Sharing What Works - Snapshots

Careering Ahead, Building a Future - Commonwealth

Michelle is 22 and has completed a number of TAFE courses and done some part-time work: "I've made a few bad decisions about my career and thought it was time to get some help. I really want to find out what my strengths are and what sort of career I should pursue. Career Counselling is helping me find out about myself - which occupations suit my interests, personality and skills."

An unemployed brickie was very angry that he had worked for a number of years in a job that he didn't like but had to earn a living. What he wanted to do was to become a doctor. Through the programme it was found that he was well suited to helping people, The Career Counsellor suggested the Cert IV in Health (Nursing) at the local TAFE. Fourteen months later he was working in a local nursing home. He had successfully completed the course and gained a job that he was loving: "I got heaps out of my time with the Career Counsellor - opened my mind to the boundaries I had placed in my own mindset - i.e. job opportunities, resume set up. Really important to have this sort of thing - it motivates people and makes getting employment seem more obtainable and within reach. That the odds are not insurmountable"

For further information, including details on the target group and responsible agency, follow the link to Initiatives targeting Recommendation 23.

Work for the Dole Works - Commonwealth

Huseyin Duzgun saw the Work for the Dole television advertisement and was motivated to write about the benefits he gained from being on the programme two years ago.

"I had low self-esteem, but my supervisor at the Hume City Council Work for the Dole project had faith in me and put a lot of effort into training and encouraging me," Huseyin said. "She recognised my abilities and encouraged me to do my best."

Now working as a client liaison officer with a marketing company in Melbourne, Huseyin says he owes his career to his positive experience with Work for the Dole.

"I would like to thank everyone who put effort into boosting my confidence and helping me increase my skill base. I would like to encourage people to give Work for the Dole a go because it opened up opportunities for me that I would never have thought possible a few years ago".

For further information, including details on the target group and responsible agency, follow the link to Initiatives targeting Recommendation 23.

Career Goes Graphic - Commonwealth

A young Sydney woman made the successful transition from Work for the Dole to work, by becoming the supervisor of a Work for the Dole activity which she helped to establish.

Tara Jakszewicz, 24, of East Hills completed work experience as an administrative assistant at Inner West Skills Centre and helped with a jobs and training project for homeless youth. She came up with the concept of a Work for the Dole activity called "Promoting Design". The activity meant she could use her graphic arts skills to train a group in computer-based graphic design to produce quality promotional material for local community groups.

Inner West Skills Centre got the go ahead to run the project and gave the job of supervisor to Tara. Now she is running a similar Work for the Dole activity called "Go Graphics".

For further information, including details on the target group and responsible agency, follow the link to Initiatives targeting Recommendation 23.