I am a Communications graduate from the University of the Sunshine
Coast and hold a Bachelor of Social Science degree. In recent years I
have also competed as a Paralympics swimmer, been an aspiring
journalist and was honoured to be awarded 2005 Queensland Young
Achiever of the Year.
Since becoming a paraplegic in a car accident at eight months of age, I
have been ‘run off my wheels’ chasing after my dreams to be the fastest
swimmer in the world, travel and be a television presenter.
I was always a keen student, receiving high distinctions for all my
subjects at university. During my studies I completed an internship at
ABC Online and the ABC television program Stateline. There were always
extra things to think about, like when doing a television interview I
needed to ask the other person to sit down so our eye level is the same
for the camera. I also needed to find out whether the venues we would
be filming at have access, and communicate my needs to the camera
person and crew.
I have also written a number of stories for my local newspaper, The
Sunshine Coast Daily, and a feature article for The Weekender magazine
about life at the Athens Paralympic Games. I also worked part-time
visiting schools across regional Queensland, conducting sport workshops
and disability awareness activities. In these positions the key factors
were being organised and forward planning. For example, I would call
schools in advance to ask about disabled parking and for the wheelchair
toilet to be unlocked. It was easy to ask a group of students to carry
the bag of sporting equipment for me.
Aside from my university study, I am an elite athlete, competing in the
Athens Paralympics and winning two bronze medals for the 50 metre
breaststroke and the 150 metre individual medley. I was also a member
of the Sydney 2000 team and, at the time of writing, was in training
for Beijing 2008.
During my 12 years on the Australian Paralympic swimming team I have
broken over 70 Australian records in breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle
and individual medley; training 576 kilometres a year, 6 days a week.
Based in my accessible unit in Maroochydore on the Queensland Sunshine
Coast, I also have an ambition to visit every continent in the world. I
am well on my way; having backpacked around Europe, ridden a camel to
the pyramids in Egypt and swum at competitions in 13 countries.
On top of my already busy schedule, I have launched a career as a
motivational speaker. I have had plenty of experience at this; the
first being at the age of nine in front of a corporate audience at a
state conference. I am receiving excellent feedback from my new
clients. Being a busy elite athlete, and because I often need rest or
am in pain, nine to five just doesn’t suit. I needed to be creative in
the way I use my skills and earn an income. Public speaking and writing
from home are perfect.
I believe in a whole of life approach to preparing for employment, and
that you need to start developing skills in disclosing your disability
and discussing your needs during school, or as soon as you acquire a
disability. Confidence, lateral thinking, knowing what you need and
being able to ask for it are some of the keys to succeeding in life and
in your career with disability.
We all develop these skills in different ways, often not related to
work. For me it was travelling alone, especially overseas where I had
to either be self-sufficient or ask for help and articulate my needs,
sometimes to people who barely spoke English.
Although I never mention my disability in job applications, it is
implied in my résumé which mentions that I am a Paralympian and have
been involved in advocacy and as a volunteer. I consider these to be
strengths and experiences which will assist me professionally in the
Communications industry, particularly the experience I have had dealing
with the media as an athlete.
Make the most of the fact that you are different and stand out. Getting
interviewers to remember you is a major hurdle, now you have their
attention you just have to wow them with your personality, skills and
abilities! I hope my recent experience as author of this booklet and as
a university student with disability will help students facing similar
challenges to pursue higher education and enter the work force.