Why work with us?
Because life’s too short to work somewhere that doesn’t feel good – and we’re all about the good stuff.
Support Work Team
Lindsey Smeaton
Operations Coordinator - Support Work
Our Support Work team is based across Geelong, Wyndham, and West Melbourne, providing flexible, person-centred support to participants and their families. We know that a good match matters – that’s why we have a thorough intake and risk assessment process, and we always organise meet & greets to make sure participants and support workers feel comfortable and connected.
We value flexibility – our team members choose their own hours of work, creating a balance that works for them. Whether casual or ongoing, all staff have access to five free sessions with a psychologist each year through our Employee Assistance Program. This also includes a continuity of care program, ensuring staff can continue with their chosen psychologist via Medicare rebates after their free sessions, supported by a bulk-billed GP referral.
Professional development is a cornerstone of our culture. Our support workers participate in ongoing learning, including masterclasses from Kristy Forbes on PDA support and strategies, as well as training in case noting, company policy, safeguarding children, and positive behaviour support.
Our Support Work team isn’t just about providing care – it’s about creating safe, meaningful, and lasting relationships that make a difference.
Allied Health Team
Teah Di Domenico
Operations Coordinator - Allied Health
Our Allied Health team, based in Geelong, is supported to grow, thrive, and focus on what matters most – providing high-quality, neuroaffirming care. We offer significantly above award wages, without the haunting KPI’s that too often weigh clinicians down. Here, your work is valued for its impact, not just numbers on a spreadsheet.
Every clinician receives regular supervision with experienced senior speech pathologists, creating space for mentoring, reflective practice, and professional guidance. Ongoing learning is built into our culture – with access to a jam-packed learning management system and free PD across the board.
On top of this, every team member has a $1000 annual PD allowance to invest in training or courses that matter most to them.
Wellbeing is just as important as professional growth. All allied health staff have access to five free EAP sessions per year, ensuring mental health and resilience are supported. And because paperwork shouldn’t get in the way of great therapy, our team enjoys full administrative support – letting clinicians spend more time doing the work they love.
At First Step Support Services, being part of the Allied Health team means being part of a workplace that respects your expertise, invests in your growth, and has your back every step of the way.
Our Team Culture
At First Step Support Services, culture isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the foundation of everything we do. We believe people do their best work when they feel safe, valued, and genuinely supported.
There are no cliques here. Every team member, no matter their role, is treated with respect and welcomed as part of the bigger picture. We know that workplaces in this sector can sometimes feel competitive or isolating, and we are intentional about creating the opposite: a community where collaboration, kindness, and fairness come first.
We place a strong focus on personal and professional growth. Supervision, mentoring, and ongoing learning opportunities aren’t add-ons – they’re built into the way we work together. Whether someone is at the very start of their career or bringing years of experience, we believe in giving everyone the space and support to develop their skills and confidence.
Most importantly, we lead with empathy. We understand that life happens – health, family, and challenges outside of work are part of being human – and our culture reflects that reality with flexibility and care.
At the end of the day, our team culture is simple: be kind, be fair, lift each other up, and grow together.
About our Director - Shay
Shay is the founder and Director of First Step Support Services, and the heart behind its people-first culture. Being Neurodivergent & living with a chronic illness, Shay has worked in roles where managers showed little care for how unwell or burnt out she was. Those experiences shaped a very different vision of leadership – one built on safety, compassion, and fairness.
For Shay, creating a workplace isn’t about hierarchy or ticking boxes. It’s about building a safe, welcoming space where everyone belongs, where there are no cliques, and where staff are supported to bring their whole selves to work.
Shay is deeply passionate about personal development, supervision, and mentoring. She believes that the right support and opportunities to learn can unlock potential in ways that change not only careers, but lives.
At the core of Shay’s leadership ethos is a simple promise: no one should ever face the barriers she did. Instead, her team can expect a workplace defined by respect, growth, and genuine care.