Interest in working with people

She is employed as a social worker at the women's and family counselling centre "Der Lichtblick" in Neusiedl am See. She qualified for this position by completing two degree programmes at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences.

"I started studying late," she says. An interest in working with people has always been her motivation when choosing a career. After working in tourism and market research, Doris Hörler worked as a flight attendant for 20 years. "I was always dealing with people in exceptional situations, and I did some further training in coaching and peer support." But that wasn't enough for the thirsty mum-of-two. "I knew that flying had an expiry date and my interest in psychological topics led me to the Bachelor's degree programme in Social Work at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences." The fixed structure of the degree programme helped her to combine her job, family and full-time studies.

During one of the many internships that students on this degree programme complete, she got to know "Lichtblick" and promptly received a permanent job offer. Since then, she has been working there as a social worker, offering labour market policy advice for women registered with the AMS or social counselling as part of family counselling. From the autumn of this year, she will be devoting herself increasingly to the field of psychosocial process support for women and girls aged 16 and over affected by sexual violence.

She quickly realised on the job that social work is a "knowledge transfer job". "Whenever it comes to funding, finances, etc., people are unsettled. I see myself as a hub for this information." Digitalisation was in its infancy in social work for a long time. Hörler wanted to deepen her knowledge and learn about new approaches. This led her to her second degree programme at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences, where she completed a part-time Master's degree in Applied Knowledge Management (now: E-Learning and Knowledge Management). "I was able to take a lot away with me for my daily work."

Her knowledge also helped her to establish the first women's counselling centre for sexual violence in the state(www.der-lichtblick.at). There are contact centres of this kind throughout Austria (www.sexuellegewalt.at). Lichtblick closed the gap in Burgenland. "Those affected, but also those close to them, can turn to a qualified centre. We provide support when reports are made and in court, but also before and after. All of these things should cause as little further stress as possible for those affected than is already the case." This important process begins with the question: "Where can I go for qualified counselling?" says Hörler. Counselling is also available anonymously on request.