Carlton support worker recognised for bringing joy to local family

A Carlton support worker has been recognised for her compassionate and deeply personal approach to care after being named Victoria’s winner in the 2026 Mable Support Worker Awards.

Tania Joiner received the award following a nomination from local resident Emma Macey, whose mother Marion receives regular support through the Mable platform.

The annual awards celebrate independent support workers across Australia who provide reliable, high-quality and personalised care within their communities.

For Emma and her family, the recognition reflects much more than professional support. She said Tania had become an important part of her mother’s everyday life, bringing companionship, comfort and emotional connection during a difficult stage of ageing.

Marion lives with blindness and dementia, and Emma said Tania’s calm and caring nature had helped turn ordinary weekly visits into moments of joy.

“No amount of words can possibly describe the level of joy, support and friendship Tania offers my mum on a weekly basis,” Emma said in her nomination.

Emma said the relationship between Tania and her mother had developed into one built on trust, warmth and genuine friendship.

“Despite the challenges of Mum being blind and living with dementia, Tania makes every session meaningful,” she said.

“It truly makes our day seeing Mum reach for Tania’s hand while they watch movies or listen to music together, having a giggle and chatting away, but also that Mum can confide in Tania about her most personal worries.”

The story highlights the growing importance of community-based support services, particularly as conversations around ageing, social isolation and aged care continue to receive national attention.

For many families, support workers are playing a role that extends beyond practical assistance, helping older Australians remain socially connected and emotionally supported while continuing to live within their local communities.

Mable chief growth officer Matthew Cavalier said this year’s winners were selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by clients and families across Australia.

“I have been thrilled to see the response from our Mable clients to these awards,” he said.

“It is important to recognise the professionals clients can rely on who demonstrate the skills and traits it takes to be a successful support worker.”

He said the nominations reflected the diversity of people working in Australia’s care and support sector, as well as the strong relationships that can develop between clients and support workers over time.

“The nominees showcased a rich diversity of the types of people providing support services, tapping into their unique skills, knowledge and experiences to contribute positively to Australia’s care and support sector,” he said.

The Mable Support Worker Awards were launched in 2025 to recognise independent support workers supporting older people and people living with disability across Australia.

Mr Cavalier said successful support partnerships were often built on compatibility, trust and shared understanding.

“At Mable, we believe good support is a two-way street. Clients and support workers need to be a good match,” he said.

“We see the best success in support partnerships when there is a genuine alignment based on personality and general interests, as well as qualifications, location and gender preference.”

As part of the awards, winning support workers receive a $1000 voucher, while the clients who nominated them receive a $500 voucher recognising their role in creating successful support partnerships.

For Emma, the award is ultimately about recognising the small but meaningful moments that can make a real difference to a family’s daily life.

In a care environment often focused on medical needs and routines, she said Tania’s kindness, patience and emotional support had helped bring comfort and dignity to her mother’s life.