Dawna joined the Work and Health Programme having been unemployed for 18 months and was in a negative headspace. She felt that her age was against her when applying for jobs and that her disabilities didn’t allow her to do the role she had done previously for so many years. Dawna was at a stage where she wanted to spend more time with her family and was looking for a job that would allow her to work flexibly. However she was struggling to find an employer who could cater to her health and personal needs.
Natalie, Dawna’s support manager, spent time with her to discuss different employment and travel options where she could comfortably balance employment and family life. Natalie also helped Dawna create a positive health statement and referred her to Connect Health for an occupational health assessment. Dawna was positive toward making changes and worked hard to implement new things.
Natalie supported Dawna to apply for jobs with local employers and internally- managed vacancies based on the skills she had acquired in previous jobs. As a result, Dawna started employment as a cleaner with Atalian Servest where she said that “something just clicked” – she could finally see her worth in employment. Working has given Dawna a sense of purpose and a more positive outlook on life.
Since joining Atalian Servest, Dawna has been promoted to supervisor level and has taken on two other Work and Health Programme participants into her team. She felt that “someone gave her a chance when she didn’t feel she was able to do it herself and that she wanted to give back to others in a similar situation to her.”
