National Homelessness Week 2023: Our thanks to Blackshaw Coastal’s Winter Appeal

We are grateful to announce the success of the Winter Appeal organised by Blackshaw Coastal in support of Campbell Page’s Youth Homelessness programs. This National Homelessness Week 7-13 August 2023, we celebrate the immense impact made by their efforts in providing vital support to those in need during this winter season.

Thanks to the unwavering support from our community, the Winter Appeal has helped more than 150 individuals and 22 families by providing them with essential food and warm goods. These contributions have undoubtedly made a significant difference in their lives during this challenging time.  These valuable donations helped to meet local people’s immediate needs, with 85% reaching recipients within the week.

As we observe National Homelessness Week, let’s also take a moment to reflect on some startling homelessness statistics in Australia. On any given night, 122,494 people experience homelessness, with one in seven being children under 12. Shockingly, almost one in four individuals experiencing homelessness are young people aged between 12 and 24, and one in five are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Homelessness is not just about “rooflessness.” A mere 6.2% of people without homes sleep rough, while the majority of homelessness remains hidden in crisis accommodation, rooming houses, insecure housing, overcrowded dwellings, or couch surfing.

The demand for homelessness services remains pressing. In 2021-22, 272,700 people were supported by these services, but sadly, another 105,000 people were unable to receive help due to shortages of staff, accommodation, or other services. Every day, 300 people are turned away because the resources are overstretched.

Understanding the reasons behind homelessness is crucial in finding sustainable solutions. Over half of the people seeking homelessness services attribute housing or financial issues, such as unaffordable rents, as their primary reason for seeking help. Additionally, 28% cite family violence or other forms of abuse as the main cause, while other family relationship issues and other factors contribute to the remaining percentages.

To combat homelessness effectively, we must work together to provide those in need with three fundamental elements: adequate incomes, secure housing, and protection from violence and abuse. By addressing these critical needs, we can take substantial steps towards ending homelessness in our community.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in the Winter Appeal, and to Blackshaw Coastal for organising and running the Appeal, and we encourage all of you to continue supporting the cause throughout the year. Together, we can create a brighter future for those experiencing homelessness and pave the way for a more compassionate society.

Let’s stand united in our efforts to end homelessness. 

#NationalHomelessnessWeek #BlackshawCoastal #WinterAppeal #CampbellPageYouthHomelessness #EndHomelessness #SupportingOurCommunity

Helpful tips for the holidays

Cartoon presents on spotted background

The holidays can be a hard time for anyone, at any point in life. This can be for many reasons including a lot of change or unknowns heading into the new year, financial pressures, strained relationships, or family expectations that can get intense during holiday periods. You may even enjoy the holidays but aren’t able to celebrate how you’d like to or won’t be with family and friends which can be disappointing and lonely.

Whatever the reason, we’ve rounded up some key tips for coping with stress and other emotions that can pop up over the silly season.


1: Acknowledge your feelings

Holidays can bring up a lot of emotions and are often a time for reflection, so it can be tricky to feel positive at this time. If someone close to you has passed away, you have strained relationships, or you can’t be with your loved ones this year it’s normal to feel some sadness and grief.

You can’t force yourself to be happy. It’s okay to express how you’re feeling and allow yourself to be upset. It’s a lot better than bottling your feelings up. Try writing down what it is you’re feeling or chat to a friend or trusted person. There’s always someone to listen.

2: Find what works for you

Remember, the holidays don’t have to be perfect. In fact, for most people there are often a few bumps along the way, regardless of what you see people post on Facebook! Our families grow and change and so do our traditions and rituals together. So, it often means we don’t get to spend holidays all together anymore, and that can be really hard.

If you can’t celebrate the way you’d like to this year, try organising a catch-up online, share photos and videos from your day, or find new ways (or dates) to celebrate together. You could even organize to catch up with friends instead, or even volunteer to give back to your local community.

Volunteering is a great way to spend time with people and help others

If you feel you don’t have anywhere or anyone to spend the day with, or you’re experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, there are a range of events hosted by local community organisations and religious groups that can welcome you for a yummy meal and festive celebrations.

3: Give from the heart

Holidays can be expensive, and money is a huge stressor at this time of year. Before you do any food or gift shopping, decide how much you can afford. Then stick to that budget. Overspending will end up causing more guilt and stress.

