Peta Omachen

6.30 AM

I wake up and take my time getting ready. I have already prepared my lunch last night so there’s one less thing to do in the morning.

7.30 AM

Time to leave for work – I make the most of the flexible working hours and head to work early to snap up a free car park. I park just outside of Geelong’s CBD and walk 15 minutes to the office.

8.00 AM

I say hi to my team, grab my laptop from my locker, and settle into my desk to check emails. I have a look at my calendar for the day, and check my to-do list. I also check if my team managers have any significant meetings or forums this week in case I need to be involved in preparations. I send an email around to see if my colleagues have any agenda items for our weekly team meeting later today.

9.00 AM

I pop over to a work booth with two colleagues and we have a brainstorming session about a project pilot we are both working on, designed to improve employment outcomes for young people with a disability. We set some measurable goals, think about what kind of stakeholders we will need to involve, and draft a timeline for the project. I collate all this information into a slide pack so we can present it to our manager and progress the project for approval.

10.30 AM

Time for our weekly team meeting. There are around 10 people in my team, so we jump into a meeting room. I am chairing the meeting today, so I facilitate the conversation and ensure the team sticks to the agenda. My team members and I share any important updates, what tasks we are working on this week, and if we need any extra support. I take down the meeting minutes and note any action items that my colleagues or I need to follow up.

11.30 AM

I respond to an enquiry that has come through to my team’s central inbox, where staff can ask questions about employment. This NDIS planner is seeking guidance on what kind of employment funding they should include in a participant’s plan based on their specific circumstances.

12.30 PM

The sun is out, so I head to the waterfront with some colleagues to eat our lunch. Sometimes we eat on the top floor balcony and enjoy the view of the city. 

1.30 PM

I write some updates to post on the Agency’s intranet page and our internal social media platform to inform NDIS staff about what our National Office team has been doing, as well as any recent changes to employment resources. It is important that we support our NDIS Planners and Local Area Coordinators, as they are the ones who meet participants face-to-face will be able to make a positive impact on their employment outcomes. I often share employment related information with regional staff to help get people thinking about employment and to promote a ‘work-first’ attitude.

2.00 PM

My manager requests that I draft some talking points for the Branch Manager to present to some external stakeholders at a disability employment forum tomorrow. This is urgent so I re-prioritise the work I was going to do this afternoon. I draft some dot points about the consultation events that the Employment Taskforce has held recently, and the kinds of policies we are working on that might interest these stakeholders. I include details on the work my team has been doing to improve employment outcomes for NDIS participants. 

4.30 PM

Home time: A 15-minute walk plus a 15-minute drive and I’m home – one of the perks of living and working outside of a capital city!

5.00 PM

I am greeted by my very excited dog, and we head out for a walk to stretch both of our legs. I head to the gym, and then I am ready to relax!