‘You’ve got to have heart’: Tabatha’s journey on building a life and career on compassion

A mother of four, Tabatha began her career in the community sector with no roadmap—just a quiet determination to do something that mattered. After twenty years, she’s not only still standing and thriving in the sector, she’s leading the way!

Based in Brisbane, Queensland, Tabatha is now an Accommodation Manager with Leora Healthcare. But her path into the industry was anything but linear. Her disability support worker story reflects the kind of career growth that’s possible in the sector.

“As a young mum at 20, I was unsure of my career path,” she shares. “But I knew I wanted to be a part of the health industry in some capacity.”

She began with a qualification in disability support, gaining experience across disability and aged care services, all while raising three children and being pregnant with her fourth.

“I wanted to prove to myself, my kids and others that it’s never too late to pursue education or a career change, regardless of any circumstances.”

It’s this mix of quiet resolve and open-hearted grit that has defined her career. Over the years, she’s become the kind of leader who not only manages people but also uplifts them.

As her career progressed, Tabatha’s focus expanded beyond client care to something more organisational and wide-ranging.

“I knew I could do more to improve the way my clients lived,” she says.

Now in a leadership role, she has a deeper understanding of what it takes to help clients achieve real stability, and the importance of knowing what happens behind the scenes.

“When clients reach their goals and experience stability, that’s when I know I’ve done my job well.”

This behind-the-scenes insight is part of what makes Tabatha such a strong advocate for the frontline workforce, because she knows it’s not easy work. Nor is it work that gets the credit it often deserves.

If you ask Tabatha what sets Leora apart, she doesn’t hesitate: “Leora’s hands-on and proactive approach is what truly sets it apart.”

She recalls a recent cyclone where, as she describes, every department worked together to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff and participants. That kind of coordination, she says, isn’t the norm in many organisations. But at Leora, it’s embedded in the culture.

“Leora also values its frontline staff. They recognise that without them, we wouldn’t be the incredible service provider we are today,” Tabatha adds.

That sense of mutual respect and shared purpose is what keeps her motivated. And at Leora, it’s not just talk. It shows up in how people work together, every day.

When she’s not leading her team or advocating for better client care, Tabatha is usually outdoors camping, four-wheel driving and spending time with her family. She also loves to cook, especially baking, and makes everything, from cakes to sourdough, from scratch.

It’s a slower kind of joy that seems to balance the intensity of her day job. But she doesn’t take that balance for granted.

Tabatha’s advice for anyone considering a career in the sector is candid:

“It’s something you have to go into educated. You’ve got to be compassionate, understanding, flexible. You need a strong mental mindset. And most of all, you have to have heart.”

And if her own story is anything to go by, heart might just be the strongest qualification of all.

Tabatha’s story is just one example of what care looks like when it’s built on real connection. Hers is a disability support worker story that reminds us what’s possible when heart leads the way.

At Leora Healthcare, we work alongside our clients and their loved ones to personalise support that works for them best.

If you’re looking for a support worker who gets it, or accommodation that feels like home, our team is here to help you find the right fit.

Contact Leora Healthcare today to get started.

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