Ever wondered what it is like to work for one of Australia’s biggest companies while studying a Bachelor of Psychology full time, and somehow ensuring that your studies and mental health are still in-check? Our customer Natasha doesn’t have to wonder – but it hasn’t always been this way.

Natasha came to Campbell Page after trying to find a flexible job that would allow her to keep up with the requirements of her degree. She was referred by a family friend who recommended Campbell Page because they knew that you did not have to be a Centrelink recipient to access their free employment services.

Being a student I needed to find a job that could pay my bills but I also needed to put my studies and my mental health first. – Natasha

As soon as she was registered, Natasha and her Employment Consultant started looking at jobs in the area that would be a good fit for someone with a demanding study schedule. Eventually, a job with Qantas opened up, which appeared to meet Natasha’s needs. Matthew and Natasha worked hard on her resume and cover letter before submitting an application through to Adecco.

Finding a job with Qantas was perfect. It is such a big organisation, so negotiating flexibility in Natasha’s work hours wasn’t a big issue. – Matthew Tanner, Specialist Employment Consultant

Not long after her interview, Matthew informed Natasha that she had been successful in getting the position and began to prepare her for her first day on the job. The team at Campbell Page assisted and supported Natasha consistently during this time, both emotionally and financially.

Campbell Page were so supportive. They even bought me my work uniform, which was a massive help as I couldn’t afford to buy it myself at the time.

From her first day with Qantas, Natasha thrived and was an excellent worker. However, as the weeks went on, she began to notice that maintaining a balance between study, work and her social life was proving to be difficult. Her school work was suffering because the amount of hours spent studying and attending lectures had decreased. That’s when she remembered what Matthew had said about Qantas being open to negotiations around the hours she worked. Natasha went to her manager and to Adecco to explain her situation.

I got in contact with my manager and with Adecco to explain. Not only did they understand, but they were more than happy to reduce my hours so that I could maintain a balance.

Genevieve Trope, a Recruitment Specialist at Adecco, played a key role in ensuring that Natasha had the right amount of weekly shifts, was equipped for the job and felt supported in her choices to increase or decrease her hours.

Natasha is currently still employed by Qantas and studying full time to gain her Bachelor of Psychology. She hopes to graduate in 2022 with her Masters and begin practising Psychology while she completes her PHD. By 2024, Natasha hopes to have achieved her PHD and to be working as a Neuroscientist.

This has been the longest period Natasha has sustained work. She is now a confident, independent young woman who is focused on her future. Working while studying can be tough, but this experience has taught Natasha about maintaining a balance between work, study and her social life, a skill which she will take with her into the future.

Personally, finding a job and sticking to it is one of the best things I’ve ever done for my mental health.

If you or someone you know is experiencing depression, anxiety or any other mental illness please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit their website to chat online.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives through employment. If you would like to find out more about Campbell Page, visit the About Us section of our website, or contact us directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

• Partnering with Headspace

Campbell Page and Headspace have been partnering together for over 12 months. The aim of the partnership is to ensure that young people in local communities are supported not only into employment but through any mental health issues they may be facing.

Campbell Page delivers an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Program principled approach with Headspace from their Craigieburn office in Victoria and their Port Adelaide Office in South Australia. By working out of the same office as Headspace in these areas, we are able to work collaboratively, share ideas, and importantly, provide a better overall service to young people.

We know that employment can be a key factor in helping someone manage their mental health, so partnering with Headspace was the natural choice. – Kylie Davies-Culloden, Community Partnerships Manager

Together, Campbell Page and Headspace are providing guidance to young people to help them build their confidence and eventually find a job and keep it.  This partnership is beneficial to young people because they gain access to support to assist them into employment, which can have a positive impact on their mental health.  Additionally, this partnership provides increased access and opportunity to isolated young people to engage with service professionals.

It gives young people in our community another support option. We want to see them achieve their goals, so we help them develop their confidence, self-esteem and strong sense of worth.

Recently Campbell Page commenced a partnership with the Headspace Digital Work Study Team, to refer eligible young people from Campbell Page to receive additional pre-vocational and post-employment support from Headspace. The Digital Work and Study Program will be piloted in the Peninsula in Victoria and in Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla in New South Wales.

