The sky's the limit

12 Oct 2022

If you were a young person living in an unsafe home or at risk of ending up on the streets, carer Georgia is just the type of person you’d be pleased to see if you were offered a home at Horizon House.

The service, with homes in Western Australia and Victoria, provides a safe, low-cost accommodation and support for young people at risk of homelessness, and Georgia’s role is to gently guide and support residents while they find their feet. 

She says the service’s unique graded support for young people, which ranges from intensive to independence over time, was part of what attracted her to the role. 

“I was interested in applying for this position because I wanted to be able to help young people who have experienced homelessness develop on their independence journey.

“Horizon House is a unique program. What I like most is that you get to see that development from these young people, giving them that second chance to make better choices in life and choose that path that they’d really like to follow,” she says.

Professional development is an important part of learning and growing as a practitioner, so Georgia has been offered a number of courses that will assist her in developing her skills to support Horizon House’s young people.

“The opportunities I’ve been offered so far include training in trauma-informed care and complex care,” says Georgia.

“St John of God Health Care is an amazing environment to work in. The best part is definitely that support you are given and that space to grow in your position,” she says.

“The sky’s the limit basically!”

And what would Georgia especially like to highlight to someone considering the move to Australia to work as a youth residential carer? 

“Definitely the beaches and the clear water - that is 100 per cent my favourite thing about living in Australia!”