Job enthusiasm hasn’t wavered for Frances in 21 years

Assisting people with a physical disability, forming lifelong bonds and travelling the world as manager of a national wheelchair rugby team has made Frances Porter’s 21 years with the Spinal Injuries Association extremely rewarding. This month (March) marks the Alderley resident’s 21st anniversary with the not-for-profit organisation, which she speaks of with enormous enthusiasm and pride.

Over the years, many people have commented to Frances that working with clients with a spinal cord injury could be depressing.

“But I never see the clients as sick. Of course, when they enter the unit they’re as traumatised as they’re going to be, but from then on, they begin to achieve again,” Frances said.

After beginning her nursing career in a Brisbane hospital’s spinal unit, Frances decided to move into a community-based job, which is how she began work with the Spinal Injuries Association in 1988.

In her role as a Community Advisor, Frances spent 10 years travelling to almost every Queensland town and city to assist members who had a spinal cord injury with everything from pressure sores to wheelchair funding applications and hoist selection.

Her role then changed to Community Advisor Coordinator and involved travelling throughout south-east Queensland and managing several staff members.

In her current position as Client Services Manager, Frances oversees five services within the Association: Community Advisory Service, Employment Options, Peer Support, Member Networks and Post Polio Support Groups.

“Many of my clients that I met years ago in the spinal unit, I still work with today,” Frances said.

“The longevity of those relationships and the positive and supportive culture of the Association is what I enjoy most about my job.”

Emphatic that people with a spinal cord injury should have the same opportunities and rights as people without, Frances spent six years travelling around the country and overseas in various roles with the Australian Wheelchair Rugby team, to attend national and international championships.

“I’m equally as passionate about sport and to see these people strive and put their bodies on the line while using their wheelchairs was just a fantastic experience,” she said.

“And combined with my role at the Association where we empower our members to live their lives to the full and remain independent in their community; I’m constantly inspired by the people I work with.”

Looking to the future, Frances sees the upcoming challenges in her role and in the disability sector as “making sure that the positive gains for people with a disability aren’t lost due to financial constraints.”

“I’m excited about continuing to make our model of support best practice and innovative,” she said.

“Assisting our members to remain in their homes in the communities they choose to live in is what I’m dedicated to providing.

“There are still many more achievements I wish to fulfill during my time here at the Association.”

Issued 2 March 2009.