As the country continues to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a silver lining for Newcastle residents living with disability or mental health issues looking for employment.
A local recruitment specialist is looking for more candidates to meet a high demand from employer partners looking to hire.
Several organisations are looking for new team members, with available roles in the hospitality (30%), cleaning (40%), sales & marketing (20%), and transport (10%) industries.
Novocastrian Alex, who works for the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, knows all too well how meaningful employment can change your life.
While living with a controlled mental health condition has its challenges, he is thriving in his role cleaning and maintaining the boat marina.
It’s even given him the confidence to return to TAFE for his electronics apprenticeship.
“Having a job and going to TAFE really helps me to know that I have a future and security in a job,” he said.
“When I started working, I wasn’t in the right mental health space, until I got the right support from Job Centre Australia and Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club – and since then, things have been going great.
“The team has been really supportive, really flexible with my hours, and they’re a joy to work with.”
He added, despite how scary it can be, anyone looking for work should never give up.
“[I struggled with] my lack of confidence and self-esteem, being scared to put myself out there and be rejected,” Alex said.
“Never give up, and continue to seek support from your health professionals in conjunction with your employment consultant.”
Job Centre Australia’s operations manager in the Lower Hunter Anthony Workman says seeing people like Alex thrive make his work a joy.
“Alex has been with Job Centre Australia for a year now and, today, he’s honestly the healthiest I’ve ever seen him,” he said.
“He’s so different from where he was when he first started with us a year ago.
“We couldn’t be prouder of him.
“We are extremely passionate about supporting the individual, and we take a holistic approach on how we do that.
“A huge part of our success is early intervention with our youth experiencing mental health issues, thanks to our strong partnerships with organisations like Hunter Mental Health Services, as well as the relationships we build with our inclusive employer partners like the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club.”
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