Laura and Jordan O’Reilly have a close bond, forged through their childhood shared with brother Shane, who lived with a disability.
Growing up they also confronted many of the challenges families face when it comes to booking disability support - and vowed to do something about it.
Their brother was among the 34,000 Australians living with cerebral palsy. Those like Shane with quadriplegic cerebral palsy also have both arms and legs affected.
An O'Reilly family photo with brother Shane (left) Credit: Supplied: Hireup
“Now and again someone would come into our lives, and open up Shane’s world,” Jordan writes in his book about their online service platform business Hireup.
“We learned that the best way to get great support was to find it ourselves. That, right there, was the genesis of Hireup.”
Jordan O'Reilly has been honoured for his work as the CEO of Hireup - a platform that connects people with a disability to support workers. Credit: SBS / Sandra Fulloon
“One of the things that [a Hireup client] might search for is music or sport or visiting the gym.
“Where there's common ground, a shared passion between a support worker and a person with a disability – they really connect.”
Laura O'Reilly at the Hireup Sydney office Credit: SBS /Sandra Fulloon
“We're on the right path to reach our goal of 25,000 active users by 2025,” Laura explains at their offices in Sydney’s north.
Sadly, their brother Shane isn’t here to watch this profit-for purpose business expand. Shane died suddenly at the age of 21.
“One day in 2011, we woke up and Shane had passed away. And that was an incredibly tough moment for our family and for Laura and I,” Jordan says.
“And we realized that the work that we were going to do in our life was going to be in Shane's memory and in his honour."
Alax McGilvray (left) and Domenico Agostino Credit: SBS / Sandra Fulloon
Among them, nine-year-old Domenico Agostino whose support worker Alax McGilvray is booked three days a week through Hireup.
“Domenico has complex needs, so the support requirement is pretty high,” the 29-year-old says.
“He needs a lot of physical support and he needs assistance with eating and drinking as well.”
Domenico Agostino as a baby Credit: Supplied: Michelle Agostino
Over that time, they have formed a close bond, as Alax has become part of the family.
“Domenico's always excited for me to come and visit. Often on a Saturday, I'm the first person he sees when he wakes up. And we love spending time together.”
Domenico's mother Michelle says being able to choose his support workers is crucial.
“Every family has a different situation. So finding that perfect match for you and your family, has been the blessing with Hireup.
“We have control of who comes into the house, who will suit Domenico’s needs and mine as well.”
It is estimated that providing disability support services for Australians living with cerebral palsy costs around $1.47 billion per year, and one third of that cost is borne by families.
Domenico Agostino with his mother Michelle (left) and support worker Alax. Credit: SBS / Sandra Fulloon
So Jordan and Laura O’Reilly want to help more families make the most of every NDIS dollar.
“We know through our brother Shane's experience, that every dollar needs to stretch.
“That is the overarching aim of all the work that Jordy and I do … it is a calling and for us,” says Laura O’Reilly.
“It is about creating the Australia that our brother deserved to live in and the service models and the opportunities that he deserved to have, that he didn't have.”
