Amanda is on her way to entering the world of business after successfully completing a recognised qualification and starting valuable work experience.
From Townsville, Amanda lives with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety. Her mental illnesses have long prevented her from working, and her two teenage kids live with her mother.
With the support of atWork Australia, and her Disability Employment Services Job Coach, Rebecca, she’s been working harder than ever before to learn new skills and improve her general wellbeing, so that she can make a comeback to the workforce.
Rebecca helped Amanda to enrol in a Certificate III in Business Administration, and says she’s made “great progress” in many areas since finishing the qualification.
“Amanda also completed two days of a work trial as part of AccessAbility week, and the HR manager there said that she did great,” she says.
The next step in her plan to re-enter the labour force is to finish her work experience placement and complete a typing workshop. Amanda has started a placement at a local Townsville business doing office and administration work.
Amanda chose to study her course online, as working in a classroom learning environment triggered her anxiety. The routine of study and learning has been enormously beneficial for her.
“I feel a great sense of achievement when studying. I do a lot of my study classes on the weekend,” she said.
Amanda is also exercising more than ever, walking long distances twice a week. Soon she wants to tackle the challenge of the Balgal Beach walking track. Exercise has enormous benefits for both physical and mental health, with movement stimulating chemicals in the brain that improve mood.
All these changes have helped Amanda to see her children more often, with her son and daughter now occasionally staying overnight.
Non-profit mental health and disability support group, Open Minds has also supported Amanda on her journey back to work and wellness.