What a difference it can make when someone gives you a chance. This would be Kyle’s experience, after he connected with an OCTEC Mentor through our Jobs Victoria service in Corio.
Having recently been released from gaol, Kyle was all too aware of the barriers he could face when trying to secure a job. He hadn’t worked in more than two years, and his experience with other job service providers had not been positive. Kyle was eager to enjoy the freedom that having a job offers, but wondered how it could be possible. He needed the right mentor.
When he came to OCTEC’s Job’s Victoria services, Kyle met a great mentor in Joel Wackett. Working within a tailored program, and with his own dedicated mentor, was the perfect solution for Kyle. Kyle and Joel spoke at length, and Joel soon realised how motivated and enthusiastic Kyle was. He just needed the right chance to reboot his life.
During the assessment process, Kyle revealed that he had completed a number of TAFE courses during his time in gaol. This included a White Card (WorkSafe) in Construction. And while Kyle’s dream was to pursue a career in the fitness industry, both he and Joel agreed that work in a construction-related role could be an important stepping stone to future employment, giving Kyle a demonstrated and recent work history.
With Joel’s help, Kyle began securing interviews and he was soon offered a position through a local labour hire company, working as a labourer on construction projects across the Geelong region. OCTEC paid for safety equipment to allow Kyle to jump straight into his new job.