Creating a diverse and fulfilling career while making a difference
After completing her Master’s of Social Work in Melbourne, Mengying Jian started working for a local NDIS service provider before she came across a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) role with APM Communities in Western Australia.
Having successfully interviewed for the role, what followed should have been an exciting time for Mengying, packing up her life in Melbourne to explore Australia’s west coast.
However, it was the year 2021, and nothing was simple (or somewhat exciting!). Losing track of the times her authority to enter WA was cancelled or declined, COVID restrictions were one step ahead of Mengying. All in all, she spent a month in South Australia and a further 15 nights in quarantine in Perth before finally settling into her new role in early 2022.
Achieving for others
APM Communities is a proud partner of NDIS participants and their families, helping them to identify and access the supports they need to enjoy a better life.
Mengying had been keen to take on the role of LAC, as it would put into practice the skills she developed at university and aligned with her passion for helping people.
“In 12 months, I helped over 200 NDIS participants develop their plans to seek approval for funding – I’m really proud of that achievement!”
She’s also grateful for the support of the APM Communities leadership team, who provided a dedicated coach to help Mengying continue developing her skills to provide the best outcomes for people needing extra support to improve their health and wellbeing.
Career pathways and progression at APM
Being part of APM, where career mobility and advancement is encouraged, Mengying knew that she could develop a long-term career by exploring opportunities as they presented themselves.
She heard that Konekt, part of the APM Group and one of Australia’s largest rehabilitation and workplace health providers, was seeking a consultant with a social work background, based in Melbourne – and soon after, Mengying had packed up her life again and headed east (thankfully a much more straightforward process this time..!).
“My role is now to help injured workers with transferable job analysis, capacity building and training support, as well as seeking out new roles. I also provide counselling to Workforce Australia and Disability Employment Service participants to assist them in identifying barriers they may have to secure a job and support them with strategies to ensure they are work-ready.”
Mengying is proud to be helping clients make improvements to their lives, and working in a team that values collaboration and opportunities to learn and grow.
“It’s only been a few years, but I’ve learned so much in my time at APM and I look forward to seeing where my career takes me.”
Explore APM’s open roles and find a career path to the future.
