Check out the stories below – we can offer help to those who need it.
Are problems at work causing you to underperform at your job? Are you having doubts about what you want to do in the workplace or if you’re in the right industry? Is your mental health affecting your mood at work? If you’re answering yes to any of these questions, it’s time to make a change. Read Bella’s experience and learn how IMPACT made a positive change on her outlook.
Bella, 19, works at Anytime Fitness in Hervey Bay, and is studying to be a personal trainer. It is her third month there and she’s wondering if personal training is something she wants to pursue.
However, it’s not the personal training itself that is causing Bella to have doubts, but rather a personality clash with a colleague that has been building up for some time. Though the two have been at the gym for the same amount of time, their professional differences have caused Bella unnecessary stress. She feels belittled by her colleague and as though an immeasurable workload has been placed on her that’s beyond her job description.
As a result of this workplace tension, Bella feels depressed, and a potential relapse of an eating disorder. Scared of falling back into old habits, she considers resigning to maintain her health, as she feels the pressures of work are getting too much to deal with. However, Bella is conflicted as personal training was her preferred career path and is at a loss of what to do. That’s when she was recommended to us by a client of ours who also works at Anytime.
Our Mentor, Tara, met with Bella and discussed her work for an hour, providing her with an outlet to vent to about problems in the workplace. We then got word from our client that Bella had nothing but positive feedback from the meeting.
“It went really, really well. I enjoyed talking to Tara about everything, I felt comfortable. I felt 10 tonnes lighter when I left, she seems very supportive and that’s exactly what I need right now. She’d like me to call or text her tomorrow after work and let her know how my day was. It felt good to know that someone actually wants to help,” Bella said.
If you are in situation similar to Bella’s or know of someone who is, contact us today on 1800 118 008.
Employment First Aid (EFA) doesn’t restrict itself to just helping youths stay in work, but it provides support to employers to help keep their staff on track as well. Yeppoon employer, Coal Train, referred one of their employees, Tayla, because they were experiencing problems with her behaviour and didn’t want to give up on her. Consequently, this was affecting her ability to successfully complete her traineeship with them and as a last resource, they contacted us.
From what the staff at Coal Train could see, Tayla had poor sleeping habits and wasn’t eating well. She was constantly late for her shifts, didn’t take pride in her appearance and was struggling with poor mental health. Out of concern for her and her traineeship, a meeting was arranged to discuss with Tayla what she was going through.
EFA mentor’s first meeting with Tayla lasted for about an hour and they talked about her personal and work problems and set out a plan to overcome them. Over the last two months, EFA mentor has been in regular contact with Tayla and has also spoken with Coal Train’s Business Support Officer and CEO about her progress.
Since working with EFA Tayla has had a notable change in attitude at Coal Train, moved into an acting supervisory role and moved out of home. Tayla’s confidence has skyrocketed and she has now moved from fortnightly to monthly contacts.
Coal Train have been that impressed with Tayla’s recent improvements that they have offered her a permanent supervisor role; Tayla is unsure if she is ready for this and is looking forward to discussing the opportunity with her mentor.
Are you experiencing similar troubles with one of your employees? Help us to help you and contact Employment First Aid today on 1800 118 008.
From Tara (Employment Retention Mentor)
I had a meeting with the local owners of Rock Off Hervey Bay Jayne and Tim in the first week of February. They are both very well known around the town and are great mentors around the Community. They own the local skate park in town and provide employment to the youth that need a helping hand. Tim and Jayne have owned the non- for profit business for many years and believe in supporting our youth around the Fraser Coast. Tim mentioned they have found 16 youth full time employment in many years with their connections. Throughout our meeting he mentioned that Employment First Aid may be able to support their young full time worker, Craig.
Craig is a 20 year old male who needs all the support he can. He has been homeless, jobless and even family-less. He is currently living with his girlfriends family and they support him 100%. He depends on his job to keep his head above water in order to pay off debt, keep a roof over his head and live everyday life.
