Chris has found a great job with a supportive employer who understands he lives with constant pain.
49-year-old Chris has a Certificate III in aged care but due to living with Rheumatoid Arthritis is unable to perform most tasks associated with the job.
To Chris’s credit, in 2019 he sought help from the Bendigo office of atWork Australia. His Job Coach, Pam says Chris has worked hard to overcome his barriers to find work.
“Chris is always keen to do everything we ask of him, and he never complains, despite the pain he lives with” Pam says.
Pam began by working with Chris to develop a professional job searching kit, with a reworked résumé and cover letters and they practised interview preparation.
Chris was very proactive in his search for work and attended every appointment set with Pam.
“He would drop his résumé off to an employer and then keep going back to see if anything had come up,” says Pam
It just so happened that Chris knew the manager of a local petrol station and dropped off his résumé in the hopes of finding work as a Console Operator.
The manager, Murray had just employed someone an hour before Chris had arrived but said he would hold on to his résumé for future reference.
Chris didn’t have to wait long and around one month later, Murray contacted Chris to say he would like to meet with him.
Pam says, “Chris got a message from Murray asking him to go in to see him. Chris went in and a couple of hours later he called me so excited. He said, ‘I had the job before I went in. He only wanted to see me to ask when I could commence.”
Chris is now raring to go.
“Chris has been a joy to work with, always accommodating. He is so happy you can hear it in his voice when he talks about his job. It is pleasing to see him happy,” Pam says.
Chris is very grateful for all that atWork Australia helped him with, and for the support of Pam in finding an employer who is considerate and understands his needs.
“I am so grateful to Murray for giving me a go. I am able to sit or stand as I need to so this helps me to cope with the role,” Chris says.
Thousands of people with a disability, injury or mental health condition have found meaningful work through atWork Australia. To see how we can help you or someone you know find meaningful work, call 1300 080 856 or enquire online today.
