When the Can Van Jobs Roadshow rolled into Townsville last month, it provided the perfect opportunity for job seekers Leanne and Rebecca to showcase their customer service and barista skills.

CoAct’s three Can Vans are travelling 10,000km to nearly 30 destinations around New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT to support people with disability looking for help to find or keep a job as well as employers looking to make their workplaces more diverse and inclusive.

Both Leanne and Rebecca had registered with a CoAct Service Partner for support on their journey to employment. Performance and Partnerships Leader Phoebe Haywood worked closely with both clients to build their confidence in looking for work and developing the right skills.

Through the Disability Employment Services program, they were able to gain valuable job search assistance as well as an opportunity to complete a Barista course at Coffee Dominion Townsville to help increase their chances of finding work in the world of hospitality.

Performance and Partnerships Leader Phoebe says the Can Van was the ideal platform for Leanne and Rebecca to gain some relevant work experience in their chosen field.

“Over the last few weeks, Leanne and Rebecca have been helping us serve delicious coffee during our Can Van events,” she said.

“It’s this type of valuable experience that’s helped bring them a step closer to reaching their goal of finding employment in hospitality and customer service.”

Leanne’s story

Leanne had to overcome some setbacks before being able to commit to re-entering the workforce. Performance and Partnerships Leader Phoebe says that she is impressed by Leanne’s hard work and determination.

We’re so pleased that Leanne’s energy and positive attitude as a member of the Can Van team has been rewarded with a job offer. She is about to start work at a new café in Townsville and we’ll be with her every step of the way to ensure plenty of post-placement support.

Rebecca’s story

Meanwhile, Rebecca is only just starting out on her employment journey and Phoebe says it has been great to watch Rebecca blossom in the way she presents herself to employers.

Work experience with the Can Van has definitely helped inspire Rebecca to believe in herself. She has already secured an interview with a local café and Rebecca’s strong work ethic together with her new-found confidence is sure to be a hit with potential employers!

With the support of our CoAct Service Partner both Leanne and Rebecca have been able to overcome challenges, upgrade their skills set and gain the type of work experience necessary to help them feel more confident about entering the workforce.

If you’ve been unemployed for a while or you’re a job seeker just starting out, the friendly team at CoAct can help get you on the right track. Get in touch with us today. You can also stay in the loop with our Can Van adventures and find an event near you here.

About Disability Employment Services

CoAct is a leading provider of Disability Employment Services (DES).

We deliver two types of DES programs:

• Disability Management Service: For people with disability, illness, or injury who need the help of an employment service but do not expect to need long-term support in the workplace.
• Employment Support Service: For people with a permanent disability and an assessed need for longer term, regular support in the workplace. Find out more about how CoAct can help you.