Try purchasing gifts at a local charity shop, making something homemade, or suggesting a catch-up at home rather than expensive eating out. Remember it’s absolutely the thought that counts. We guarantee people will enjoy your company or something thoughtful you’ve made much more than an expensive gift.

If you need help to pay for food and gifts, check out the Salvation Army’s food hamper and gift assistance scheme.

4: Take a break

Make some time for yourself, so when things get busy or overwhelming you’ve got some time to reset. Even taking 15 minutes for yourself with no distractions is a great way to reset your emotions.

Find something that helps with your stress levels by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm. Whether it’s going for a walk, meditating, or listening to a podcast find something that works for you.

Take a break, you deserve it!

Looking for more ways to relax? Read our blog to find out how you can tune into your senses.

5: Reach out

If you’re feeling lonely, isolated, or overwhelmed this Christmas know that you’re not alone, no matter how it feels right now.

Reach out to a friend, family member either in person or via phone or video chat and talk about how you’re feeling or get involved with a community organisation to grow your social connections.

If you’ve been feeling this way for a while, book an appointment with your GP to access mental health support. If you’re experiencing crisis, and don’t know where to turn, we’ve compiled a list of resources you can access this holiday period. Remember, you matter, things can get better, and help is always available.


Have a safe and happy holiday. A reminder that our offices will be closed until 9 am 3 January 2023. We look forward to supporting our customers in the new year.

Images: Shutterstock

Tune Into Stigma this Mental Health Month

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1 in 5 Australians experience mental illness every year, and 45 percent of Australian adults will be affected by mental illness at some time in their life, but even with a high proportion of the population experiencing it, mental health is still something that’s shrouded in secrecy, shame, misunderstandings and assumptions. 


This mental health month tune in to stigma by becoming aware of the biases, prejudice and stereotypes that still surround mental health so that we can challenge it. Until we talk about it- nothing changes.  

So, how exactly can you tune in to stigma? Here are our top tips.

1: Challenge negative ideas around mental health

You might have heard (or even been on the receiving end) of one of these statements:

“People who need therapy are weak”

 “You can’t work if you have a mental illness”

“It’s all about attitude, you just need to be more positive!”

“They’re not sick, they’re just being lazy”

Sound familiar? You never know what someone is going through, and statements like these, (however casually said) send the message to people who are struggling that they’re on their own, the way their feeling is their own fault, their feelings don’t matter or that the person who has said something like this can’t be trusted to listen or doesn’t care.

Therapy is an important tool that even people without a diagnosed condition can benefit from. It’s possible to lead a happy and fulfilling life with a mental illness including keeping a job and it’s not just about having a positive attitude. By standing up and challenging these assumptions (or even considering our own internal biases) we can help create a more accepting space to talk openly about our struggles and potentially save a life.

2: Address the stereotypes around mental health

Think about some of the common stereotypes about mental illness and find different ways of looking at things.

For example, one stereotype about people with a mental health condition is that they are lazy. Instead of this negative stereotype, think about the different things someone might be experiencing that could lead to them feeling overwhelmed or exhausted.

Often dealing with the symptoms of mental ill-health takes a lot of internal energy, making it difficult to do everyday tasks. Whilst this may be perceived as laziness from the outside, what we don’t see is that an individual is doing a lot of hard work that is invisible to the outside. 

Check out this video for some helpful tips (link to spell check yourself)

2: Get talking about mental health and wellbeing

We’re all leading busy and sometimes stressful lives which means we need to look after our own mental health and wellbeing.  So talking to someone you trust is a great way to let off some steam, let go of your anxiousness or sadness and build a connection.

Make it a habit to ask those around you how they’re doing and be honest with others about your own situation. It might feel awkward or even scary, but the more we discuss our feelings – good and bad – the less they’re likely to overwhelm us. When you share you’re experience it can encourage others to do the same.

Not sure how to have the conversation? Check out RUOK? Day for some great tips.

3: Change the language you use

The words we use matter. Describing something as “crazy” or “mad” or using condition specific phrases like “I’m so OCD” can be harmful to someone without you even realising it.

Be aware of the language you use, especially around mental health, and try and challenge yourself not to use stigmatising language and encourage others not to use it too. 

4: Listen to people with lived experience

There’s lots to learn about mental health. So a great place to start is learning from people who have a lived experience with a mental health condition. It doesn’t have to be a formal sit down and you don’t have to look far.

