Meet The Team Emma

Meet the Team: Emma Birch

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Emma is the latest member of the Indigo team, joining in December as our Director of Allied Health, and she's the person responsible for supporting our different allied health teams - Aged Care, Disability, and Assistive Technology -  to provide excellent services to our clients. She's been working in the disability sector for many years, and has a background in speech pathology, and has made a welcome addition to the Indigo team.

 

What does your role involve?

I’m not sure I know everything required in the role yet, but I support the allied health teams to deliver services to elderly Australians and people with a disability.  Our staff have a lot of experience and knowledge around assistive technology, which is a steep learning curve for me but fantastic to see how assistive technology or home modifications make such a different for people to safely live in their homes and access their community. 

 

What do you like most about your role and working at Indigo?

The people I work with.  Working for a not for profit really does create a great team who are purpose driven. 

 

Tell us about the most interesting project you have worked on during your career.

I worked on establishing Primary Health Centres in the Wheatbelt.  Part of that role was to plan and deliver health services in the home to support elderly Australians to age in place.  We saw a significant drop in people being admitted to hospital and residential aged care, and people were able to stay in their small town communities for years longer.  I learnt so much about health, government policies, community spirit and even construction. In Primary Health Care, if you do your job well, nothing happens.  People stay healthy, stay in their homes, keep contributing to the community. 

 

Describe a memorable moment arising from your role.

I found it difficult to focus on just one!  I am proud that I have worked in Hospitals, Community Services, Disability and Aged Care. As a Speech Pathologist, I realised that providing the best therapy makes a significant difference but so many factors impact on whether someone is healthy and happy.  That led me to my Masters In Public Health and Project Management.  Becoming a manager has meant I have less individual impact on clients, any service I launch, or support I give to the team to deliver services means I am making a difference. 

 

Of the four Indigo values (integrity, passion, creativity, together), which one do you express the most strongly during your workday and why?

Integrity.  I value honesty - delivered kindly! I have learned that trying to avoid an awkward conversation, or covering up a mistake only makes things worse.  Having teenagers has definitely helped me make fair decisions and defend them regularly!

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