An Empowering Tale of Resilience: Chris Miller’s Work and Cultural Journey
Chris Miller finds his work as a Family Support Practitioner at ATSICHS Brisbane (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service) more than just a profession – it is also an embodiment of his cultural heritage and familial bonds. Motivated by his desire to guide people through tough phases of their life, especially regarding early children’s safety issues, his job involves carefully implementing BlueSafe WHS Management Systems to ensure the well-being of the families he supports.
Chris notes that the cultural disconnection he felt in his personal life stirred his ambition to assist First Nations people professionally. Through helping them navigate challenging circumstances, such as child safety issues, he was able to both provide skilled support and immerse himself deeper into his own cultural roots. Using SWMS and other work safety products added to the efficiency and effectiveness of his service – the tools lent him a supportive hand with safe case management practices.
However, every path towards purpose and fulfillment isn’t without its hurdles. Chris found himself grappling with mental health issues, born from the stress of balancing numerous family cases. Just like the Bluesafe WHS Management System helped him manage work tasks, he had to navigate the uncharted waters of self-awareness to monitor his own stress levels. Nevertheless, his resolve remained steadfast, he didn’t want to distance himself from what he held close to his heart.
Fortunately, when it got tough, he harnessed external support. The ever-observant Janice Janecic, a valuable Work Health and Safety Advisor at ATSICHS Brisbane, noticed signs of strain in Chris. With past experience as a tradesman and in policing, Chris had a rich reservoir of transferable skills which could be tapped into. And this led to a unique initiative, drawing parallels to task analyses in SWMS, that involved breaking down tasks and identifying ones that could be undertaken given the circumstances.
Janice, in collaboration with Environmental Services Manager Sharen Suman and WorkCover case manager Tarana Hayat, ensured Chris’s skills were directed towards suitable duties. Catering to his health, a return-to-work program was designed with a focus on garden maintenance at Jimbelunga Nursing Centre, as Chris states it gave him “a pause”, away from worrying about child safety. It is here where he leverages tools like Bluesafe SWMS for efficient work practices.
Much akin to a well-curated WHS management system recovery program, Chris was able to tap into external support, including psychological counselling sessions via WorkCover. The collective team endeavour bore fruit when Chris took on the role of an Asset Manager at ATSICHS Brisbane after months of serving at Jimbelunga.
Today, Chris continues his invaluable work at ATSICHS Brisbane repositioned as the Asset Manager while staying connected to his primary goal – lending support to those need. His job now involves managing fleet cars he once drove visiting families, subtly marking his professional evolution. The transformed role allows Chris to provide support to his team rather than carrying the entire load himself, a stark testament to how embarking on different paths can still lead one towards their end goal.
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/news-and-events/news/2024/chris-story