You can find peoples experiences through podcasts, YouTube, TikToks, blogs and more. The key here is going in with the willingness to learn and empathise. Not sure where to start? Check out Abi’s experience with Depression.


If you are living with a mental health condition and need support to find work (and keep it), Campbell Page is here to help.

We’ve got your back through every step of the job search process and can connect you to the support services you need to manage your health condition.

Send us a message and we’ll will be in touch shortly, or better yet, call us now on 1300 139 920

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Image sources: GMF Designs, R U OK.

Tune in to Community this Mental Health Month

The last couple of years have been full of uncertainty, stress, isolation and feelings of loneliness which can all negatively impact our mental health.

Community and connection matters when it comes to mental health. Having strong ties with our family, friends and the wider community can help us feel happier and more supported through tough times. Here are our top tips to stay connected and tune in to community (even if it’s from a distance).


1. Ring ring

Pick up the phone or tech it up a little with FaceTime. Talking to your nearest and dearest will instantly boost your mood and take your mind off that white loungeroom wall in front of you.

2. Carve it out & keep it regular

How many times have you said to a friend “we should catch up” and it just never happens? It’s easy for to do lists, life, work or study to just get on top of you. Make sure you’re carving out time for fun and connection regularly, even if it’s just a quick cuppa. The list of jobs can wait! Your wellbeing can’t.  

3. Send it

Snail mail isn’t dead! There is nothing more personal (and surprising) than receiving a handwritten letter in the mail these days. Want to step it up a notch? Put together a care parcel. The gesture could really make their day knowing that someone cares.

4. Join an interest group

Love knitting? Started hiking your local areas lately? There are a huge range of local interest groups for every hobby where you can meet like-minded people while doing something that makes your soul sing! Google some options in your local area and look out for virtual catch ups.

5. Get Zooming

The options are endless. Join a dinner party, host a murder mystery party, schedule in a weekly trivia session, test your skills in cards, put your gut feels to the test with two truths and a lie, challenge the others with charades, home scavenger hunts… shall we continue? The connection that comes from seeing people (even through a screen) can be hugely beneficial.

6. Better out than in

No matter what method you choose to connect with your friends or family, sharing your struggles, concerns or just having a vent can help you process your feelings and help you move forward.

Not sure who to talk to?

Support is available through https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ or https://www.lifeline.org.au/ or by calling Lifeline 13 11 14  or talk to your GP directly about a plan for your mental health.


October is Mental Health Month. A month that encourages all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have lived experience of mental illness or not. It also gives us the opportunity to understand the importance of good mental health in our everyday lives.

Images: Pinterest

Tune in to your senses this Mental Health Month

Have you ever had one of those days where everyone and everything annoys you? Maybe your day has been jam-packed with a long list of things that you HAVE to get done? Or you’re just feeling a bit off, but you don’t know why? Stop and take a breath. It sounds like it’s time to tune in to your senses and look after yourself.


Tuning in to your senses is about taking a moment to be present, aware and mindful of the way we feel. Regularly “checking in” with our emotions and how we’re feeling can help you focus your mind, get a new perspective, relax or feel more connected.

Not sure how to get started? We’ve done the hard yards and rounded up a list of tips you can turn to when life gets a little overwhelming or you just need to take ten to get zen.

1. Take 5

We know, we know! In between that big long to-do, kids, study, cleaning the house, cooking dinner and work- who has time to for anything, let alone indulging in some rest and relaxation. But the busy pace of life is exactly why we need to take a beat, pause and make sure we’re ok before we get back to the daily grind.

Tuning in to your senses doesn’t have to take forever. Take a single mindful minute (or 5 if you need it) out of your day. You can always add more if you need them.

2. Be curious

An easy way to start tuning in is to get curious with your own. Beyond Blue suggests asking yourself three key questions:

• ‘How am I feeling?’ (i.e. angry, sad, happy)
• ‘What emotions am I experiencing’ (i.e. offended, lonely, loved)
• ‘How are they affecting me’ (i.e. are these emotions giving you physical symptoms too)

Starting by just identifying what you’re feeling and letting yourself acknowledge it is the first step to feeling better. If you need immediate crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or talk to your GP about finding support to work through your emotions.

3. Get Appy

What’s one thing most of us never have more than an arm’s reach away – our phones! So, it makes total sense to have the resources you need on it!