I was told that Jayne and Tim were in a hard place, they mentioned to Craig on giving him a job opportunity, that he will need to fund is own First Aid Certificate and Blue card to keep his job. With each passing week they were asking him, how he was going saving for the tickets. They didn’t want to let him go, but they needed him to have these tickets to remain employed. I met with Craig on the 6th of February and immediately saw he was such a genuine, loyal hard working youth who loved his job and was good at it. We signed him up with program and within 2 weeks, Craig had completed his First Aid Certificate. Employment First Aid paid $140 for the course and he passed it with flying colours.
He was forever thankful to Employment First Aid, that they would support him, pay for his First Aid and be there for any issues he may have. We recently lodged the paperwork to support Craig obtain a Blue Card so he can keep his job at Rock Off Hervey Bay.
It is my favourite part of the job supporting Youth who maybe would lose opportunities, keep opportunities!
From Ren (Employment Retention Mentor)
A local employer made contact with the Employment First Aid team in regards to one of her workers in need of assistance. The employee, is 17 years old and is working as a lifeguard in the facility and it was mentioned to our EFA team member that there have been some client complaints reporting that she had shown aggression while being on duty. The business owner asked what support would be available for the employee and if we were able to meet with with her face-to-face to discuss how she was going at work.
When we met with the employee, she had just graduated high school and had a few complications on the way. She was working casual at the pool after school hours and on weekends and she found this was quite stressful at the time. We started working very closely with her, supporting her with the transition from school into the workplace by having two face-to-face visits with her weekly. Sometimes the discussions would consist of just about how her day is going or helping her with her private life so as to find any concerns that may be affecting her at work. The employee has a partner, so she does have outside of work support including a good relationship with her parents. Her parents were very happy that she signed up to Employment First Aid for support.
Over the past few weeks, she since has had her hours doubled, working six days a week morning and afternoon. The business owner has offered the employee the option to work at two facilities which would give her more hours as she is very impressed and noticed that she is a lot happier in her working environment and seems less stressed. She is even looking at furthering her education in the water safety industry by doing a water supervises certificate.
This has been a very positive outcome for this employee. Four months ago, she was very stressed and shy and was not sure if this job was for her. After having weekly visits from our Employment First Aid Mentor and having someone to talk to about issues, she is a lot more confident. She has also been working twice the amount of hours and is now looking to further her career.
From Monique – La Belle Fleur Cake Studio (Rockhampton)
Thank you to your team for your assistance over the last several months. Since first referral to Employment First Aid in late 2017, I have found that Tegan has been an integral part of our employment process. We ensure that all employees are signed up, in order to not only get any support required for them, but to also have the additional personal development provided, especially the youth, who have lacked experience and growth as employees.
As an employer, this gives peace of mind, as it ensures that the employees have a neutral person to address their concerns, if or when they are unable to do so directly with myself. They are also given opportunities to increase their personal growth and values in regards to employment.
I will continue to ensure that each employee is signed up, and recommend it to any other employer!
Aqualification & Fitness (Rockhampton)
Operating an aquatic facility, A&F need a workforce that understand the dangers posed by an aquatic environment. When most patrons enter the facility, they aren’t thinking of the dangers of the water, they come to have fun and relax. The employees need to understand the risks of working in an environment where patrons often put themselves in danger without thinking or realising the risk of drowning or other injury. A&F need lifeguards who can speak to the public with confidence and care to help educate the patrons and raise aquatic awareness throughout the community.
Lifeguards require a special blend of aquatic awareness, and sincere customer service skills laced with confidence, maturity and natural leadership. Rarely do you find a person this special that just walks through your door. They are generally cultivated over a number of years. This can pose problems for a seasonal facility looking to employ millennials who are entering the workforce for the first time.
Running the northside pool poses employment challenges for the business and our employees. As a seasonal facility, we can employ up to 40 people for a portion of the year before having to reduce our employee numbers over the winter months. Recruiting, training and onboarding a large number of staff in a short period of time before the facility opens is problematic. And not having a permanent job can bring turmoil for many employees.
