The unbreakable bond that inspired a career

Fran grew up in a small town on the East Coast of Australia, a place where everyone knew each other and responsibilities came early.

Among her many siblings, Fran shared a special bond with her brother Peter, who was born profoundly deaf.

“A lot of people mistake us for identical twins,” Fran recalls, “but he was born profoundly deaf, so we learnt what it was like to develop a language that nobody else understood.”

Peter attended a school for the deaf and would come home during holidays, teaching Fran and their siblings sign language.

“To us, that was the norm,” Fran says. “We didn't see him as any different.”

Their playful nature often led to amusing situations where people couldn't tell who was who, sometimes mistaking Fran for Peter.

“They'd be talking to me as if I was deaf. And it's like, you don't need to talk to me any different.”

Fran herself has faced significant challenges, including PTSD from childhood trauma and a severe spinal issue that required multiple surgeries.

Despite these hurdles, she found strength and support through APM, an organisation dedicated to empowering people with disability.

“APM supported me each and every step of the way,” she shares.

As an employment consultant for APM Employment Services, Fran uses her personal experiences to connect with and support others looking for inclusive employment in Australia.

She understands the fear and uncertainty that many feel when first approaching disability employment services.

Fran thrives in her role knowing she can make a real and lasting difference in people's lives.

“Being able to hold your head up and go, 'Oh my God, I'm glad I met that person because I'm able to change that person's life’,” she says.

“I'm able to change their thought pattern about what disability employment services are about.”

At APM, Fran is part of a team of dedicated people who, like her, use their personal experiences to support and empower others.

“We're about empowering that person with everything that they've got about them,” she emphasises.

Through her work, Fran continues to honour the lessons she learned from Peter and her own journey, making a positive impact on the lives of those she meets.

Ellie Cole’s Couch

In this incredible series, Ellie sat down with team members from across APM to discuss how their own experience with disability motivates and inspires them to support people with disability.