When JD walks into the office at Hepatitis NSW, something magical happens. Colleagues describe getting "giddy with joy" just seeing her arrive – and that infectious energy is exactly what makes her such an extraordinary peer worker and community advocate.
With over 13 years of dedicated service, JD has become a cornerstone of support, wisdom, and unwavering positivity. Working across diverse settings from community outreach through the EMPOWER program to high-intensity prison testing campaigns, she brings both lived experience and professional expertise to every interaction.
Making Every Moment Count
Her colleagues paint a picture of someone who combines deep empathy with fearless advocacy. "JD has a fantastic level of care for others, matched with an organic wisdom and fearlessness in standing up for what is important," shares one team member. Another notes how she "says it how it is; no bs and no concessions yet always in the most supportive and awe-inspiringly diplomatic way."
Whether she's fostering trust in community settings or looking through a prison cell door to deliver life-changing news – "if you don't hear from us by the end of the day, you do not have hep C – and if you do – it's ok, we've got you" – JD transforms these encounters with people into moments of genuine connection.
"I love this opportunity to hold space and spend that extra bit of time with people who might be experiencing anxiety," JD
Her colleagues consistently praise her ability to bring "unity and cohesion to the workplace". Whether she's sharing terrible dad jokes (her specialty), engaging in clever wordplay banter, or making important decisions with the Magic 8 Ball on her desk, JD knows how to balance the serious work with moments of joy. One team member reflects: "Every conversation with JD fills me with light, laughter, and a sense of being cared for and valued."
The Person Behind the Professional
JD draws inspiration from Frida Kahlo's unapologetic authenticity and sector hero Sinead Shiels' "unwavering, never-judgmental support of community." When not changing lives at work, you'll find her swimming in the ocean or at the movies (she's secretly a cinephile with incredible recommendations).
Her colleagues know her morning multivitamin ritual in her special aqua-lidded mug and her beloved "Life in the Sloth Lane" book. But there's deeper wisdom too: if she could solve one world problem, it would be "lack of empathy – from little day-to-day interactions to the global."
Her Advice to New Point of Care Testing Teams
"Point of care work is nothing if it's not the biggest shout out to teamwork!" JD
She credits continuous learning from each outreach experience and her EMPOWER project colleagues, particularly Pip Bray, for making testing "an enjoyable new way to bring supportive healthcare to community."
JD has been working with the team at Hepatitis NSW, quietly changing the lives of people living with Hep C. Her practical advice for new POCT campaigns? "Work with people you have love and trust in, create meaningful relationships in the sector, and be brave in asking for help." Proof that powerful advocacy comes from showing up every day with genuine care, infectious positivity, and unwavering commitment to lifting others up.