you had to suck up, get on with it. Put on a mask, don't show emotion. And even if you've got a very traumatic job that are very emotional, even for yourself, it was important that you mean, you maintain a posture of professionalism, you had to get the job done in those jobs can sometimes last for a few years. And I think the police aren't awareness at the time of my service also had an impact on it was evident that was mental health issues in society, but better ways of dealing mental health people, people struggling with mental health, and often made bad decisions, which have to be made then there. But if the right support and understanding and community expectation was met, that sometimes the outcome would be a lot different. So it's very complex. who I am today would be a different approach. But I often think sometimes my strength is my weakness. I'm a person who has a lot of empathy. And if you go into a job, we like the police and you show too much empathy. Sometimes it's a good thing, but sometimes it can be a bad thing. I'll definitely be very different about it. Then in terms of mental health in with the police officers and serving members, any emergency services actually should have time for respite, they need time to walk away from the worksite and undertake some sort of group or individual therapy in a quiet environment. There are some hospitals out there like the St. John of God hospital that are set on beautiful grounds, I could imagine something like that would be a great place to go have some respite for a week to take some time out 10 some sessions, learn about mental health, work with some experts, broaden your understanding of it, understand that it's okay that these feelings do happen. I think that's probably approach. It is complex. And and again, it's not obviously not my area of specialty, but I wanted to get your insight because it's so important. We, you're right, all of our emergency services. And in fact, health care and education, they're the people we really need to be fostering and supporting. And we need to all be behind them. And it's just I wanted, it's terrific to get your insight because of the well rounded story that you've had in your life so far. Your I just your workplace now is incredible. You've touched on it a couple of times, but I just wanted to give you the floor and to really add any final comments about what you're doing there. And in fact, what your workplace provides, because from what I understand, it's terrific and I just like to give you the floor and for you to add any final comments on that. Well work now what I like about it the most is there's a real energy of providing community services to the community with a real community focus, but with an innovation. And the if we were looked upon as a real movement probably 30 years ago within the disability sector and employment. And I would say that word was groundbreaking it was it changed the way things were brought in, particularly people with disabilities, employment and businesses. And there are a lot of advocating, my observation from being in this industry is that's gotten really stale. And there's been very little movement, there's been some minor adjustments to try to improve things. But the system itself hasn't changed a great deal. And it's stale. I think we're going through a period of change. Now. I think there's real, real movement of changing business structures, there's a real push to show the world, show communities that this is something we should be doing, we should be investing more into prep works. As I speak, now, I'm looking at innovative ways of changing the workforce, which will be very competitive for the job market, they'll be great for people and people with disabilities. It's changing people's perspectives, it's making the nine disability not a dirty word suddenly, not to be scared off, it's giving employees confidence to go, you know what this isn't, this is really no different to having an able bodied come in with a disability. The human people have ideas, they bring a lot to the business, let's focus on that side of things. But our business is demonstrating that we put things in place to show that this can work. That's what I like about it. Our our service offerings go from health services to building homes, specifically for people with home modifications for disability in aged care, but we're also doing a lot of work, creating new structures to our business and showing people how to do. That's what I like about it. We're not talking about it, we're not social influences. We're advocates, and we lead by example. And it's unreal drive at the moment, what we're doing in that space. I love DUIs. I love people that are getting the job done, actually getting the job done. Guys, I can make the workplaces like yours. And people like you make the world go round, and make proper change and proper progress, which is terrific. And like I've said, you know, you know my son as well, I'm an I'm a parent of a child who went in 10 years time is going to be looking for a job, and hopefully independent living and housing. And so I look at what you do and say this could be completely life changing for my child. So this is not something not It's not airy fairy, this is actually making a huge difference. And also, that we're looking at a lot of people, people think disability is a small proportion and a small percentage of our population. And that's not. So you're making a real difference to a significant percentage of our population. Nothing the bigger picture there is to look at my stats might be accurate, but 70% of people with a disability incur disability after birth, right. We're an ageing population. And our life circumstances can change even in my own life, but the life size, your circumstance, and life can change. So it probably should be a subject that we're all talking about. Because it could impact any one of us at any moment. Or our family members. And I think we need to take that stigma out of it. In truth, this is a conversation we should be having with everyone and how to better and that's exactly what we do here. What what I actually find interesting is this whole community of Terry Keremeos is an amazing organisation that does all this, which my one of my aims is to bring this business out of the shadows into the spotlight this year to show people what we're doing in regional New South Wales. Exactly that has changed lives. It's what we do. Excellent. Well, Steve, thank you for your time out you are incredibly busy and incredibly important person because of the work that you're doing. And I appreciate the time you've taken out of your day to speak to me today. I want to be able to put a spotlight on what you're doing. And I would really love to have another interview with you later down the track to hear about some of the initiatives that you've put in place and to to see exactly what you're doing in practice, come to life and see that difference. To do that. All right, thanks. Thanks, man. I really loved speaking to Steve today. His insight is unique and inspirational. I'm the parent of a child with a disability knowing that people like Steve are paving the way for my son to have an employee The opportunity when he's older is really comforting. When Steve is not at work, he's on the steering committee of the making waves foundation here in New Castle, jump onto their website to take a look. This initiative ensures that children with disabilities or children from a disadvantaged background have experiences that they may never have thought possible. I am really hopeful to be able to pop over to the new castle base and pop some photos onto my socials to show you what they're doing. Remember, every road starts with small steps. I'm Emily from Mum road. Bye for now.