There’s a huge range of both free and paid apps available for download that can help guide you to tune in to your senses and support your wellbeing like journaling, meditation and emotion identification. We love Calm, Mood App, Daylio and MoodMission

4. Say yes to Yoga

Yoga builds strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body. Although there are so many different types of yoga, most sessions typically include breathing exercises, meditation, and postures or poses that stretch and flex various muscle groups and encourage mental clarity and calmness – and common, who doesn’t need that?!

Can’t get to a class? There’s a range of great free online resources to help you exercise at home such as Yoga with Adrienne.

5. Meditation (guided or unguided)

Meditation trains you in awareness and helps get a healthy sense of perspective. You’re not trying to turn off your thoughts or feelings. You’re learning to observe them without judgment. And in time, you may start to better understand them as well. It’s hard to shut your brain off from over thinking but keep practicing – after all, they say it makes perfect.

It can be pretty intimidating going it alone. There are a range of guided meditations to help you get into the swing of things. We love the Headspace meditation app.
Want to kick it up a notch? Add some calming smells by lighting your favourite scented candle or adding in some aromatherapy (use of essential oils) in a diffusers or aromatic spritzer. If it makes you feel better- we say go for it!

6. Breathe it out

Deep breathing for even just 1 minute can have a huge effect at calming down the body and releasing happy hormones. The 4-7-8 technique is a great place to start and something you can do whenever and wherever you need to.
Try it out! Here’s how to do it:

• Breathe in for 4 seconds
• Hold your breath for 7 seconds (yep! Hold it)
• Breathe out for 8 seconds
• Repeat this process for a minute (or as long as you need to).

7. Picasso is that you?

Art comes in so many different shapes and sizes, but you don’t have to be Picasso to reap the benefits! And that’s why it’s no surprise, that many people around the world use art as a means to deal with stress and work through their emotions. Join a group and meet some like minded people in the process or go it alone. Painting, writing, knitting, woodwork, photography, drawing – it’s all good!


October is Mental Health Month. A month that encourages all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have lived experience of mental illness or not. It also gives us the opportunity to understand the importance of good mental health in our everyday lives.

Images: Pinterest, quickmeme, Coffeeme.me

Best jobs for people with arthritis

Living with arthritis can make it difficult to find a job. You might be finding it hard to work pain free and manage your symptoms. Arthritis is the second most common cause of early retirement (due to ill-health) and with over 100 different types, it can affect anyone at any age (source: Arthritis Australia). But with the right support and the right job- you can keep working.


We KNOW you’re more than your condition. Arthritis won’t stand in the way of you finding a job, but everyone needs a little support every now and again. So we’ve taken the pressure off your job search by rounding up the 5 best jobs for people living with arthritis .

A pair of hands, palms facing the camera demonstrating jobs for people with arthritis

1: Virtual/ Administrative Assistant

If a low impact, low stress or work from home job will help you manage your arthritis symptoms- admin could be the job for you!

There’s a huge range of areas to go into and the option to start at entry level or hone your skills in a particular area. Typical tasks could include, filing, taking calls, booking appointments and more.

2. Accountant

Accounting jobs are great for people who have great attention to detail and love working with numbers. While it does require a degree, there’s huge potential for growth, it’s a stable career and you can forge your own path through specialisation.

Better yet, if you’re dealing with arthritis you might find being off your feet and at an ergonomic workstation does wonders for your symptoms!

3: Freelancer

Whatever your skill base or range, chances are you can do it – freelance! You can work from home, choose your clients and flexible working hours that suit your condition.

You can freelance in a field you already specialise in, but many freelance jobs don’t require any experience at all, and you can get started straight away. These include Data Entry, Proof-reader, and customer Service.

4: Be your own boss/Run your own business

If you like the idea of working from home, choosing your own hours and taking breaks when you need to, then running your own business could be a great option when working with arthritis!

The sky is the limit when it comes to working for yourself, create your own products to sell online, offer your services, teach online classes, or venture further from home with running your own courier, cleaning or gardening business to others!

Working from home is a great job for people with arthritis

5: Training or Management

If you have a background in a role that no longer is suitable like childcare, retail, or healthcare, you might be able to transfer your skills into a training or management role. Working in management or training is a great way to use your existing skills and knowledge to help lead others, without giving up the job or industry you love due to your arthritis symptoms.

These roles tend to include more flexible duties mixed with desk work, and don’t require you to stand for long periods of times or lift heavy things.

