Sammy turns unfortunate accident into thriving ECEC career

Samantha ‘Sammy’ Wardale found her career on hold after she faced a challenging recovery period from whiplash which was sustained in a car accident. 

 

Ms Wardale had been working a physically demanding job, however following the peak hour collision, she was unable to continue in her previous role. 

 

“I was driving home from work on the highway on a rainy day,” she explained. 

 

“I braked, but the car behind me didn’t. The impact happened at around 40-60 km an hour, jolting me forward and causing bruises from the seatbelt on my shoulder and chest. I went to the hospital, where the injury was classified as whiplash,” she shared with support services provider HelloCare. 

 

While most people recover from whiplash without incident in a few days or weeks, for Ms Wardale the experience was not a smooth one.  

 

“Unfortunately, the pain persisted and even intensified, becoming more sharp and severe when I moved,” Ms Wardale continued. “An ultrasound revealed a partial thickness tear in my shoulder. While surgery wasn’t deemed necessary, I was prescribed physiotherapy.”

 

Despite a year’s worth of physiotherapy – thankfully supported under WorkCover, her pain didn’t improve. This meant she was struggling to get back to work while also fighting for custody of her young daughter. 

 

“My career didn’t change but was put on hold because I could no longer do manual labour,” she said. 

 

“Initially, I sought alternative employment because I wasn’t supported in my role and my injury wasn’t taken seriously during return-to-work attempts,” she added. 

 

Eventually Ms Wardale sought support from  disability employment services provider AimBig, which also offers help to those with an injury or health condition, which helped her to regain confidence and return to her passion with a new employer.

 

Ms Wardale is now working at a local early childhood service, Kids Capers, an environment she describes as being incredibly supportive, with training, mentoring and educational opportunities are prioritised. 

 

While she still faces some challenges, the flexibility of her workplace is critical to her success.

 

“Balancing work to cover rent, bills, and still finding quality time for my daughter is challenging,” she said. 

 

“I’m grateful that my employer considers my situation as a single mum. My boss places a blank roster on the table and asks us to fill in the shifts we want. This flexibility makes it easier to plan and ensures I often get the shifts I need.”

 

Speaking about her experience, Ms Wardale expressed her thanks to those who had supported her to return to work.  The diverse workforce on site at Kids Capers, she said, positively contributes to the care environment. 

 

For those who have had negative experiences with workplace injuries and treatment by management in the past, her advice is to take the time to find a positive environment. 

 

“If you’ve had bad experiences in the past, not everyone will treat you badly. You’ll never know unless you give it a shot,” she said.

 

“Look around at different providers; there might be a better fit for you. Finding a provider that truly supports you is crucial, not just one that ticks boxes. AimBig saw me as a person and wanted what was best for me, which made all the difference.”

 

Access the original coverage of this story here.