At Inclusion Tree, our strength is our people, their unique stories, resilience, and dedication. As we celebrate Support Coordinator Rick Scammell completing his first year with us, we sat down to reflect on his incredible journey from casual worker to a full-time, indispensable member of our team.
Rick’s path to support coordination is anything but ordinary, and it’s this unique perspective that makes him such a passionate advocate for our participants.
Based in Warwick, QLD, Rick services a vast area stretching from Brisbane out to Goondiwindi and down to the QLD/NSW border. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated husband and father who prioritises time with his family and is also an avid adventurer. You’ll find him exploring rainforests, camping by the dam, or out on the water in his boat. He even has a unique bucket-list ambition: to fly a helicopter one day. “They said they’d be more than happy to help me do that,” Rick says with a smile. “It’s something I definitely want to tackle.”
Rick’s career before Inclusion Tree was in the intensely physical world of steel fixing and concreting, working on major projects like stadiums. A dirt bike accident, which left him with a T4 spinal cord injury, meaning from the chest down he is paralysed and requires the use of a wheelchair, meant an immediate end to that trade.
“Steel fixing was instantly out of the picture,” Rick recalls. After recovery, he transitioned into office administration for his old company, a role he admits he hated. Seeking a more fulfilling path that could accommodate his new circumstances, he began searching for a career that offered both purpose and flexibility.
Frustrated by rejections from other employers when he mentioned his wheelchair, Rick’s persistence led him to Inclusion Tree through a serendipitous connection. A conversation with a Plan Manager led to a phone call with his now Team Leader Kelly Dines.
“The biggest surprise for me,” Rick shares, “was how Inclusion Tree is actually structured the way they say it is. The directors… they don’t think they’re better than you. If you have an issue, you ring someone and ask, and it’s not a problem. That open-door policy is real.”
This culture of genuine support and flat hierarchy was a stark and welcome change from the rigid environments of his past.
Now, a year into his role, Rick has built a caseload of over 20 participants, largely through word-of-mouth and colleague referrals, a testament to the trust he builds. He sees his biggest achievement not as a single event, but in the daily progress.
“I feel good because I get to help people. Getting someone the funding they truly need feels awesome,” he says. “But it’s a two-edged sword. When the NDIS knocks something back, it cuts just as deep. You really feel for the participant.”
He’s also come to deeply appreciate the unique layers of support within Inclusion Tree, especially the Culture Stewards. “You might say something in passing on a call, and they’ll ring the next day just to check in on you. They actually do what they say they’re going to do.”
For the future, Rick is focused on continuous learning, with an interest in the mental health space. He aspires to maybe grow into a Team Leader or Culture Steward role himself, to pay forward the guidance he’s received.
His honest advice for anyone considering this career leap?
When asked what other companies could learn from his experience here, Rick is clear: “Actually, having that open communication with management. There are no silly questions, only the ones you don’t ask.”
Rick’s journey from the physical grit of steel fixing to the empathetic precision of support coordination embodies the resilience and heart at the core of our work. We are so proud of his first year and excited to support him as he continues to grow, learn, and make a profound impact on the lives of his participants.
Welcome to the team, Rick. Here’s to many more years of adventure and achievement.
Inclusion Tree is always looking for passionate, driven individuals to join our team. If Rick’s story resonates with you, explore our careers page to see how you can grow with us.
We acknowledge the connections of First Nations People of Australia to the land, sea and community on which we live and work. As custodians of this sacred land we respect and acknowledge Elders, past, present and emerging.