If you’re not sure what job is right for you, we can help. Through our free Disability Employment Services, your dedicated Employment Consultant could help you discover jobs that are a good fit for you, and supportive employers.

Jobs to avoid

There can be many factors that can make arthritis symptoms worse, especially when it comes to work. Jobs that are high stress, require repetitive movements or require standing or sitting for long periods of time can have a negative impact.

Depending on your condition and symptoms, jobs to avoid may include truck/bus driver, construction or labourer, childcare, retail, or hospitality. 

Tips to remember

Everyone’s experience working and living with arthritis is different. You may struggle with tasks that others don’t. Along with finding the right job, it’s also important to consider the following steps when managing your symptoms and reducing the impact on your work life:

  • Talk to your doctor: Make sure you follow the advice from your health care team. Let them know of any changes in how you’re going at work so that you can get the best treatment for you and your needs.
  • Moving around: Try not to stay in the same position for too long. If you normally work at a desk, get up and walk regularly. Go to the bathroom, get a drink, or set a timer to take a break, stretch, or start a new activity
  • Modified workspaces: ergonomic chairs, keyboards and mouses may help manage your symptoms by helping you practice good posture and keeping your wrists and hands aligned.

Get the right support

Finding a supportive employer that’s open to discussing your condition can be key to managing your symptoms. A flexible work schedule, options to work from home as well as modified workspaces can all help to make working with arthritis easier.

You don’t have to go it alone. Whether you need help with managing your condition in the workplace, training and upskilling, education, building skills, learning how to search for a job, writing a resume or preparing for interviews, we’ve got you covered.

Ready to find work?

Send us a message and we’ll will be in touch shortly, or better yet, call us now on 1300 139 920

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Image Credit: Pexels, Arthritis Australia.

What I want people to know about OCD

OCD awareness

“They laughed in my face and told me that OCD isn’t a real disorder and not comparable to other mental health conditions.”


Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions).

According to Beyond Blue, close to 3% of people in Australia will experience OCD in their lifetime. OCD can occur at any time during your life and children as young as six or seven may have symptoms, although symptoms seem to develop fully for the first time in adolescence.

When I first got a diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, I was in high school. It was taking up numerous hours of my day and was dramatically impacting my life. My father also has OCD, so it wasn’t something I was completely unfamiliar with, however it still was an adjusted period to understand how to cope with it.

Aside from my parents, no one could tell I had OCD. I kept it very hidden and it wasn’t something that was obvious to those around me. I didn’t feel the need to tell my friends, and even to this day I haven’t really spoken about it much with my extended family. I was coping with it alone for many years early on, until I slowly opened up to a psychologist.

I knew that [OCD] wasn’t something that would just be ‘grown’ out of.

I have worked with psychologists on and off throughout the last 10 years, using exposure therapy and CBT. However, I found for me personally the most progress I made, was when I worked on my personal growth in conjunction with my therapy. Working with life coaches around my fears, working through trauma and truly learning to understand my emotions and building self-acceptance has been something so powerful for me in combating the additional anxieties that come with OCD, so much so that I ended up in the profession myself.

Compulsions can take a very long time, if they are interrupted then it can sometimes take upwards of an hour of my time to complete. My compulsions can look like something as simple as flicking a light switch on and off, or locking and checking the door to my car excessively. But it can also look like repeating the same words over and over again or doing numerous rituals before I can sleep, shower, or leave the house. Sometimes it would even take over an hour just to get into the shower because of all the compulsions I had to do beforehand. Compulsions can be different for everyone, and for some people they are not even visible.

It can make a lot of activities quite difficult because my compulsions require me to repeat a lot of movements or rituals, and this disrupts not only my own mind, but it also takes a toll on my family and how our lives function around my compulsions.

When I first had the courage to start telling people of my diagnosis a lot of people would just say “haha me too”, “everyone is a bit OCD”, “don’t worry, I’m a total clean freak too”, not realising that they were actually offending me.

It made it very clear to me that no one truly understood OCD, and that it is far more than liking things to be neat and done in a certain way. Even to this day, there is very little awareness. Such little awareness in fact that some people have told me that it isn’t on the “same level” as other mental health conditions such as bipolar or depression.

People have such little knowledge about the pain, suffering and torture we essentially go through each and every moment.

