STAFF PROFILE – Dillion Saunders-Carr. You might recognise Dillon as one of the stars of the Mounty Yarns film. He is the newest member of the Youth on Track team in Mt Druitt and started out with JRNSW as a Youth Ambassador.  Dillon now works as a full-time Youth Worker.

Dillon Saunders-Carr (pictured right) with a colleague in Mt Druitt

A typical day for Dillon as a Youth Worker is “full on”. You might be mistaken for thinking that it’s all about running programs and youth engagement (the fun stuff) – but there’s a significant administrative responsibility in the role, such as keeping case notes. Clients are referred to the service via various avenues, and Youth Workers need to call and check up on them, pick them up and transport them to ensure they’re at the right place and time for their appointments.

For Dillon, the Youth Worker role allows him to build confidence, as well as setting a path for the next generation and being able to help his community. He had a goal to move up from Youth Ambassador to Youth Worker, and this gave him a sense of purpose. Being open and observing how things worked played a big part in this, such as taking in as much as he could from the other Youth on Track team members. Dillon has developed wisdom, the ability to have conversations with young people, and help them in ways that he never used to be able to. He’s undertaken narrative practice training, which is all about digging deep and finding out whatever the problem is for the young person, then being able to figure out the right way to deal with it.

Prior to joining JRNSW, Dillon was undertaking an apprenticeship in landscaping. He watched the Mt Druitt service come together and is pleased to know that there’s an Aboriginal-controlled service helping the Mounty community, the first of its kind in Mt Druitt. The service provides an option for all young Aboriginal people and young people in general to come to for help and support. He describes it as a “privilege”, an “honour” and “lucky” to be in this situation at this stage in life where he is leading young people. When asked about any moments of pride or achievement that stand out for Dillon, he says that being in his position and being able to help the young generation and community who are in need is an achievement.

If someone is considering a career in the sector, Dillon says it’s a big role to take on but if it’s what you want and you’re passionate about it, it could be worth considering as you can help young people.

What’s next for Dillon? He would like to see the organisation keep growing, helping young people achieve what they want in life after accessing the service. For himself, he wants to climb up the ranks in the industry, next as a Case Worker and then into management positions. Study might be on the cards at some point in the future as well.

In this series of staff profiles we highlight how employment can also be a ‘circuit-breaker’. Both for our employees, who often come to our organisation as Youth Ambassadors with lived experience and then go on to develop their careers. But also, for the lives they touch in the day-to-day work – employment at JRNSW allows people to work directly in and for communities. By sharing career stories of some of our employees, we hope to showcase their success, their development and their aspirations.