Stories - July 16, 2025
Catherine Shines Bright at Intereach and Rotary Awards
At Intereach, Catherine always feels like herself – valued and never like her needs are an inconvenience.
Catherine lives with cerebral palsy and uses a four-wheeled walker, but that has never been a barrier working as a customer support officer at the Wagga Wagga office for the past 14 years.
“Intereach is such an inclusive, accessible and supportive workplace. They’ve always listened to me and accommodated my needs,” she said.
“Nothing is ever too much trouble — not because I have a disability, but because I’m a person and a colleague like anyone else.”
Catherine’s advocacy for equality and her commitment to creating a better, more inclusive community recently earned her a Rotary Shine Award — an honour recognising employees living with disability and the employers who support them. She was one of around 40 individuals celebrated by the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga.
“I feel humbled to receive this award, and it’s wonderful that Rotary recognises everyone equally — there’s no overall winner,” she said.
“These awards challenge society’s view of disability and promote equality. I’m grateful to be part of that message.
“I was born with a disability. That doesn’t make me less than others or more inspiring. Instead of taking on society’s view that having a disability means something is wrong, I choose to live a full life, contribute, and appreciate the blessings I have. There’s nothing inspirational about that —it’s just being human.”
Catherine - pictured with Wagga Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout. Photo by John Egan Photography.
It’s this mindset that makes Catherine an asset to the organisation and the community, according to Intereach Customer Support manager Henry.
“Catherine has a positive attitude and genuine passion for her work and supporting people with disability, building capacity and giving back to her community,” he said.
“She always puts in the effort to provide great service to the people of Wagga Wagga.”
Catherine’s honesty, insight, and dedication to inclusion reflect the Intereach values of Leadership, Partnership, and Social Justice, and she readily credits the organisation for its support in her career.
“Intereach are amazing at upholding their values. They don’t just talk about human rights, they live them,” she said.
“To anyone with disability looking for meaningful work, I say: apply at Intereach. You’ll find people who want to see you thrive.
“When you work hard and you find and surround yourself with those people, anything is possible.”
At Intereach, we are proud to support staff like Catherine — people who help build strong, connected, and inclusive communities every day.
If you want to be part of an equal opportunity organisation that lives its values, explore our exciting career opportunities across Victoria and NSW at Careers – Intereach
Share