I once brought up the conversation of my disorder to a co-worker. They used the sentence “omg you’re so OCD” to another co-worker who doesn’t have OCD  but likes things to be neat and orderly. I sat them aside and let them know of my condition, and how things like that are hurtful to hear because I am suffering and you wouldn’t just use the word depression or bipolar in the same context. They laughed in my face and told me that OCD isn’t a real disorder and not comparable to other mental health conditions.

For me (and I’m sure many others suffering out there) I can tell you that it is a very serious disorder, that takes a massive impact of the sufferers everyday life. Just because you are not within my mind or do not experience the fears or thoughts that I do doesn’t mean they aren’t a very real fear to me. What comes across as irrational to one, is completely rational to another.

“it’s not always about contamination, order or symmetry”

I want people to understand that OCD is a very real and debilitating disorder. It’s not just about being clean, organised or liking things done a certain way or in a certain order. There are many OCD themes and subtypes, it’s not always about contamination, order, and symmetry. It includes themes of harm, suicide, sexual thoughts, relationship, and religious focused themes.  

Although I still suffer from this, I have been able to grow and work with my OCD rather than against it. As time has gone on, new themes will show up, there are consistently moments where it becomes unbearable again but doing the therapy and work on myself has helped immensely.

It is an invisible health condition that a lot of people suffer with in complete silence, but no matter what type you are experiencing know that you are not alone and that with the right therapy things can become easier.


Written by Elle Tiganis. Elle is a mindset coach at EMT Coaching and co-host of the Daydream Believers Podcast. She loves listening to music, photography and doing yoga and also happens to live with OCD.

How to create a LinkedIn profile for your job search

“Do you have LinkedIn?”

You’ve probably heard this question asked before, and it’s for a good reason.

Since launching in 2002, LinkedIn now has over 690 million users cross 200 countries. Think of it like a professional Facebook, where the focus is on careers and business (not cat videos). Technically, yes, it’s a social media site; but it ’s more focused on job searching, education, research and networking.


One of the biggest advantages of having a LinkedIn profile, is that it’s a great tool for your job search. On LinkedIn you can:

  • Apply for jobs on the site
  • Let potential employers view your profile (and vice-versa)
  • Be contacted by recruiters
  • Research the company you are applying for (and its employees)
  • Connect with colleagues past and present

Setting yourself up on LinkedIn can really help you find work or get ahead in your career. It’s easy to set up and even easier to maintain. How much or often you choose to use it is up to you and your preferences. So grab your resume (if you have one) and let’s get started.

1: Set up your profile

Head to LinkedIn to create your profile. Follow the prompts by LinkedIn, filling in the information as requested. The more information you can provide now the better, it will mean less updates later on.

Use a suitable photo (no selfies from the pub) for your profile picture, then you can start adding your location, industry, add a personal summary, skills, languages, qualifications and so on. You can fit much more information which you wouldn’t be able to share on your resume.

This is the summary of your LinkedIn page, so make it count! Add in your relevant information, you can even add your skills or if you are open to work!

Take some time to think about what it is you want to highlight, are you a great leader? Highlight your management skills. Are you looking to change industries? Highlight the transferable skills that will make you a good employee anywhere.

2: Connect your network

LinkedIn is pretty clever, once you have added your email address, your school and education it will automatically suggest who you should connect with. Connect with old colleagues, classmates, or even people you may know through your network – you never know who may be hiring!

You can also personalise your request with a message to say hello to your potential connection.

TIP: genuine over generic, don’t just copy and paste the same message. Share why you’re looking to connect with them e.g. “Hi Simon, I see we have a few mutual connections through working/studying at XXX. Looking forward to connecting with you!

3: Request endorsements and recommendations

Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a great big billboard that said how fantastic you were? That you are a hard worker and awesome at any job? Well, LinkedIn offers endorsements and recommendations which is the next best thing! Recommendations are testimonials from people who know you, and endorsements are recommendations of your skills.

Add your skills by searching in the tool bar to add them to your profile.

TIP: the skills with the most amount of endorsements will sit highest on your profile, so think about which skills you want to highlight first. E.g. you may be a great public speaker, but it may be better to showcase your customer service skills for your next role.

4: Share your LinkedIn page

You can add your LinkedIn profile to resume, cover letters or in emails. It’s an added tool in your job search, and it may just put you ahead of other candidates. Simply copy the URL from your profile and share it wherever you like. You can also let Recruiters and Hiring Managers know that you’re looking or open to work via your profile settings, because why not work smarter not harder? Let them come to you!

