Case Studies

I don't remember what year I first became a client of Worklink. During the worst of my illness (chronic depression), I was being passed from pillar to post - to a lot of different organisations and I had no real idea of why. At that time, Worklink was just another such organisation.

I arrived in the office sick, angry, scared, confused and jobless. I was also alone as I had no support network.

That has all changed. I have now been in my current position as a child care worker in outside school hours care, for over three years. During this time I have suffered setbacks in my health that have impacted on both my ability to work and my ability at work. Fortunately, my Employment Development Officer (EDO) with Worklink has been able to work closely with me and my employer to resolve issues as they came up and even, in some cases, to resolve issues before they came up.

My EDO organised for me to undertake the necessary training I required for my job which was a Certificate III in Childcare, as well as maintenance of my First Aid Certificate, and Working with Children (Blue Card). Worklink has provided access to all of this for me at minimal or no cost.

My EDO has also encouraged and helped me to build up a personal support network to ensure optimum health at all times. Although I still have the diagnosis of chronic depression and deal with the symptoms from time to time I now have help to cope with whatever the issue before it becomes a major problem. With my permission - the EDO will contact my boss and I have also given her permission to have contact with my main support person outside of Worklink - my sister.

Worklink has recognised my skills and attributes and ensures I have the proper training and outlet to pursue these strengths. One of those attributes is a keen and passionate sense of social justice. I am now one of six client/members of Worklink's Consumer Reference Group. The group actively participates in Worklink's policy development and implementation, service planning and delivery and staff selection to ensure that Worklink's clients have an active voice in all issues affecting us.

Marjorie

Angie’s* employer received free on the job support plus a training allowance for 14 weeks.   Angie came to Worklink with a background of solid computer skills, secretarial support, reception and customer service.  Due to a traumatic experience in her life Angie suffered from depression and anxiety making it difficult for her to re-enter the workforce.

With the assistance of Worklink and by joining a supportive work environment, Angie is thriving and enjoying interaction with her work colleagues.  Her employer describes Angie as a “consistently hardworking employee with great interpersonal skill.  Angie is no different to any of our other employees and has fitted in very well.  We would not hesitate to use Worklink when recruiting”.

* not her real name for privacy reasons