ConnectAbility Community Support Worker Hayley Glass
With NAIDOC Week wrapping up last Sunday, we’re taking the opportunity to spotlight one of our inspiring team members: Hayley, a proud Wardaman, Dagoman, and Gurindji woman from the Katherine region in the Northern Territory. We sat down with Hayley to talk about what drives her in her role as a ConnectAbility community support worker and how her passion for rugby fuels her work.
- What do you enjoy most about your role as a ConnectAbility community support worker? What I enjoy most about my role as a is the opportunity to build genuine connections with the people I support. Every day is different, and I love being able to meet people where they’re at, helping them work towards their goals, celebrating their wins. I enjoy being a consistent and trusted presence in their lives. It’s really rewarding to know that even small moments can make a big impact.
- What inspired you to get into the disability support field? I have a background in support coordination, but what truly sparked my passion for this field was my time working as an Aboriginal Disability Liaison Officer at a health clinic. In that role, I supported clients through the NDIS application process and helped prepare their documentation. What really stood out to me was the face-to-face connection, building trust with clients and their families, communicating in a way that felt culturally safe and comfortable, and advocating on their behalf with NDIS representatives. Seeing how the right supports could transform someone’s daily life, and witnessing the gratitude from families who finally felt heard and supported by someone from their own community, is what cemented my commitment to this work
- How does your experience on the field with the Hunter Wildfires complement your work in community support? There’s a strong connection between what I’ve learned on the rugby field and the work I do in community support. Teamwork and passion are essential in both. At ConnectAbility, while we each support our own clients, there’s a real sense of collaboration, everyone’s willing to lend a hand to ensure the best outcomes. Just like in rugby, where every player has a role but works together toward a shared goal, supporting our community requires that same unity and drive. And above all, I believe you need to be truly passionate about this work to make a real difference.
- What does NAIDOC Week mean to you? My culture is a core part of who I am and shapes the values I carry every day. I was raised to be accepting of everyone and to always lend a hand where it’s needed. NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate our strength, history, and voices but for me, it’s also a reminder of the importance of creating space for others. I’m a strong advocate for making sure people feel heard and included, and I bring that into my work by encouraging others to be part of the conversation and feel proud of who they are.
- What advice would you give to young people -especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth- who want to pursue professional career and a passion, like being a CSW and a career in sport? My biggest advice would be to back yourself and stay connected to your “why.” For me, sport and community work might seem like two separate worlds, but they both come down to teamwork, resilience, and passion. Especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, our voices, presence, and success in these spaces matter. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, stay proud of your culture, and don’t be afraid to take up space, you belong in every room you walk into.
