Victor Salamanca

Tell us about your role at the Byron Community Centre: As a counsellor in the role of a support worker, my job at Fletcher Street Cottage is to provide psychosocial support, emergency relief, referrals, assistance in navigating the system and general support for community members who need help or are experiencing hardship. Furthermore, I aim to engage with clients using a trauma-informed, person-centred, culturally aware and strengths-based approach, prioritising safety and inclusivity to support members of our community.

What’s the most inspiring part of your job? The most inspiring aspect of my job is witnessing the resilience and strength displayed by members of our community, including both clients and staff. It is uplifting to see the transformative impact that Fletcher Street Cottage has on our community, which gives me a profound sense of belonging and purpose. This experience is both beautiful and humbling.

I love my community because… As an immigrant from Colombia, I feel grateful for my place here in Byron Bay and, by extension, in Australia. I want to contribute and spread my positivity, cultivating love and respect for all of us who are living in the community. I love my community because it makes me feel included and part of something greater.