Brianna finds her way

After experiencing a traumatic event at work, Brianna was unsure of where to turn, but with some dedicated help from the team at Uniting in Coffs Harbour, through the Smart, Skilled and Hired Program, Brianna found her way.

Finding a path beyond school

Though obviously very bright and motivated, Brianna always felt as though the school system wasn’t a good fit for her. Before connecting with the Coffs Harbour team at CoAct Service Partner, Uniting, Brianna had been working at an independently owned grocery store. She was doing well in the role, but after the store was robbed and Brianna was held up at knife point, she was unable to continue working there.

Giving Brianna the tools to succeed

Impressed with Brianna’s intelligence and determination to get back into the workforce, the team at Uniting were confident that she’d be a great asset to an employer and set to work helping her find her feet. Through the Smart, Skilled and Hired Program – a program designed to help young job seekers between the ages of 15 and 24 – the team were able to help Brianna get work-ready.

The team helped to revamp Brianna’s resume, purchased clothing for her to wear at job interviews and for work, and even purchased a bicycle for her when it became clear that she was having to rely on others to get to and from work. The team also referred Brianna to a free driver program where she was able to take 8 free driving lessons, a big help toward one of her long-term goals: getting her driver’s license.

Brianna breaks into hospitality

With the help of the Smart, Skilled and Hired team, Brianna was hired at “The Galley”, a burger shop run by a husband and wife team who were hoping to hire a young team member who could work during the week. To be successful in the role Brianna needed to be resilient enough to handle the busy workload, reliable, a quick learner, and fast on her feet!

“We want you to find us more Brianna’s!”

Brianna is currently working at The Galley between 25-30 hours a week and the owners are thrilled with her work ethic and dedication. With an upswing in the business expected in the coming months, they’ve even reached out to the Uniting team, looking for an additional team member, saying:

we want you to find us more Brianna’s!

– something the team is working on!

The future looks bright for Brianna

Brianna’s bright and bubbly personality make her a great fit for the hospitality industry. The owners of The Galley have been so impressed with Brianna that they have given her additional barista training and are very keen to develop her further within the role.

Brianna is also independently seeking out more training opportunities and would like to get her Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) certificates in order to further expand her opportunities in this industry. She’s saving for her very first car, and the team at Uniting will continue to support and mentor her throughout her first year of employment.

CoAct offers personalised support for job seekers of all ages. If you’d like more information about the Smart, Skilled and Hired program, or any of the employment programs we offer, contact the CoAct team today.