Every now and then you come across people who completely blow you away with the generosity and kindness they show towards others. atWork Australia’s Employer Engagement Consultant, Joanne, is one of those people. We recently asked Joanne to share one thing people may not know about her? ”I like to play secret Santa with people who are homeless.” It’s because of generosity of spirit, hard work and caring nature that she has been able to thrive in her role with atWork Australia.
Joanne has recently celebrated her three-year work anniversary with atWork Australia. Before joining the business, she had worked in management roles in hotels and motels, aged care and also as a house window designer. However, none of these roles gave her the fulfillment and satisfaction she feels supporting people into employment.
“I joined atWork Australia at a challenging point in my life. I was experiencing grief and dealing with some of my own health concerns. I needed a career change, a job that would give me meaning and purpose again,” said Joanne.
Joanne works across the lower south coast of NSW, supporting seven atWork Australia sites. “I like to meet my clients face to face to discuss their skills and what their ideal workplace would look like. From here I can support them to upskill, gain new qualifications, licenses and connect them with local employers who are looking for new team members.” continued Joanne.
Joanne enjoys the challenge of her role, as a lot of the clients she supports are facing significant barriers to employment, including criminal records, history of substance abuse, long-term unemployment and limited transport options. “I am upfront with my clients, I let them know that I am not concerned with what has happened in the past and I want to focus on improving their future. I recently supported a client who had been incarcerated for 20 years. I supported him to gain new qualifications, gain his drivers license and he is now in secure employment,” said Joanne.
Joanne constantly goes above and beyond to support her clients and her colleagues. In her personal time, she has joined a local council group to seek improvements for their local public transport network, as transport is a significant barrier for many people when it comes to securing employment.
“I work really hard to build strong relationships with my clients and employers. They both know they can call me at any time, and I will do my best to support them. A lot of employers will call me with a position and won’t even ask for a resume. They trust that I will find them the best candidate for the job. The joy on a person’s face when you tell them they secured a job they never thought was possible is what keeps me in this job,” continued Joanne.
Get in touch today on 1300 080 856, or register your interest online, and let’s connect you with one of our many passionate Job Coaches who will work tirelessly to get you the right job with the right employer.