These challenges on both sides are hard to balance. However, with the assistance of EFA this year, the challenges have been much less disruptive. By having a third-party act as a mediator, a trainer, and a HR assistant, we’ve been able to concentrate on the business instead of worry over concerns related to our employees. Any concerns have been dealt with more quickly and easily without being grown into a major problem throughout this season.
EFA have assisted us in communicating with the younger members of our workforce, our millennials. EFA have helped us ensure our newest and youngest employees understand the high expectations placed upon them by taking an important role within this organisation.
We are truly grateful for the assistance EFA have provided, even as a sounding board and a support network for employers and our employees this season.
From Simon (Employment Retention Mentor – Hervey Bay)
James Turner had been working for a company for 12 months when his hours were reduced, due to a new management restructure. His confidence was depleted, and he felt he needed assistance to get himself back on his feet. This is when he contacted Employment First Aid. The EFA team assisted James firstly with his self-worth and resilience; they worked on his best strengths and new-found focus. EFA suggested it was time for James to start calling around and familiarise himself with the interview process and experience job hunting again.
One of James’ qualities that stood out for EFA was his demeanor and captivating voice, potentially for consultation. EFA suggested James change his career path and offered him training in Sales Techniques and Customer Focus, skills the EFA team currently possessed. Flight Centre were advertising several recruitment opportunities in the local area, and James applied.
Through the interview process online, EFA guided James in Sales responses over 6 weeks. James picked up very quickly as EFA taught him, and his confidence grew once more. James was not only was given a full-time position, he also won an internal competition to California based on training performance.
James still meets with the EFA team every month and has also assisted other colleagues with Sales Techniques in his office. From this positive outcome and experience, EFA have learnt that it’s important to find out what excites the participant and implement training in the desired field. They learnt to capitalise on the clients’ strengths in the moment as they can change quickly or lose interest, and that regular scheduled appointments give structure and accountability.
From Bec (Employment Retention Mentor – Bundaberg)
For some people, confidence is a trait that comes naturally, without a second thought. For others, it can be the greatest hurdle in their lives and a barrier of employment and job opportunities.
When a client was first introduced to Employment First Aid (EFA), he was lacking confidence. Working seasonal work very casually was so comfortable for him that he was scared to step outside of his comfort zone, hand out resumes and line up job interviews. Beyond that, as the nature of the work was seasonal, it meant the client was getting inconsistent income, making it a struggle to pay for transport to and from his job.
One of the first things EFA did for the client was provide him with a fuel voucher to help him pay for his transport to work. The team then built up his confidence regarding work and broke down his barriers of being in his comfort zone.
The job seeker’s confidence has also grown rapidly since starting the EFA program.
Looking forward, the client’s next goal is to move out of home now that he has full-time employment. The client’s restored confidence now has him willing to partake in more industry training, something he wouldn’t have done before. He is happy to stay in the EFA program to help with his progress and to act as a Mentor should any challenge arise through full-time employment.
The team at EFA have since become more aware at the impact confidence has on a person and what may be easy for some, can be a real challenge for others.
From Simon (Employment Retention Mentor – Hervey Bay)
When Dylan came to Employment First Aid (EFA), the team assisted Dylan first in self-worth and resilience. Together, EFA and Dylan worked on what his best strengths are and capitalised on a new-found focus. EFA suggested Dylan feel the cold calling and interview process to experience job hunting again. EFA also assisted with fuel voucher for job hunting in-between casual work. While they worked together, EFA found that Dylan has a great demeanour and respectful manner. They suggested he go in a new direction within the industry as his previous work environment did not promote staff growth. Dylan found labour employment, though it was inconsistent. EFA advised Dylan to apply for a collaborative employer.
Through meetings, EFA staff gauged Dylan’s will to work hard in any employment opportunity. Dylan’s confidence excelled over the four weeks he was with EFA and maintained a desire to stay in the hospitality industry. Dylan secured a trial with guidance from the Head Chef of their Hospitality course. Dylan’s performance impressed the potential employer, where he now has consistent casual employment. Dylan has a passion for music, though study opportunities are rare. He has asked to continue support and meets with EFA staff every month to discuss his progression in employment. EFA suggested to stabilise his employment and gain experience with accreditation to complement his current skills as Hospitality can be used globally.
