Celebration Week: Danielle Flanagan, Early Childhood Intervention

This year Danielle Flanagan celebrates five years within our Early Childhood Intervention Service (ECIS) team. Her work as an Allied Health Assistant involves a lot of problem solving; optimising office processes and a “formidable amount” of Carelink+ data! Danielle has also enjoyed inclusion support and therapy assistance working with families in the community.

What is the biggest change you’ve seen from when you started at VMCH to now?

In news that will surprise no-one… working from home as a consequence of COVID-19 has required the biggest adjustment. The other major transition was the introduction of the NDIS – it has changed the way ECIS has delivered service.

What does it mean to you to work at VMCH?

I derive a sense of purpose in work doing jobs that help people. So I feel grateful to be working for an organisation that is individual-focused – an organisation that cares, supports and communicates with staff, and promotes values that align with my own.

What do you love most about your role?

The team. People drawn to working with children in an ECIS must have a playful spirit at heart. The work demands people be thoughtful, intuitive, enthusiastic, warm, experts in patience and problem-solving. People with these skills make for excellent colleagues too!

What do you like to do outside of work?

Pre-iso, dancing was the cornerstone of my social life. Nowadays, like many other Melbournians who don’t watch TV, I’m finding time for long-considered-never-prioritised solo pursuits (watercolour and sumi-e painting, running half-marathons, exploring different music, growing veggies, and cooking creatively). I also spend a lot of time singing, making cubbies, crafting, rearranging furniture to make tunnels and obstacle courses.  My two-year-old enjoys these activities too.