It's never just a job: it's a future

Nuna knew the key to giving herself the flexibility to work in Aged Care centres was to have a transport solution – she wanted to get her licence, work towards getting a car and give herself the independence to go for jobs she really wanted.

An Uyghur woman from China, seeking asylum in Australia, Nuna was living on a bridging visa and had limited access to social services support. But the team at The Salvation Army’s EPlus Local was determined to help her round out her skills and see her thriving in a rewarding role she would also enjoy.

EPlus Local – a specialist service provided by The Salvation Army and Employment Plus – takes a very holistic approach to unique groups of job seekers (like asylum seekers) who often have complex social issues to work through on their journey to gaining employment.

Nuna was first referred to EPlus Local from another community service provider, and her EPlus Local Humanitarian Job Coach, Nibras Jasim, immediately referred her to TSA’s Drive for Life program.

Despite Nuna’s lack of experience, James from Drive for Life was able to provide her with free driving lessons and a vehicle to learn in. She passed her driving test the first time around!

Nuna also achieved a Certificate III qualification in Individual Support Care as she was keen to work in a role looking after others. She quickly started hunting for work and found the perfect role at a nursing home, which was just a short, 20min drive from home.

“Many of these job seekers have fled scenes of unimaginable trauma and displacement. There are language barriers, cultural differences and many things we take for granted – family networks, extensive social support, Centrelink funding – just aren’t available for asylum seekers,” says Nibras.

“What gives me such great joy in Nuna’s story is how happy and grateful she is for her opportunities, how quickly she took up the offer to get her licence, to find a job and how her new found freedom has provided her a chance to improve her quality of life.

“Of course, she had challenges when she started in her new role – there’s a lot to learn in most new jobs – but she tells us she is so happy and taking as many double shifts as she can. Her drive to work is less than 20mins, so it’s great for her to continue to build her road skills and also meet the licence requirements she needed for a job in Aged Care.

“It’s incredibly heart-warming to see her grow both independence and confidence.”

After three long years of unemployment, 57yr old Leongatha man, Luke, wasn’t sure what to expect when he started with his new service provider: The Salvation Army Employment Plus.

He’d spent three years with his previous provider and hadn’t found work. He’d felt he’d been ‘pigeon-holed’ by his previous experience, and while he’d engaged in training courses, he’d not found a job that suited him.

Employment Plus started helping the jobseekers of Gippsland region in July this year as the new Workforce Australia program came in to place.

“Were determined to help Luke find a better return on the time he invested in job hunting,” says regional manager, Les Stothard.

“Luke said he’d not really attended many job interviews during the past 36 months. The opportunities put in front of him just didn’t seem the right fit. He really wanted to work but wanted a role where he could continue to learn new skills and also feel like is he making a valued contribution.

Not long after Luke’s initial appointment a role came up with Bendigo Bank.

His employment consultant, Gemma, assisted him with his application and spent time helping Luke take a review of his job seeking process. This involved reviewing his CV to better showcase his experience and brushing up on his interview techniques to ensure he was putting his best foot forward.

Employment Plus also helped Luke find some appropriate clothes to wear to his interview, which would be more suited in a corporate environment – exactly the kind of role he had his eye on!

Luke was overjoyed when he was offered a full-time role in customer service at the banking branch and has now been there for more than two months. He’s since learned plenty of new skills and has fitted right in with the team.

“Luke was extremely excited to get off payments and to work at such a great place like Bendigo Bank. He’s relishing the challenges and we’re pleased to hear from his employers that he’s adding a lot of value. It’s great when our job seekers find a job they love and can start a whole new chapter, looking positively forward,” concludes Les.

Indian-born asylum seeker Divya* had thought leaving the stresses of her mother country would bring a life of opportunity to her family in Australia.

Sadly, for this mum of two kids, geographical shifts couldn’t help her escape the abusive situation she was experiencing at home and she found herself in a local women’s shelter.

Divya was lacking in two key areas – financial support and confidence. She needed more than a job – she needed the support of a village.

EPlus Local – a specialist service provided by The Salvation Army and Employment Plus – takes a very holistic approach to unique groups of job seekers (like asylum seekers) who often have complex social issues to work through on their journey to gaining employment.

E Plus Local Humanitarian Job Coach, Nibras Jasim, began to consider the ways she could help Divya manager her immediate worries and look towards creating a more positive future for herself.

First off, EPlus Local helped her with some basic living cost items – fuel, clothes for herself and the kids and essential items to set up home.

To begin helping Divya build her confidence back up, Nibras referred her to the Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) for dedicated mental health support.

Naturally, the team also started to get Divya ready for work so that she could continue to build her own confidence and become financially independent.

Divya started working in a restaurant, which was a great step forward for her, but not quite enough to get her settled in her own place.

So EPlus Local helped her access $3,000 from the Red Cross’ Women and Children Fund to fund the bond for her new home.

They also helped Divya get further assistance from the Migrant Resource Centre, which helped her cover her first six months of rent as she kept building her own savings.

“The village of support is out there – sometimes you just need the right people to help you connect to those services. Especially when you are living in a high state of stress, like fleeing a domestic violence situation.

“We look forward to seeing Divya and her children continue to flourish in their new safe home with a whole new world of opportunities in front of them,” says Nibras.

*not her real name