Update your settings (under privacy) to show that you’re open to work & new opportunities

5: Get job searching!

LinkedIn also comes with its own job search function – and it’s popular with Recruiters – so it’s great to add this to your job search.

Let the recruiters come to you!

You can also research companies before you apply, which gives you an idea of what the company is like to work for, and make sure it’s the right fit for you.

TIP: you can reach out directly to the Hiring Manager of the role from the job posting, and it helps you stand out as proactive candidate who takes initiative!

If you’re looking for your next job, or want to take your job search to the next level, Campbell Page can help.

Whether you’re ready to start work now, or need some extra support with training or confidence building to help you prepare your for work, we’ve got your back through every step of the job search process!

Send us a message and we’ll will be in touch shortly, or better yet, call us now on 1300 139 920

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Image credit: LinkedIn, jobscan, Turbo Future, makeameme.org, LinkedIn Makeover

Top tips for building confidence

Two people smiling confidently

A lack of confidence can affect all aspects of your life including building relationships, work, study, applying for a new job or trying something for the first time. When you’re not feeling confident in your ability, you can feel lost, discouraged and even a bit scared. Low confidence can stop us from taking positive risks (like applying for that job you feel is a bit out of your reach) and really affects the way you present yourself. If you don’t feel good about yourself, chances are, you’ll project that.

We’re here to tell you that while these feelings are incredibly common, they don’t have to be permanent. You can build up your confidence with a bit of practice, just like any other skill!

We spoke with Elle Tiganis, a Mindset Coach at EMT Coaching about her top tips for building confidence and overcoming your fears to pursue your passions and live the life you want.


1: Step outside your comfort zone.

Allowing yourself to get comfortable with the unfamiliar and start moving through the feelings of uncertainty and discomfort is the first step. Think of all the things you were once nervous and scared about that you do currently. It was a matter of stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new that we you were able to find confidence in those things. A great way to start implementing this is to learn something new, it could be a language, an instrument, learning about a new hobby or trying out a new activity or sport.

In giving new things a go, it’s reminding you that anything is achievable and teaches you to develop faith within yourself and your abilities while also helping you to find new potential passions along the way.

2: Stop comparing yourself to others

In this day and age, especially with social media it’s become so easy to take a look at someone else’s life and start comparing it to your own. We tend to put people that we perceive as “perfect” or “confident” on a pedestal. The most important thing to know is that even the most successful person you know, has failed at some point, and have still felt fear and doubt.

“Being imperfect is part of being human, everyone experiences it.”

Elle Tiganis, mindset coach

Each and every person is on their own unique path in life and has their own unique qualities. There’s no need to compare your life to those around you because they are not you. One of the most powerful things when it comes to building self-confidence is looking within and doing things that YOU want, rather than focusing on the expectations and comparisons of others around you.

3: Show yourself compassion

A lot of people talk about self-confidence and self-love, but they forget that we need self-compassion even more, especially when things don’t go to plan or we make a mistake. Compassion is something we find very easy to show others, but a lot of people struggle to show themselves. When something goes wrong, or we make a mistake it becomes way too easy to go into judgment and shame mode toward ourselves.

In this time, what we need to do is show ourselves compassion by speaking kindly to ourselves, holding ourselves and showing ourselves forgiveness. If this is something you find hard to do, try and look at it from the perspective of talking to a close friend. How would you treat them if they were going through the same thing? What would you say to them? 

4: Turn your fear into excitement!

The feeling of fear and excitement have the same physiological response inside of the body, so most of the time that feeling within us just before we do something new or do something important to us is just the feeling of excitement. However, we are so used to associating that feeling in our body as fear, that we label it as being just that.

Once we label something as a fear, our minds go into overdrive and start telling us all the possible negative outcomes or bad things that could happen. As a result, we might not follow through and decide to give up, chalking the situation up as “too risky” or labelling ourselves as “not good enough”.

In these moments, when you first start to notice that feeling within your body, tell yourself: “I am excited.” Label that feeling as excitement because likely that’s all it is. It’s completely normal to be nervous and excited at the same time, especially when it’s about something that has meaning to you. Feel that feeling and do it anyway!

5: Celebrate yourself and build evidence!

In times when you need confidence, it’s typical to tell yourself about all the times you’ve failed, or that something went wrong. As humans, we tend to keep evidence of all the negative events – but forget to remind ourselves of all the positive ones. This is why it’s important to build up that positive evidence.  

