Meet the team: Candice McEwan

For Candice, a career supporting young people was not something she had planned.

Three years after an opportunity to train in community services introduced her to the sector, she has progressed from a lifestyle support worker and youth worker to senior youth worker in Mackay.

Today, Candice helps create a safe and supportive environments for children and young people living in selectability’s Child and Family Care homes, ensuring their individual needs are met.

Her role can cover everything from grocery shopping and coordinating appointments to supporting the operation of homes.

“The variety of work every day keeps it interesting and I can honestly say I love my job,” Candice said.

A Mackay local, Candice spent time living in Townsville and on the Gold Coast before returning home after having children.

Before joining the community services sector, she spent more than a decade working in property management before taking seven years away from the workforce while raising her four children.

When the time came to return to work, a training opportunity through selectability opened the door to an entirely different career.

“It happened by chance, I was looking to return to work after my children were all in school and I took up the free training offer selectability was offering for cert III community services.

“I then moved into the Child and Family Care sector then after a year took a senior acting role during our audit process, where I have stayed in this position.”

Since then, Candice has found a role that not only allows her to support young people but also provides the flexibility she values as a parent.

“The best part of my job is the work life balance flexibility.”

Working in Child and Family Care can bring different situations and challenges each day, and Candice says two qualities have stood out during her time in the sector: “Being flexible and approachable.

It is also a career she readily recommends to others.

“I always recommend this sector of work to others.

“It’s suitable for family life balance and enjoyable, yes it can be challenging at times but we ride the waves.”

Away from work, family remains an important part of Candice’s life. She enjoys travelling in the family caravan with her husband and four children, making the most of their time together outside of her busy role supporting young people in Mackay.