Meet Layla, Interchange WA’s 2026 Excellence In Service Award Winner
Even among Interchange WA’s star-studded roster of Support Workers, Layla stands out. Her patience, compassion, and joy for supporting others shines through in her work. She joined Interchange WA in December of 2025, but she’s already made a substantial impact on her customers’ lives.
To celebrate her hard work and positive attitude, Interchange WA awarded her the 2026 Excellence In Service Award at our Employee Recognition Party.
Layla primarily works in Supported Independent Living, where she provides supports to help customers live happy and independent lives while they still receive supports when needed.
A Little Learning Goes A Long Way
“What I love most is building trust and helping people feel valued, respected, and independent.”
When Layla first became a support worker, she didn’t have experience with sign languages. That quickly changed when she began supporting a nonverbal customer who primarily communicated through personal signs and body language rather than Auslan.
Learning this new way of communication took time and perseverance. Layla took it upon herself to understand the customer’s sign so that they felt understood and supported in a way that worked best for them. Over time, Layla became confident in communicating non-verbally, supporting the customer seamlessly across long shifts and helping them feel comfortable.
When she was given another opportunity to support a new nonverbal customer with a different communication style, Layla once again stepped up to the challenge. She used her experience to pick up their communication style and signs quickly to meet their support needs.
Putting in the effort to learn to communicate properly made a positive difference in her customer’s life and made her stand out for her adaptability.
It Takes A Team
“Winning this award means a lot to me. It feels rewarding to have my hard work, dedication, and passion recognised.”
Every part of Layla’s work is driven by a passion for people. Offering them kindness and support, and seeing them grow. But she knows it’s not something she does alone. It takes a team of people to support a customer, and a team of people to empower a Support Worker to do their best. To her, the best part of Interchange WA is the environment that lets her thrive so she can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
She credits her Team Leader and Area Manager with supporting her in the process of joining Interchange WA and adapting to her new customers’ needs. She thanks the rest of her team too, always collaborating and communicating to ensure continuity of care and teaching one another. During difficult times, she leans on to her best friend who is also a Support Worker.
Getting through those tough times is always worth it, too.
“What motivates me every day is knowing that even small acts of support can make a positive difference in someone’s life”
Layla believes the number one thing you need to succeed as a support worker at Interchange WA is to build relationships with the people around you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from the people you’re with so you can do your best.
Layla’s selection for the Excellence In Service award came from both her customers and her team. If you know an Interchange WA Support Worker who has gone above and beyond in supporting you, you can nominate them for an award too through iThink You Are Awesome.