From this experience, the EFA staff learnt that true indicators take time. It’s important to find out what motivates the client and work their strengths to their advantage. They also found that regular scheduled appointments give structure and accountability, as well as keep their interest as it can quickly fade.
From Bec (Employment Retention Mentor – Bundaberg)
Due to memory issues and difficulty retaining information, the participant was struggling financially and mentally before deciding to get help. The client worked as a labourer on a local farm before coming to Employment First Aid (EFA). After going through numerous jobs without anything permanent or long-term, the client has reached out and wants to get the support he needs.
The client’s jobactive provider linked him to EFA, who has been working hard in keeping the client motivated and positive. EFA have been assisting participant with employment advice and barriers within the client.
Since being with EFA, the jobseeker now works as part of the Sorting Staff at the new Container Recycling Scheme site. This has made him more financially secure and he 20-30 hours a week with potential of going to a full-time position. Additionally, the client’s self-esteem, mental health and wellbeing are more positive.
EFA are still working with the client to ensure he retains his employment and just to provide overall support. The EFA team remain in contact with the client’s jobactive provider as well as his current employer. The client was very excited about the new position and opportunity to potentially have full-time employment.
From Della (Employment Retention Mentor – Rockhampton)
If at first you don’t succeed, then try and try again: an important lesson the Employment First Aid (EFA) staff learnt when working with young Caitlin. The first time Caitlin entered the EFA program, she was employed with Hungry Jacks. After resigning due to anxiety and stress, this resulted in Caitlin being exited from the EFA program – the wakeup call she needed.
She has since been able to secure a position with Subway. Upon receiving the job, Caitlin called EFA and re-registered in the program for extra assistance. She’s currently working approximately 25 hours a week and looking for another job.
Caitlin’s experience with EFA has been more positive and progressive the second time around. EFA has assisted her with applications for job vacancies, guided her through cold calling and the interview process, and guided her in appearances when cold calling. The mentors worked with Youth Housing and Reintegration Services (YHARS) to ensure housing for Caitlin, as well as assisting her financially to obtain her driver’s licence.
Since living out of home, Caitlin understands the value of a job and takes a very enthusiastic approach when it comes to applying for jobs. Her only experience is in the fast food industry so far, so Caitlin is looking for opportunities that go beyond this and similar retail jobs. Caitlin still requires mentoring to work on her resilience and confidence, as well as managing her anxiety. She feels once she gets her licence she will be more independent and won’t have to rely on public transport, building her confidence.
The EFA mentors have found that by encouraging her to not give up, and to have faith in herself, helped her to be more confident to apply for other jobs outside her current fast food industry. Caitlin has shown EFA that she appreciates the support and calls for help when she needs it.
From Matt (Employment Retention Mentor – Bundaberg)
Lilly worked unhappily as an Apprentice Hairdresser for a local company before joining the Employment First Aid program. She was struggling to cope with a family issue and was dealing with undiagnosed mental health issues of her own. Lilly was unsure of her future and didn’t know whether she wanted to continue her Apprenticeship due to the unpleasant work environment.
The EFA team gave the client guidance and support regarding her employment, as well as advice from a Mentor who has experience in the hairdressing industry. EFA referred Lilly’s sister to Family Mental Health Services to help cope with the family breakdown and home issues. Lilly has met regularly with EFA to discuss her issues and concerns and keep herself motivated. As for her mental health issues, EFA advised her to talk to a GP for diagnosis and help.
Lilly ceased her Hairdressing Apprenticeship with her first employer and recommenced employment as a cleaner in an Aged Care Facility. This change motivated her to work in the Aged Care field and Lilly then commenced an online course to further her knowledge. After some time, she decided she missed hairdressing and wanted to finish her apprenticeship in another town. Lilly now works locally as an Apprentice Hairdresser and is enjoying it thoroughly, so much so that she plans to see it through and become a fully qualified hairdresser.