Try writing down a list of things you have achieved or 3 things that you are grateful for each day and celebrate those things, give yourself some credit! Make sure you take the time to have fun and bring joy to those moments. By doing this, you’re building up proof that you CAN do things and you WILL achieve which in turn, builds up your confidence and self-esteem.

6: Ask for help

Even the most confident people feel scared and nervous at times. Everyone feels some fear before they speak in front of a crowd or before they do something for the first time. The only difference between you and that person is that they took action – even though they were scared.

“Confidence is something we build after we try a task or experience, not before we do it.

You don’t have to take the leap alone though; you can always ask for help. The team at Campbell Page are here to help you build your confidence and beyond to find a job (and keep it). If you’re ready to make a change, we’ve got your back.  


READY TO FIND WORK?

We’ve got your back through every step of the job search process. Send us a message and we’ll will be in touch shortly, or better yet, call us now on 1300 139 920

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Elle Tiganis is a mindset coach at EMT Coaching. You can find her on Instagram sharing her tips and tricks or book a FREE discovery call if you’d like to find out more about working with her!

Image sources: Giphy, emtcoaching

We need to get real about how we discuss disability and stigma

we’re on a mission to get real

Over the last month we have introduced you three people: Jeff, Abi and Dash. They all have different stories, histories and backgrounds. But they do share one thing in common – they all have a disability and deal with the stigma and assumptions that come with that.


What is a disability?

A disability is any kind of limitation, restriction, or impairment (whether temporary or permanent) that affects your ability to do everyday activities.

You may not be able to tell someone has a disability by looking at them, but regardless of whether you can see it, it still comes with its own unique challenges.

L-R Abi (she/her), Dash (they/them), Jeff (he/ him). Watch out trailer here.

Abi lives with depression. While she is a bright, bubbly person it can make things that she did easily the day before a real struggle and means she deals with people labelling her as ‘lazy’ or ‘weak’.

Mental illness is not a weakness. People who deal with mental illness are actually incredibly strong. They are not weak, I am not weak, you are not weak- Abi.

Jeff became an amputee due to a medical condition and now uses a mobility aid, he noticed how much people’s attitude towards him changed because of this.

People are kinder to you [when you’re in a wheelchair]- Jeff.

Dash, who identifies as non-binary, is a passionate, hard working employee who lives with addiction and is often perceived as a ‘druggie’ or ‘junkie’ even though they have been sober for some time.

It was really difficult when I was dealing with health services, dealing with that judgment, because you get worse treatment. You get left waiting… everything that you do is seen as some kind of attempted drug seek- Dash.

So, what is stigma?

Stigma involves negative attitudes against someone based on things like their gender, race, religion, sexuality or a health condition and disability.

While we can have stigmas towards a person and not even realise it, the negative effects of stigma for the person on the receiving end are huge. It can lead to feelings of shame, hopelessness and isolation, reluctance to ask for help, fewer opportunities for work and socialising.

Stigma happens because of misinformation and stereotyping. Something Abi, Dash and Jeff have experienced this first hand with questions, comments and assumptions about their disability.

How can we remove stigma and get real?

See the person first – don’t label them on how they look. Their illness, injury, health condition or disability does not define them, or hold them back.

Want to hear more from Dash? Watch their video here

Ask them – go on, don’t be shy! They may have a preferred term that they use, so it’s okay to ask and find out (just make sure you’re polite and respectful). Here’s a list of some disability terms you should know (and avoid).

Want to hear more from Jeff? Watch his video here

Call it out – speak up against stigma. Because when we challenge those around us (and those who may not even realise it) it helps others to learn and grow.

Want to hear more from Abi? Watch her video here.

By reducing the stigma that surrounds disability and other health conditions, we allow people to be their true selves.

So, let’s get real about disability: it’s not something you should pity about someone, it doesn’t automatically make them an ‘inspiration’, and it’s certainly not something that has to stop anyone from getting the best opportunities in life – like having independence, hobbies or finding a job.


If you’re living with an injury, illness, disability or health condition and are looking for support finding work, Campbell Page can help.

We want to hear your story so we can help find the opportunities. Whether it’s extra skills and training, resumes/cover letters, or connecting you with extra support services we’ve got your back.

Call 1300 139 920 or send us a message and we’ll get back to you.

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