Anita Hemmings

Tell us about your working life before Aspect?

I joined Aspect as a new graduate, over 12 years ago. I had an interest in community-based work and have never left!

How long have you worked with Aspect and what are some highlights?

I’ve worked with Aspect over the last 12 years. I have found that there are a lot of opportunities for people who are willing to put up their hand for new and interesting roles. Some career highlights have been traveling to Kathmandu, Nepal in partnership with CSU to support Autism Care Nepal. I’ve also loved the opportunity to be involved in new and innovative programs, such as screening young children for signs of autism.

What is the most rewarding part of your role as an Operational Leader?

I find working in the community one of the most rewarding parts of the role. You get to see real-life progress of the individuals we support in their home and school settings.

What’s it like working with our South West Sydney team?

The team at Aspect is so diverse – we have a really bright bunch of staff. Everyone is friendly and approachable. Even though we work remotely, there is a great team spirit – and everyone does a great job at reaching out to give and get support.

What learning opportunities has Aspect provided you with?

Through my career at Aspect, I’ve had the opportunity to both learn but also educate. I have presented at team national conferences and the team have local meetings a few times a year which is a great opportunity to do some formal learning. The greatest learning opportunities have been working collaboratively in a team of like-minded individuals and learning from the brilliant Occupational Therapists and Psychologists in our team. It’s helped me to become a well-rounded therapist and much better prepared for working with complex cases. We also have a PD budget, allocated PD days and a lot of internal learning opportunities.

What’s your advice for people thinking about a career with Aspect?

Working at Aspect is a challenging but very rewarding role. There is a great induction program for new graduates and you’re guided so well by supervisors in the early weeks to help develop the best autism practices.