Laumua Afamasaga

EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY: 12 Years in youth services and 2 years in the disability sector.

MY ABILITIES: I truly enjoy helping others without expecting anything in return. I’m a family and a community person, I will do anything to support them.

MY STORY: I was born in Samoa and moved to New Zealand when I was four. By the time I started primary school at age five, I was already learning English. It was tough initially, but I managed to adapt quickly. Adapting to my new country also meant quickly adjusting to its rules, laws, and cultural norms.

As I grew older, my family's circumstances led us to move to Australia when I was 10. I found myself quickly adapting to the new environment, even taking on the role of supporting my parents by translating English for them in their daily interactions.

Growing up, my biggest dream was to become a mother, likely influenced by my own mother, who was a stay-at-home mom.

Due to family matters, I had to go back to New Zealand for a couple of years and live with my sister. I grew up with my nephew who lived with autism. At the time, in 1996, stigma around disability was quite common in New Zealand. This was accompanied by cultural impacts and minimal support for disability.

Mainstream primary school was the only option available. However, my nephew, who was non-verbal and displayed ASD traits and behaviours, was not fully understood.

After some time, we moved back to Australia when I was 22 years old. This marked a significant shift in my responsibilities, as I took on the role of raising my three nephews for a few years while also caring for my own two children, as my sister had to return to our homeland for personal reasons.

My nephew who lived with ASD finally received support by attending a special school and began to make significant progress. Now as an adult, he is independent, fully verbal, and lives with friends.

It wasn't until I pursued my studies that I learned about ASD. This realization highlighted the importance of individuals receiving the right support to succeed in life, marking a breakthrough moment for me.

I witnessed the challenges that my family faced, and seeing the transformative impact of support services on my nephew's life sparked my interest in the disability sector.

As I reflected on my experiences, I realized that my passion lies in making a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals. This led me to explore a new direction in my career by entering the field of disability support work in 2022.

Today, I find fulfillment in my role as a disability support worker, where I leverage my diverse skills and experiences to empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives. From my early days in factory work to my current role at PLUS1, my journey exemplifies a commitment to compassion, resilience, and advocacy. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to pursue careers dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals.

Laumua.