Chinchilla mum Alyshia awarded with scholarship at Business disABILITY Awards

A Chinchilla mother of five has overcome years of hardship to take home the Elissa Flanagan ‘Aim High’ Scholarship at the 2025 Business disABILITY Awards

A Chinchilla single mother of five and domestic violence survivor recognised at the 2025 Business disABILITY Awards says she wanted to show her children that having a disability shouldn't stop you from doing good in the world.

Alyshia has suffered from chronic back pain and pinched nerves since the age of 15 when she slipped a disc, an injury which has impacted her life significantly.

Despite these challenges Alyshia secured a job as a support worker and was awarded an AimBig scholarship for her hard work.

“I was really active in sports when I was younger but after the injury it made it hard to do a lot of things,” she said.

“It made it hard to even go to school, some mornings I would wake up and be in so much pain I could barely move.

“It can be really hard sometimes to get an employer to take a chance when you’ve been out of the workforce for so long and when you’re limited on what you can do.”

Last year Alyshia, joined AimBig’s Disability Employment Services program with the desire to find a job that could fit around her family’s needs and within two months was working with Southern Cross as a support worker.

Chinchilla local Alyshia wins the Elissa Flanagan Scholarship Award

“The kids are now at the age where I can start to look at being in work, the youngest is 11 so it was the right time for me to look at getting back into the workforce,” she said

“I was in one of their normal programs but because of the disability I have I couldn’t look at the jobs they were putting forward, I also have to be careful how much work I take on.

“I have dealt with this back condition for a really long time so I have learnt how to do certain things and when your job gives you the proper training that helps a lot as well.

“With their support I have been improving a lot in my work going from doing home care to residential assisted living facility.”

Since starting at Southern Cross, Alyshia has thrived managing the demands of parenthood while supporting others in her community.

Alyshia’s hard work paid off when she was awarded the ‘Aim High’ Scholarship Award at the 2025 Business disABILITY Awards last month which included financial support for further training or education and a new laptop.

“It was a little shocking I didn’t expect to win it and it's really humbling,” she said.

“I never thought something like this would happen to me.

“I would encourage other people to get involved, I am trying to get my son linked up with them, he has an acquired brain injury and I think for him they are the ones who will best understand what he needs and the extra help required for him to be successful in obtaining and keeping a job.

“I just want to show the kids just because you have a disability, which a couple of them do, that it doesn’t stop you from being able to do good in the community.”

Chinchilla local Alyshia wins the Elissa Flanagan Scholarship Award

AimBig Employment CEO Greg Luck praised Alyshia for her work.

“Alyshia’s story is a powerful example of what’s possible when the right support is in place,” he said.

“She’s overcome extraordinary challenges and now she’s thriving — both at work and at home. We couldn’t be prouder to stand beside her.”

Alyshia’s AimBig consultant Marie echoed this.

“From day one, Alyshia was determined to build a better future for herself and her family,” she said

“All she needed was someone in her corner to help remove the roadblocks. It’s been such a privilege to support her on this journey.”