Being out of work for more than a year, Alan was beginning to wonder if he would ever be able to provide for his daughter again. Then atWork Australia helped turn his life around.
Alan, 34, from northern Victoria, had many years of experience in the automotive sector but had been unfairly dismissed by a past employer, leaving him with anxiety and in financial strife.
Approaching his local Centrelink office was hard for someone with an extensive work history, but with an 11-month-old daughter to support Alan knew it was the right thing to do. Shortly afterward he was referred to atWork Australia’s Mooroopna office and introduced to his Job Coach, Belinda.
Although Alan was unsure of himself, Belinda could see that with the right support he would be successful in his job search.
“Alan didn’t have the confidence to approach employers, even though he had all his experience in the car industry,” she said.
“His mental health was affected and he’d cut himself off from the world. But I could tell he was very determined to overcome his predicament.”
During a series of face-to-face appointments, often with Alan’s daughter in tow, the Alan and Belinda worked together to create employment goals, a timeframe for finding a job, as well as a new résumé setting out Alan’s impressive expertise and experience.
The new résumé alone helped boost Alan’s confidence, and it wasn’t long before Belinda was able to set up an interview for him.
Alan was struck by how easy it was to talk to Belinda.
“Belinda is very down to earth, very helpful. She always answered my calls in a friendly and professional manner, and was understanding if I couldn’t make it to an appointment,” he said.
“She made it easy for me and never put pressure on me. She was always on my side – she made me feel like a human being.”
Following an interview with a prospective employer, Belinda was able to offer the employer a wage subsidy, which they accepted before offering Alan his first job in 14 months. He almost couldn’t believe it.
“It took three days to sink in that I’d been successful,” Alan said.
Now, having regained employment, Alan’s confidence has vastly improved and his mental health is getting better. He is also starting to set financial goals for himself and his family.