Throughout all of this, EFA has supported the client and was there to motivate her and provide guidance if needed. Lilly has now been medically diagnosed with a Mental Health illness and is on medication for her condition. EFA will continue to help the client stay motivated and positive enough to finish her apprenticeship.
From Tara (Employment Retention Mentor – Hervey Bay)
Joshua was working at a large establishment as an apprentice chef before being introduced to Employment First Aid (EFA). He had only been at this job for five months and was experiencing bullying and assault in the workplace. With the same employer, Joshua was moved to a different establishment under new supervision.
An EFA Mentor met with Joshua once a month where he would talk openly and honestly about mental health, TAFE assignments and work life balance. Joshua was very passionate about his work and future in the hospitality field. He thoroughly enjoyed talking to an EFA Mentor as it allowed him to speak freely with no judgement and helped him to see other people’s perspectives.
When Joshua cut his hand at work one day, he had to go to the hospital and take time off work. During this time, Joshua’s mental health declined, and he decided to find alternative employment. EFA Mentor continued to meet with Joshua to discuss future career goals and to keep his morale going. Desperate to be working again, Joshua began thinking about interview questions, motivating himself and putting himself out there to potential employers.
From this, Joshua quickly received two interviews with two different employers, though both jobs required certificates that Joshua didn’t have. Though funding was approved for him to acquire the qualifications, Joshua gained employment elsewhere after approaching the owner of a local café that were hiring. He now works eight-hour days, five days of the week and is very happy in his new work environment, being part of a great team and loves being back in the kitchen.
Throughout this experience, EFA supported Joshua with his motivation and positivity. EFA notes that Joshua is a hard worker who wants to succeed in the future and has an ultimate goal of one day becoming a hairdresser.
EFA will continue to support Joshua through his employment, working alongside his family and mother to provide extra support. For the time being, Joshua loves the job he currently has and plans to stay long term, hoping there is a chance to finish his apprenticeship. EFA learnt from this experience that hard work does pay off and sometimes all a client needs is a little guidance. An email was received from Joshua’s mum thanking EFA for the support through this time and noting the positive change in her son’s mental health since acquiring the new job.
From Yolandee (Employment Retention Mentor – Rockhampton)
Jayden had been recently employed at Kmart when he had his bike stolen. He had been home-schooled from an early age and currently resides with his elderly grandparents with whom he attends church regularly. Prior to getting a job at Kmart, Jayden had been doing odd jobs (mowing, gardening, etc.) for neighbours and family.
EFA assisted Jayden with transport to work after his bike had been stolen by supplying his grandparents with a fuel card before eventually purchasing him a new bike and lock. EFA also provided him with personal care items such as shampoo, conditioner and a toothbrush, as well as items needed for work such as new work pants and some new shoes.
Having a bike again brought back Jayden’s independence as he didn’t have to rely on anyone to take him to work anymore. This improved Jayden’s mental and emotional wellbeing significantly as he didn’t miss any work and remained employed with Kmart.
From his troubling past, Jayden was able to overcome his issues with his family and has future plans to one day complete his schooling and further his education. EFA has noted that Jayden was sincerely thankful for the bike and thanks EFA for the support.
From Bec (Employment Retention Mentor – Bundaberg)
Before joining Employment First Aid (EFA), Leteisha was finishing up a traineeship in land conservation, lacking confidence in job searching and job interviews, lacking communication skills and very scared to step outside of her comfort zone. As she grew up in a small country town and prefers not to socialise, she does not have a large group of friends to rely on for support.
After Leteisha joined EFA, she worked with Bec, a Bundaberg based Mentor on building confidence and breaking down barriers. Bec conducted some mock interviews to help Leteisha open up and answer questions under pressure. EFA worked hard to break down Leteisha’s personal barriers and encouraged her to take a gamble when it came to applying for different job positions and vacancies. EFA found that contacting the participant frequently was a huge key to breaking down these barriers and giving her confidence.