Tim’s Story

 Tim (name changed) was assisted into work through the IPS Program principled approach and supported by the Campbell Page and Headspace partnership.

Tim first became a Campbell Page customer in 2015. After being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, Tim began working with counsellors at Headspace, where he learnt skills and techniques to help him manage his mental health proactively on a day-to-day basis. This then assisted him gain the confidence he needed to start his job search.

With the support and guidance from both Campbell Page and Headspace, we all began to see the difference in Tim. He was much more positive and genuinely interested in finding a job. – Ginetta Mammarella, Employer Partnership Advocate

Together, both organisations worked on helping Tim recognise his strengths, skills and experience that workplaces find extremely valuable, particularly the experience he had working for a family run business and working at Myer.

They wanted to see me reach my goals, so they did everything in their power to not only build me up, but coach me every step of the way. – Tim

After over 12 months, Tim completed a Barista course funded by Campbell Page, his Certificate III in Hospitality with Complex Training, and has completed work placement at Mercure Hotels. His placement with Mercure Hotels came with positive feedback from both Tim and Mercure and has resulted in the opportunity for Tim to start working with them on a permanent basis.

If I didn’t have the support from Headspace and Campbell Page, I honestly don’t think I would have come this far without their help.

Tripod Tribe

The Campbell Page and Headspace partnership in Craigieburn, Victoria lead to Tripod Tribe also being run out of this office. Tripod Tribe is Campbell page funded program that is run by Driven Outcomes. It was delivered in Craigieburn for young people within the local community who were at school and could benefit from learning how to set goals, be innovative and believe that anything is possible.

The program promotes entrepreneurial skills and attributes, and really encourages the participants to think outside the box in regards to what their future may look like and what they can achieve.

Two schools and two IPS customers participated in Tripod Tribe, which has seen pleasing results since it launched, including 100% of participants agreeing that they now feel more confident in gaining employment since starting the program.

Several participants mentioned that they loved the program and that they felt more confident in critical thinking, problem solving and especially relationship building. – Kylie

Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds, along with assistance in promoting young peoples’ well-being. This covers four core areas: mental health, physical health, work and study support and alcohol and other drug services.  To find information and services for young people, their families and friends as well as health professionals please visit the Headspace website.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives through securing long-term employment. Please click here to find out more about the services we offer and who we are – additionally you can also click here to contact us directly.

If you or anyone you know is having trouble managing their mental health, please seek help. Lifeline is a 24 hour Crisis Support Organisation who can help. Please visit their website or give them a call on 13 11 14.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

Steven Brandon is a Campbell Page Candidate Coach in Nowra, but it wasn’t so long ago that he was a Campbell Page customer, desperate to find a job that inspired him, at the very same office he now works at.

Campbell Page and Tip Top Bakeries have partnered together to champion disability in the workplace.

At Campbell Page our vision is that no one should be denied the opportunity of secure employment, which is why we partner with employers to help make a difference. Together with Tip Top, our goal is to start the conversation and change the way we all think about inclusion in the workplace.

Launching Our Partnership

The Campbell Page and Tip Top Be Seen Employment Program launched in late April 2017. At its foundation, the Be Seen Employment Program aims to build inclusive workplaces that recognise ability.  It will provide a roadmap to employers who believe that diversity is key to a successful and thriving workplace.

Kicking off the program, 9 eager Campbell Page customers were invited to attend an interactive information session, where Tip Top’s Sally Close, could get to know each individual in an informal setting. The idea behind the interactive information session was to change how we look at and conduct standard interviewing and recruitment processes. It gave each individual a chance to demonstrate their strengths without the added pressure of formal recruitment processes.

During the interactive information session, Sally asked the participants to break off into groups of two and discuss their achievements and contributions either in previous work, school or life in general. Each participant then shared their partner’s story.

What struck me most was how articulate and invested they were to each other’s stories. It was great to see how thoroughly prepared our customers were, and how passionate and dedicated our team are, with special mention to Arturos Employment Consultant, Joanne Remedios, and Tracy Stamers who is the Peninsula Employer Partnership Advocate. – Cassandra Warin, National Disability Employer Partnership Manager, Campbell Page

A standout moment for Cassandra and Sally was when a young  Campbell Page customer with Autism, Arturo, sat next to 58-year-old John. John spoke proudly about Arturo’s achievements at school as he encouraged others to overcome their fear of stage performance and Autoro spoke of Johns many accomplishments.

