In the heart of inner Sydney, HopeStreet Woolloomooloo has been providing compassionate community support for more than a decade. Here, people experiencing homelessness, family and domestic violence, addiction, mental health and other complex challenges have found support and a safe place to belong.
John has been a Senior Case Worker for nearly six of those years, walking alongside people through some of life’s toughest moments.
A career in community support
Before joining BaptistCare, John worked at Catholic Community Services in Waterloo, in the now-closed Assistance with Care & Housing for the Aged (ACHA) program, which provided transitional housing for older people experiencing homelessness.
“We supported 16 residents and helped prepare them for permanent housing,” he explains. “When that program was absorbed into the home care system, it was time for a change.”
As he had already worked alongside many of the local services in Woolloomooloo, including St Vincent’s homeless health, HopeStreet felt like the right fit.
A day in the life
John’s mornings start early with a mix of routine and outreach. After a quick coffee, he checks his emails and collects around ten breakfast packs donated by Kids Giving Back, a program teaching children cooking and community service.
“I’ll head out into the streets to see who’s sleeping rough,” he says. “Sometimes there are around six, other days fewer, especially in winter when people try to find temporary accommodation or a couch to sleep on. It’s about saying hello, checking in, handing out a pack, and reminding them they’re not alone.”
Back at the HopeStreet hub, John’s role is varied and people-centred. He helps clients with housing transfers, property maintenance issues, or reapplying for housing after a failed tenancy. Much of the work he does is around advocacy and administration support, which could be anything from helping people set up MyGov accounts, to applying for passports, licences or white cards.
“For many of the people we see, online systems are overwhelming,” he says. “Sometimes someone else has set up their MyGov for them with a random email, and they’ll be locked out of their accounts. We help people rebuild that access. It sounds small, but for them, it’s life-changing.”
You’ll also often find John at the HopeStreet community café, which he says is more than just a place for coffee. “It’s a place for connection, a safe space. People know they can come and go. We can’t control who’s outside on the street, but inside, people are welcomed. That’s why it works so well.”
Standing alongside people
John says he has seen lives turn around when people are given another chance. He recalls one man who had spent time in prison. “When he came out, he was determined to change. He went into rehab, joined programs, and just wanted to stay out of gaol. We supported him with practical things, but he did the hard work.”
John is also inspired by the resilience of young mothers in the community. “We’ve got mums here working hard at a job, raising kids, some of them are also caring for relative’s children. Their determination is incredible.”
Why it matters
John says his work is both challenging and deeply rewarding. “Every day is different. You don’t know what you’re going to get. You see the bad side of life, but also the brilliant side. That’s why I come in every day.”
For John, a big part of that is keeping an open mind. “It doesn’t matter who turns up and how they turn up, you can’t judge.”
He maintains work/life balance by reminding himself that he is a visitor in Woolloomooloo. “I can’t be here 24/7, but while I’m here I can show empathy, care and love.
Then at the end of the day I close the door behind me. I don’t take work home with me. I don’t take home my phone or any equipment. That helps me look after my own mental health.”
Life away from HopeStreet
Outside work, John loves food and travel. He enjoys smoking meats and experimenting with Asian and Indian cooking, often driving to specialty stores in Sydney’s west to find authentic ingredients.
Travel is another passion, which he shares with his wife – recent trips through Rajasthan, Agra and Varanasi left lasting memories, and together they are planning future adventures to Sri Lanka and Laos.
Thinking of a career as a case worker?
For anyone considering a career in social care, John’s advice is to go for it. “It’s a job where you’ll be challenged every single day, but also inspired.
You’ll see resilience in people you never expected. And every day, you’ll know the work you do matters.”