Before long the participant gained full time employment at the local bakery, seeing her confidence boost further. EFA assisted Leteisha with workwear as at the time of employment, she was not financially able. Leteisha is happy to stay in the EFA program to help her through any challenges that arise through full time employment. She has a passion for the fitness industry and now that she has full time employment to financially support herself, she would like to study further to gain qualifications in this area.
From this experience, EFA learnt that what is easy for some people is a real challenge for others and confidence can change someone’s life. Not everyone has a huge friend network and for some just talking to people is a challenge. Believing in a participant gives them so much empowerment and can really give them the power and confidence to pursue their dreams and goals.
Confident. Enthusiastic. Eager to learn. Punctual. These are some of the words used to describe Leteisha after joining the EFA program.
From Matt (Employment Retention Mentor – Bundaberg)
If there’s one thing that Employment First Aid mentors know for certain, it’s that it’s never too late to turn your life around and that change doesn’t happen overnight. Their most recent case in point was introduced to them after they were asked to do a presentation about the EFA program by his employer. The client is a 16-year-old male, who has had a complicated upbringing living in Child Safety and frequenting the juvenile justice system most of his life. The participant has a wide range of social, physical and psychological barriers, which has presented him with many challenges both in his personal and working life over the years. These barriers include several different mental illnesses, short-term memory retention, PTSD, alcohol abuse, family breakdown, social anxiety, chronic pain and poor eye sight.
Another major barrier in the client’s life is that he lives on an isolated property out of town, with no real means of reliable transport. The client once divulged to an EFA mentor that before his current employment, he would stay up all night on his mobile phone browsing the Internet and would sleep all through the day. He said he did this to avoid contact with his family and the outside world. Initially, the client was very reserved in his first few interactions with the EFA mentors but has recently opened up and is actively seeking support to help resolve his barriers. The jobseeker has now developed a good rapport with his mentor who he sees on a regular basis. Due to the client living remotely, EFA has had to provide transport on several occasions to and from Bundaberg.
The mentor assisted client with gaining his own Medicare card; applying for his Birth Certificate through the Department of Child Safety; booking/attending an eye test and getting new glasses; obtaining quotes for a new bed/bedding to purchase; linking to a GP and chiropractor; advice around gaining his own rental property; brainstorming/planning ideas for future employment; and most importantly, supporting him to finish his certificate in Land Conservation and Management.
The client has repeatedly thanked his EFA mentor for turning his life around and believes that without EFA’s support he could not have achieved any of this. The client has also advised EFA that the support has helped him become more confident in doing “everyday things” and did not realise how easy they are to do when you have a positive mindset.
The EFA mentor continues to work with the client on breaking down his barriers, to ensure he continues in employment and stays on a positive path.
From Yolandee (Employment Retention Mentor – Rockhampton)
Connor was working at a small café and getting one shift a week before he joined the Employment First Aid (EFA) program. He let them know that his short-term goal was to obtain his driver’s licence, while his long-term goal was to move out of home and study accounting at a university. With his insufficient hours not aligning with his short- and long-term goals, Connor decided he needed to make a proactive change in his employment and look for a new job.
EFA assisted Connor with his goals by first providing him with transport. Previously, Connor was catching the bus to and from work, often arriving late due to bus delays and mistimed schedules. After receiving a bike from EFA, he has been arriving to work earlier and in turn has been rewarded with more hours. EFA also provided new work pants for Connor and three driving lessons so that he can be referred to PCYC for free driving lessons.
Since being in the EFA program, Connor gained independence by getting a new bike and being able to ride to work. He managed to gain employment at his local Woolworths and has been getting more hours since arriving to work on time. After Connor completes his driving lessons with an instructor, he can then continue to learn how to drive at PCYC with the “Braking the Cycle” program, which provides free driving lessons until the participant is ready to go for his licence.
From here, Connor wants to maintain good grades at school, particularly in English and Maths, so that he can study accounting one day a week at University. He has always been hard working at school and at work and wants to maintain his focus on that. Connor also contributes at home, being the oldest of six siblings, and helps his mother with chores around the house. He was sincerely thankful for the bike, work pants, driving lessons and ongoing support from the EFA team.