This exercise is something that even the most experienced executive could be involved in, and it was wonderful to see our cohort shine professionally in this environment. – Sally Close, Head of People and Culture, Tip Top

At the end of the day, 6 of the 9 attendees were selected to move to the next stage and come back the following day for a site tour and one on one interviews.

Recognising Ability

For the 6 shortlisted candidates, the next day began with a site induction and a uniform fitting, before they followed Sally through to the Tip Top warehouse in Dandenong. They were given a full introduction to some of the work they may be completing if selected as the successful candidates. From the initial preparation stages and baking of the goods, right through to packaging and distribution, they were shown everything.

The tour gave all candidates the opportunity to ask questions without feeling nervous or anxious. Using the site tour to break the ice meant the candidates were in an environment where everybody was learning, so the task of asking questions was much less daunting than it would have been if they had to ask the same questions on the first day of work.

After the tour, the one on one interviews with Sally began. In these interviews, Sally focused on getting to know each individual to gain a better understanding of what each candidate’s strengths were, and what support they may need. By getting to know each candidate over two days Sally was able to make informed decisions that reflected their abilities.

Having the interviews at this stage of the recruitment process not only makes the candidate feel more comfortable but it also gives the interviewer the opportunity to see a fuller picture of who the person is and whether their values and skills align with the company. – Cassandra

From the 5th of June, Arturo will commence a two week trial period with Tip Top Bakeries. During this two week trial, Arturo will be guided and mentored by Tip Top team members, as well as by Campbell Page.

Be Seen in 2017

In 2017, it is time for organisations to stand up and recognise ability. Implementing small changes in the recruitment process is a great first step for organisations who want to champion disability in the workplace. However, this has to be followed by a well-rounded approach to supporting employees who have an invisible or physical disability.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported in 2012 that the unemployment rate for people with a disability sat at 9.4%, which is nearly twice the rate of 4.9% for people without a disability.* The Campbell Page and Tip Top Be Seen Employment Program is an initiative built by both organisations to lower the unemployment rate of people with a disability.

Tip Top is a trusted, creative bakery, with a proud and strong history baking for Australians for over 50 years. Tip Top make, sell and distribute across Australia and New Zealand, with 16 bakeries, 22 main depots, 2 offices and over 4,500 employees. Their products include bread, rolls, buns, crumpets, muffins, pikelets, hotcakes, cake, speciality bread, breadcrumbs and frozen goods such as pizza bases and garlic bread for retail and food service industries.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives through securing long-term employment. We believe that all people with a disability have the potential to be meaningful contributors to their employers and through employment be included in all aspects of the community. That’s why we work with employers to champion diversity in the workplace, which in turn can help their businesses thrive. This year we are calling on our team, our customers, employers and communities to #beseenin2017.

Click here to find out more about Campbell Page and Tip Top, or contact us directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au 

**Australian Bureau of Statistics, Disability and Labour Force Participation, 2012 (2015). At http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4433.0.55.006

Jade first came to Bega Campbell Page in October 2015. At this time in her life, she was unemployed but had found it easy enough to find jobs – it was keeping them that she struggled with. This was partly due to the fact that the transition stage into new roles caused her to grow anxious, and also because she had not found a job that she truly enjoyed.

Jade’s Candidate Coach, Michelle, began working with her to highlight her skills, passions and goals and move her from unemployed to permanent work. Together developed a job plan that became centred around Jade’s love of animals.

Working with Jade, I soon discovered her love of animals and the outdoors. After finding this out, I realised why she was unemployed and none of her previous roles had worked out. – Michelle

Finding a job that involved working outside and with animals proved to be a difficult task due to the region that Jade lived in, however, determined to reach her goals, Jade persisted. Eventually, in 2016, Jade was placed as a volunteer at Potoroo Palace – a Native Animal Sanctuary.

When Jade first started volunteering she was a grounds keeper. Her role included completing various tasks such as keeping the grounds clear of leaves and debris as well as general park maintenance.  Jade quickly demonstrated her love of animals and commitment to the park. This lead to Jade being employed on a permanent part time basis. Jade’s role changed, her responsibilities increased, and she now helps out in all aspects of running the park including animal care, grounds maintenance, tours, wildlife talks in and working in the café as required.

