Marlyn Soulakelles

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Jo is the General Manager at NNA Direct Support. Her role is to oversee service delivery and ensure everything runs smoothly so that our customer and staff are well supported.

We sat down with Jo to find out what motivates her at work, what the future holds and get some fun facts about herself! Take a read below.

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What do you do at NNA Direct Support Services?

I’m the General Manager at NNA Direct Support, it’s my job to set the standard for service delivery, ensure our values are demonstrated in everything we do and lead the team to ensure our customers and staff have a great experience. I’m always also looking for new opportunities to provide growth and development for the business which will help us have new opportunities for staff and a bigger range of services and supports for people with a disability.

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Before working at NNA Direct Support Service, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

I’m a Beautician by trade, I think that’s where I get my need for customer service from! I loved many aspects of the job but the sweaty waxing became too much after a few years!!

What motivates you to wake up and go to work?

Always for me, it is about the end service we provide to customers, I absolutely love hearing the stories of how we enhance peoples lives or provide support to someone that really helps them in big and small ways.

What has been your favourite project so far?

I can’t answer this, it would be like asking me which is my favourite child! Although I do have a soft spot for the Mallee customers and staff as I had a big role in onboarding and getting to know everyone initially.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? 

I have a child who is hearing impaired and is an NDIS participant, it has been such a benefit understanding the process and system from both sides. I am also an avid gardener with a thing for growing my own vegetables. I have an award-winning crop of asparagus!!

What do you think is the biggest opportunity for support workers today?

I truly believe customers stay or leave a company because of their support workers, support workers are often the most important people in participants' lives, literally many of our customers rely on their support to live. The opportunity to build a relationship with your customers is truly the opportunity to direct your own work-life balance, many people will fit in with their favourite workers hours to have that person support them. There are also opportunities to grow and develop in the sector if that’s your goal, I started as a casual support worker with no experience 25 years ago and am now leading an exciting business into the future. The opportunities are endless.

What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with NNA Direct Support Service?

Truly to be able to continue to grow and provide quality Health and community support to people living with disability with a focus on regional areas across Australia. Having a service that offers true choice and control to participants and is an employer of choice for staff! We are already looking at opportunities to partner with a quality training provider to deliver training to our support workers but also to people with a disability and their carers as well. The future is exciting!!

Jo is the General Manager at NNA Direct Support. Her role is to oversee service delivery and ensure everything runs smoothly so that our customer and staff are well supported.

We sat down with Jo to find out what motivates her at work, what the future holds and get some fun facts about herself! Take a read below.

​

What do you do at NNA Direct Support Services?

I’m the General Manager at NNA Direct Support, it’s my job to set the standard for service delivery, ensure our values are demonstrated in everything we do and lead the team to ensure our customers and staff have a great experience. I’m always also looking for new opportunities to provide growth and development for the business which will help us have new opportunities for staff and a bigger range of services and supports for people with a disability.

​

Before working at NNA Direct Support Service, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

I’m a Beautician by trade, I think that’s where I get my need for customer service from! I loved many aspects of the job but the sweaty waxing became too much after a few years!!

What motivates you to wake up and go to work?

Always for me, it is about the end service we provide to customers, I absolutely love hearing the stories of how we enhance peoples lives or provide support to someone that really helps them in big and small ways.

What has been your favourite project so far?

I can’t answer this, it would be like asking me which is my favourite child! Although I do have a soft spot for the Mallee customers and staff as I had a big role in onboarding and getting to know everyone initially.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? 

I have a child who is hearing impaired and is an NDIS participant, it has been such a benefit understanding the process and system from both sides. I am also an avid gardener with a thing for growing my own vegetables. I have an award-winning crop of asparagus!!

What do you think is the biggest opportunity for support workers today?

I truly believe customers stay or leave a company because of their support workers, support workers are often the most important people in participants' lives, literally many of our customers rely on their support to live. The opportunity to build a relationship with your customers is truly the opportunity to direct your own work-life balance, many people will fit in with their favourite workers hours to have that person support them. There are also opportunities to grow and develop in the sector if that’s your goal, I started as a casual support worker with no experience 25 years ago and am now leading an exciting business into the future. The opportunities are endless.

What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with NNA Direct Support Service?

Truly to be able to continue to grow and provide quality Health and community support to people living with disability with a focus on regional areas across Australia. Having a service that offers true choice and control to participants and is an employer of choice for staff! We are already looking at opportunities to partner with a quality training provider to deliver training to our support workers but also to people with a disability and their carers as well. The future is exciting!!

Jo is the General Manager at NNA Direct Support. Her role is to oversee service delivery and ensure everything runs smoothly so that our customer and staff are well supported.

We sat down with Jo to find out what motivates her at work, what the future holds and get some fun facts about herself! Take a read below.

​

What do you do at NNA Direct Support Services?

I’m the General Manager at NNA Direct Support, it’s my job to set the standard for service delivery, ensure our values are demonstrated in everything we do and lead the team to ensure our customers and staff have a great experience. I’m always also looking for new opportunities to provide growth and development for the business which will help us have new opportunities for staff and a bigger range of services and supports for people with a disability.

​

Before working at NNA Direct Support Service, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

I’m a Beautician by trade, I think that’s where I get my need for customer service from! I loved many aspects of the job but the sweaty waxing became too much after a few years!!

What motivates you to wake up and go to work?

Always for me, it is about the end service we provide to customers, I absolutely love hearing the stories of how we enhance peoples lives or provide support to someone that really helps them in big and small ways.

What has been your favourite project so far?

I can’t answer this, it would be like asking me which is my favourite child! Although I do have a soft spot for the Mallee customers and staff as I had a big role in onboarding and getting to know everyone initially.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? 

I have a child who is hearing impaired and is an NDIS participant, it has been such a benefit understanding the process and system from both sides. I am also an avid gardener with a thing for growing my own vegetables. I have an award-winning crop of asparagus!!

What do you think is the biggest opportunity for support workers today?

I truly believe customers stay or leave a company because of their support workers, support workers are often the most important people in participants' lives, literally many of our customers rely on their support to live. The opportunity to build a relationship with your customers is truly the opportunity to direct your own work-life balance, many people will fit in with their favourite workers hours to have that person support them. There are also opportunities to grow and develop in the sector if that’s your goal, I started as a casual support worker with no experience 25 years ago and am now leading an exciting business into the future. The opportunities are endless.

What is on your wish list for the next 10 years with NNA Direct Support Service?

Truly to be able to continue to grow and provide quality Health and community support to people living with disability with a focus on regional areas across Australia. Having a service that offers true choice and control to participants and is an employer of choice for staff! We are already looking at opportunities to partner with a quality training provider to deliver training to our support workers but also to people with a disability and their carers as well. The future is exciting!!