From Tara (Employment Retention Mentor – Hervey Bay)
Being a working youth in regional Queensland can be difficult, especially with lack of transport, little income to purchase work necessities and a lack of support. The number of teens struggling to find work is alarming, most facing minor issues that can be fixed with a bit of encouragement. This was Nathaniel.
Nathaniel signed up to Employment First Aid (EFA) four months ago when he started work at the Reconnect Youth Hub, as the two organisations were in the same building. At 17 years old, he saw the benefits of EFA and asked to be signed up for future support, eager to learn new skills. After graduating high school, Nathaniel started looking for employment. He was recommended from a colleague to work at the local Neighbourhood Centre and was successful in gaining employment there for a 12-month contract. Nathaniel has also been lucky enough to have been placed to work with Wolfpack Print (a printing company specialising in sign writing, business cards, brochures, car wraps and more). The small family business is situated in the Reconnect Youth Centre and Nathaniel works 20 hours each week.
EFA first supported Nathaniel with new steel cap boots so he could venture on to job sites. Here he uses all of the machines, company printers, laminators, book binders and the sticker machine. Nathaniel travels to company’s work sites, meets new employers and hears of their visions for new printing and signage, and sees first hand everything come to hand. In addition to the steel cap boots, EFA mentors also provided a safe and trusting environment where the client feels encouraged to ask questions and safe in his surroundings. As Nathaniel had some issues at home, EFA and Reconnect Youth Hub supported him to get three free months with PCYC to keep him busy and promote a healthy stress release. He found that he really enjoys boxing and now uses this as his main stress release.
One of EFA’s main forms of support is in general life advice, motivation and encouragement, as this is often what youth need to hear most. When clients put mental barriers up, they can’t look past the negative hurdles or minor setbacks – EFA mentors objectively break down these barriers and point out the positives that clients can’t always see. As the client used to walk 10 kilometres each way to work, EFA supplied the client with $200 to fix his push bike and purchase a new lock and helmet. Nathaniel now rides his pride and joy to work in less than 15 minutes.
With a bit of support, it’s amazing to see what Nathaniel has since accomplished. His employer trusts him to work on site with business clients, applying stickers to windows and car stickers. A fixed bike has ensured Nathaniel is always reliable to attend shifts and his employer finds him very trustworthy. An EFA mentor recently went with Nathaniel as he underwent his Learner Licence exam at the Department of Transport. Nathaniel has settled in well at his work and is three months into a Certificate II in Business. EFA has noted that he is an extremely hard worker with big plans for his future. The client believes in the benefits of the EFA program and believes that without the mentors he may not be employed today: all he needed was a little support. EFA are very proud of Nathaniel, with how far he has come and look forward to seeing him have a bright future.
From Bec (Employment Retention Mentor – Bundaberg)
There can be times in life where you feel pressured to do or want a certain thing because it is seen as “the norm”. Some people go to university because of pressure from their parents, or because their friends are going, or just because they think it’s the next step after leaving high school. But if university isn’t something that you want to do then it’s not worth wasting the money or time – there are plenty of other career options out there. Emily aspired to be a barista in a coffee shop, though was feeling rejected because of her age and didn’t know what to do next.
When Emily tried to find employment as a barista she struggled, feeling that no employer would give her a chance. Eventually, Emily was presented with an opportunity to do a Path Internship with Nourish Café, with whom Employment First Aid (EFA) was currently working. In this scenario, it was the employer, Judy, who reached out to EFA, asking them to provide support for Emily.
Judy was so impressed with Emily’s work ethic that she terminated the internship early and offered Emily casual paid employment instead. Throughout this time, EFA continued to support Emily and worked on breaking down her barriers of a challenging home life and limited work experience.
EFA provided Emily with ongoing support and advice around her employment situations and performance reviews, acting as a mediator between Emily and her employer to talk through any employment issues. Emily was also able to transition into independent living with the help of EFA and appreciates their advice on rental properties. A fridge was then purchased for Emily when she moved into her own unit, as well as transport to and from work on occasions.
