Alex heads for the summit

The team at Employment Plus in Devonport, Tasmania could not be more pleased for job seeker Alex, who recently landed himself a great role with an accommodation provider at the beautifully scenic Cradle Mountain.

Finding the right job has certainly been a climb for Alex who, due to his challenges with anxiety, took a little while to find his solid footing.

Over the two years with Employment Plus, Alex worked to develop his skills and prepare himself for the workforce and was able to find part-time work in a retail environment getting shifts on a casual basis.

After a period of time having not found regular work, he was moved to another employment service provider, but wanted to reconnect with Employment Plus so that he could pursue his employment ambitions with people he had built a relationship with, specifically his post placement support consultant, Kimberley.

With the support of Kimberley and new job coach, Jess – and an unwavering dedication to finding a more reliable paying role – Alex was willing to jump in and give anything a go. Together, Alex and Jess achieved what they had been working towards, and within weeks Alex was offered a part-time ongoing role.

Employment Plus Site Manager, Kate Rowlands, says Alex’s new role within the guest experience team as a housekeeper at the self-contained cottages, involved taking a step back and reassessing his skills to consider broader options.

“A shift in mindset and Alex’s courage to try something new has seen him flourish in his new job set in the heart of nature.

“Alex doesn’t drive, so the fact that the employer was setting up a bus that took workers directly from Devonport to Cradle Mountain every day opened up an entirely new possibility.

“He’s made friends that are also travelling daily for their jobs at Cradle Mountain, is loving his independent work and his employers have provided only glowing feedback to date.

“We’ve really seen Alex open up about his challenges, not be afraid to acknowledge his anxiety and he’s become really special to us.

“We’ve helped him prepare his CV, learn interview techniques and bought work clothes for him to ensure he’s been able to turn up feeling his very best from day one.

“What’s been so lovely to hear is how happy Alex is in his role, how proud he is of his achievement. And we feel like we’re right on top of that mountain with him too,” Kate concludes.