Lauretta has found the perfect job after months of unemployment while battling a physical injury.
Previously, the 52-year-old from Wonthaggi in Victoria was driving long distances to reach her workplace and despite loving her job, found all the driving was exacerbating a back injury.
For the sake of her health Lauretta was forced to resign from her full-time role. Months went by during her recovery when she was unable to earn a living. Knowing that she needed local work, Lauretta approached atWork Australia’s Wonthaggi office in July 2019 for assistance. Her Disability Employment Services Job Coach, Melanie said Lauretta’s health meant she could work only a few hours a day.
“This was a struggle for Lauretta as it minimised greatly the number of jobs she could apply for,” she said.
The pair worked one-on-one to put a personalised employment plan in place that considered Lauretta’s need to work closer to home and part-time. Lauretta wasted no time targeting local companies for her own employment, and within weeks had secured a promising lead for an office clerk position with a local trucking company just minutes from her home.
Melanie supported Lauretta by discussing her restrictions with the employer, and atWork Australia agreed to fund training courses that allowed her to fulfil the position description. Now Lauretta oversees all the daily office duties for the business and the company is happy to have a proactive, committed employee on board who’s progressing well.
“Lauretta has a great attitude. We should have done this months ago!” a company spokesman said.
As for Lauretta, she’s excited to be working for a company with contracts all over the country and is hopeful to be working there for a long time to come.
“I’m so happy to return to work and not have to drive a long way to get there,” Lauretta said.