I was so excited that my hard work paid off! I now get to work even closer with the animals and have learnt so much in a short period of time. – Jade

Jade often goes beyond her paid work hours by taking home injured wildlife and newborn animals to give them 24-hour care and support as needed.

It is probably the most rewarding part of my job. I love to seeing the progress that these animals make and knowing that I have made a difference.

With the help of Potoroo Palace, Jade is about to reach her next goal by completing a Zookeeping course, which will help her do her job even better.

Jade is now is loving life and feels she has found her niche. She is proud of the work she is doing. Jade happily talks to visitors of the park and is comfortable giving wildlife talks, a thing she would never have been able to do on the past, and her passion and love for the job shines through.

Potoroo Palace is a not for profit wildlife sanctuary between Bega and Merimbula on the Far South Cost of NSW. To find out more about Potoroo Palace, please click here to visit the website.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives through securing long-term employment. If you would like to find out more about what we do, please click here, or click here to contact us directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

Selina Hughes and Keita Obah-Lenoy were participants of Campbell Page’s Community Development Program activities on Palm Island – now they are both excelling in their field as Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs).

Selina and Keita trained in Brisbane for several months under the Queensland Ambulance Service and have returned to Palm Island to assist in the development of their community.

We want to build a closer relationship between Queensland’s Indigenous Communities and the Ambulance Service that can help us to get a better understanding of the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. – Selina

Both ladies believe that they can help the health care system better understand the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by incorporating local and cultural knowledge to enhance the level of service they provide.

The whole Palm Island community is extremely proud and cannot wait to see them around the Island again in their new uniforms.

Campbell Page has been operating employment programs on Palm Island since 2013, including the Community Development Program (CDP), which commenced in 2015. Since then, our CDP Team has been dedicated to increasing employment and breaking the cycle of welfare dependency on Palm Island. Within the community, we are developing activities that build the skills of participants and ensure they are job ready, while also being meaningful to the individual, and culturally appropriate.

Congratulations Selina and Keita!

Campbell Page is a not for profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives through securing long-term employment. If you would like to find out more about us, please visit our website or contact us directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

After 12 years of unemployment, Kynie connected with Campbell Page IPS in South Australia, to help her find a job while also keeping her mental health in check.

The road towards training and employment has not been an easy one for Kynie. She has experienced mental health issues that have made it difficult to not just find a job but maintain it. So when she teamed up with Campbell Page, she was excited but slightly hesitant to get her hopes up.

The first 12 months with Campbell Page saw Kynie overcome numerous barriers and uncover skills and attributes she never realised made her an ideal candidate for different roles. However, for a six-week period, she disconnected and was relatively unreachable.

Eventually, I got on to Kynie and let her know that we cared about her and that she could come back at anytime with no questions asked. – Dorothy Pitcher, IPS Specialist.

Dorothy’s persistence with Kynie paid off, as she returned to Campbell Page to continue to build her skillset and find a job she enjoyed. At this point, Kynie revealed that she had a special interest in working within the community sector. Almost immediately, Dorothy sprung into action, and together with Kynie, she secured a spot in a Community Services Introduction Program with the local community house, Para Hills Community Centre.

I told Dot that I wanted to work in the community sector and would love to become a Mental Health Mentor one day and she was so quick to help me reach my goals. – Kynie

After completing the program, Kynie was beginning to feel confident in herself and as if she now had a good foundation of knowledge. She voiced to Dorothy that she would now like to further her skills and training by completing her Certificate IV in Individual Support at Enhance Training and Recruitment.

Fast forward to present time, and Kynie is in the last week of her placement and has been offered paid employment at SA Care. Congratulations Kynie, it appears all of your hard work has paid off!

Kynie firmly believes that the support and guidance she has been given from Campbell Page through the IPS Program is what has helped her find her way and keep her mental health on track.

The IPS Program enabled me to work at my own pace and ensure that my mental health was in check. My puppies have also helped keep me grounded and my mental health well rounded. – Kynie

Kynie will continue to receive support from Campbell Page while she commences the first six months of her employment with SA Care.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives. If you or someone you know struggles with their mental health, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit their website for more information.

