Stephanie’s Story: Building Trust, One Relationship at a Time

Stephanie didn’t arrive at High Hopes with a polished title or a picture-perfect career path. She came with something better: experience.

She had five years of it, to be exact. Five years spent rolling up her sleeves as a personal care assistant. Five years walking beside people with disability as a support worker. Five years tending to complex health needs as a nurse in homes, facilities, and community settings. Every role brought her closer to the heart of what support really means and closer to the kind of leader she wanted to become.

“What drives me is a deep passion for advocacy and a commitment to delivering the highest standard of support to those who need it most.”

When she found High Hopes, she didn’t just see a job opening. She saw a workplace that reflected her own values. The way the team treated workers, built community, and led with kindness was exactly what she had been looking for.

“My mission is to ensure every individual feels seen, heard, and supported.”

This role gave her the opportunity to combine her frontline experience with a new kind of leadership. One grounded in empathy, purpose, and the desire to help people feel safe and understood.

Stepping Into the Role

As a Relationship Manager, Stephanie's days are anything but quiet.

Her calendar fills with back-to-back calls, plan reviews, roster adjustments, risk assessments, and face-to-face visits. Some days she provides calm during a participant’s tough moment. Other times, she is a sounding board for a DSP who needs support or the steady voice helping a family work through an urgent decision.

“Most importantly, I listen.”

She listens to what is said and what is left unsaid. She knows when someone needs action and when they simply need someone to be present. Her work may happen behind the scenes, but it is the reason so many of the people she supports feel steady, seen, and safe.

“We’re not just managing. We’re mentoring. We’re advocating. We’re bridging gaps between formal services and real lives.”

One Wish, Two Goodbyes

There are two moments Stephanie carries with her every day.

Two participants had one final request. They wanted to spend their last days at home, surrounded by family and the people who had supported them through their journey.

“They both had one heartfelt wish: to spend their final days at home, surrounded by loved ones and their High Hopes family. We made that happen.”

Stephanie coordinated every detail. She brought the teams together, reassured loved ones, and made sure the focus stayed on dignity and care. It was not just about delivering supports. It was about being fully present in a moment that mattered more than most.

Making the NDIS Less Complicated and More Human

To many, the NDIS can feel like a mountain of paperwork and confusion. But to Stephanie, it is a map waiting to be read. And she is there to walk people through it.

“Supporting participants with their NDIS plans means truly understanding their needs and goals.”

When someone’s situation changes, she is already on the front foot. When funding is not enough, she advocates for more. When families feel overwhelmed, she explains what they need to know without making them feel out of their depth.

“The goal is to make navigating the NDIS feel less overwhelming and always empowering.”

The Culture That Keeps Her Grounded

Stephanie believes that the wellbeing of a participant starts with the wellbeing of the team that supports them.

“The community sector can be isolating when staff don’t feel heard. At High Hopes, we’re changing that.”

She is part of a team that doesn’t just check boxes. They check in. They ask how each other are doing. They lift one another up and problem-solve together. In an industry where burnout is common, this sense of community makes all the difference.

“It’s a team that lives by our motto: ‘doing good for good’s sake.’ That’s not just a phrase. It’s the way we operate.”

Love in Four Legs

When Stephanie gets home, she trades her work shoes for slippers and is greeted by someone who has been waiting impatiently — her French Bulldog with a cleft lip, special needs, and enough attitude to run the house.

“He pushes my buttons before I’ve even had coffee, but his cuddles and zoomies more than make up for it.”

He reminds her of what she sees in so many of the people she supports. Unexpected joy, resilience, and an ability to light up the room just by being themselves.

To Anyone Feeling Overwhelmed

Stephanie knows how daunting the NDIS can feel at first. She has seen the uncertainty in people’s faces and the weight it can place on families.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions, whether big or small. If we don’t have the answer, we’ll find someone who does.”

She wants people to know they are never expected to do it all alone. Not when people like her are here to help.

What Person-Centred Really Looks Like

To Stephanie, person-centred support means taking the time to know someone before trying to support them. It means asking the right questions and listening without rushing to fix. It means honouring people’s values, their goals, and the small daily preferences that bring them comfort.

“It’s about seeing people beyond their diagnosis, respecting their preferences, and supporting their goals.”

Whether she is helping someone move toward independence or simply making sure their morning starts the way they like, her care is tailored, intentional, and deeply respectful.

What’s Next for Stephanie

Stephanie is not one to stand still. She is committed to growing as a leader and to helping High Hopes build deeper partnerships in the sector.

“I want to keep deepening my leadership and help the company build strong referral networks with allied health professionals.”

She sees a future where even more participants feel surrounded by capable, connected, and caring teams. And she is ready to help build that future.

The Real Power of Support

Stephanie’s story shows us that the role of a Relationship Manager is so much more than it appears on paper. It is part listener, part leader, part lifeline. It is grounded in integrity and powered by relationships that are built slowly and nurtured with care.

This is what support looks like when it is done well. And this is why, at High Hopes Services, we do things differently.

👉 Visit our services page to learn how Relationship Managers like Stephanie support NDIS participants every day.

Your journey matters. And with people like Stephanie by your side, you will never walk it alone.