In the beginning, Emily was only interested in being a barista, though in her current position, she does all the food preparation and cooking for the next day. With the support of EFA, Emily is still currently employed at Nourish Café and is slowly taking on more responsibilities. Looking forward, Emily is hoping to obtain her Learners Permit while remaining employed at the café.
From this case, EFA learnt that no matter what your background or family life, with the right support and guidance you can achieve your goals. EFA have received positive feedback from both Judy and Emily in regards to Emily’s improvement both at work and in her personal life.
From Bec (Employment Retention Mentor – Bundaberg)
Support can come in all different shapes and sizes, and sometimes just knowing that someone else believes in you can change your life for the better. It’s important to keep in mind that what may seem easy to some people isn’t always the case for others, and a little bit of compassion can go a long way. By encouraging someone to be the best versions of themselves, they may surprise you and that’s exactly what happened with EFA’s most recent client.
Suffering from an array of mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression, it may not come as a shock that this client lacks confidence, social skills, friends and motivation. Kyle (name changed to preserve anonymity) struggles to eat regularly, usually having only one meal per day, in conjunction with 10 coffees and three to four energy drinks. He stays up late watching movies, walking the dog and playing video games, failing to get up the next morning for work. Additionally, Kyle struggles with budgeting and requires help from his dad to manage his finances.
Despite the mental hurdles, Kyle is currently completing an apprenticeship at TAFE to become a chef. His parents work hard to get him out of bed for work shifts and to attend his lessons, in addition to picking him up early some days from TAFE as he “doesn’t like people” and “feels overwhelmed”.
The first thing we did to support Kyle was build up his confidence and encourage him to attend his classes at TAFE. We suggested to Kyle to eat more regularly and cut back his caffeine intake, underlying the importance of regular meals and maintaining a healthy diet. Communication was also an issue for him, as he rarely responded to people’s messages and burdened his father with his commitments. We helped changed Kyle’s habit of going to bed late, explaining that if he walks the dog early in the morning, it’s a good incentive to get him out of bed.
A major barrier for Kyle was that he chose to focus on the negatives, rather than the positives. This self-induced pessimism only stunted his potential and our mentors worked hard to break down this barrier and change his outlook on life. We helped Kyle set attainable goals, celebrate small wins and break things down so he didn’t feel overwhelmed. Kyle started to learn how to focus on success, not failure, and to be proud if he got up early one day and not beat himself up if he struggled for the next three days. Finally, we referred Kyle to a financial counsellor to assist with his budgeting and relieve pressure from his dad.
When Kyle chooses to commit, he’s been known to run the whole kitchen at work. He aspires to be a chef and when he’s concentrating on modules at TAFE, he achieves remarkable results. We recognised that the ability is clearly there, the only thing that needed to change was his approach and attitude.
Over time, Kyle started attending more and more TAFE classes. He has since committed to changing his bad habits of going to bed late and drinking enormous amounts of caffeine, as well as appropriately fuelling his body. As a result, Kyle has more energy, feels more confident after achieving small goals and is excited about moving forward at TAFE.
From here, Kyle is working hard to maintain and improve his goals. His caffeine intake has reduced, and his nutrition is improving every day. He is getting out of bed three mornings a week, walking his dog before TAFE starts, and concentrating on communication by answering some messages from TAFE. Kyle can clearly see his long-term goal now – to become a chef – and is working towards this by concentrating on his modules and assessments and attending more classes each week. The last thing Kyle would like to work on is decreasing his medication with the support of his GP and is looking into regular counselling sessions.
Confidence can play the biggest part in someone’s life; believing in someone gives them so much empowerment and can really give them the power and confidence boost to pursue their dreams and goals.
Luckily for Kyle, he comes from a great family support network. The more he felt supported and believed in, the more he achieved. Kyle has since received some great written feedback from clients eating at his restaurant about the great meals he has cooked, boosting his confidence further. We look forward to seeing what Kyle can achieve in the future.