IPS stands for Individual Placement Support and is a program that Campbell Page supports through our Disability Employment Services. To find out more about our DES services, please click here or contact your local Campbell Page Hub directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

Felicity is based in Laura, which is roughly two hours inland from Cooktown. She is one of our remarkable Green Army Team Supervisors that helps lead our Mary Valley and Thenacull teams to success.

We sat down with Felicity and asked her what she loved about the Green Army:

What do you enjoy the most about the Green Army and Campbell Page?
“Living in a remote indigenous community has proven hard for locals to gain employment. Campbell Page has given us all an opportunity to work and it has been great that Campbell Page have provided so many people and youths an opportunity to be employed, which in return has shown people their self-worth and dignity.”

What have you learnt from the Green Army?
“The Green Army has given us the opportunity to work with the land we all love to help protect our nature and wildlife. It has provided us with the knowledge on how to look after our Country without having to be a qualified Ranger.”

Why did you want to be a part of the Green Army?
“I wanted to join the Green Army because, its chance to look after our country. It is great that the programme is based in remote locations as it has given our community a chance to learn and grow without having to relocate”
The Green Army is a hands-on, practical environmental action programme that supports local environmental and heritage conservation projects across Australia. It is an Australian Government Programme for young people aged 17–24 years who are interested in protecting their local environment. Participants receive an allowance and gain practical skills, training and experience in environmental and conservation fields.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s lives through securing long-term employment. To find out more about us, please click here to browse our website and contact us.

After 17 years as a hairdresser, Aileen decided to ditch her luscious locks in a bid to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation through World’s Greatest Shave.

Aileen is a Campbell Page client from Taylors Lakes who, after obtaining an injury, was left unable to continue working full time in her chosen field. While attending appointments with Campbell Page, Aileen found out her Aunt had been diagnosed with Leukaemia.

It was such a shock, and I wanted to help in any way I could. That’s when I decided to participate in the World’s Greatest Shave to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Giving has always been somewhat of a family trait. With Aileen’s Father promptly putting his hand up to be her Aunt’s bone marrow donor, she felt even more of a need to shed light on the disease and raise money to assist researchers in finding a cure.

Everyone has said to me, “This is a huge deal Are you sure you want to shave your head?” My reply has always been simple – “Yes, because at the end of the day it isn’t about me and my choice. It’s about trying to help the foundation and the people who don’t have a choice in the matter”.

Throughout all of this Aileen has remained focused on finding a job, ideally within the hairdressing industry because of her passion, skills and 17 years worth of experience in the field.

I’m looking at all of my options. I know I can’t go back to working in a salon full time because of my condition, but I’m thinking that maybe starting my own business through the NEIS Program and Campbell Page might be the answer as I will have more flexibility in my hours. That might be down the track though. I’ve also thought about looking into becoming a Sales Representative in the industry. I’m certainly not giving up that is for sure.

You are an inspiration Aileen – never give up!

The World’s Greatest Shave is one of Australia’s most iconic fundraising events, where people of all ages shave or colour their hair to raise money to emotionally and practically support the families of people with blood cancer, and provide funding to vital research. If you wish to donate, Aileen is still raising money through this link until June 2017: http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/aileenlichoudaris 

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming people’s. If you would like to find out more about us please visit our website or contact us directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

Congratulations to our Wingecarribee and Killalea Green Army teams who finished the Illawarra and Southern Highlands Region projects earlier this month.

Over the past two years, Campbell Page Skillset have completed 16 projects with Killalea State Park and 2 projects with Wingecarribee Shire Council.

Together our 122 participants have reached outstanding results by propagating over 32,000 plants and treating over 145 hectares of weeds.

To all our participants, we wish you all the success for the future. To Matt Roach, thank you for leading all 18 teams to great success. Finally, to our project hosts – thank you for all your support and dedication to the Green Army, we couldn’t do it without any of you! – Kristie Kelly

The Green Army is a hands-on, practical environmental action programme that supports local environmental and heritage conservation projects across Australia. It is an Australian Government Programme for young people aged 17–24 years who are interested in protecting their local environment.   Campbell Page are one of five service providers delivering the Green Army Programme for the Australian Government. To find out more about Campbell Page, please visit our website or contact us directly.