Holly-May's journey from adversity to achievement

For 25 years, Holly-May navigated a challenging path, marked by periods of incarceration that took a toll on her mental health.

Doubt clouded her mind over whether she could find a stable job.

After seven years out of the workforce, it was the support and understanding at APM Kiama that lit the way for Holly-May's transformation.

Coming to APM Employment Services for support, Holly-May connected with Employment Consultant Taleah.

Taleah became more than a guide to the Workforce Australia scheme, she embodied a partner in progress.

Recognising Holly-May's strong will, Taleah tailored a roadmap uniquely suited to overcome the barriers Holly-May faced.

Two specific goals came into focus for Holly-May - to manage her mental health effectively and to lay down the roots of a stable home for herself and her precious daughter.

Getting started, Holly-May secured a cleaning job in a step towards financial stability, but she still wanted to progress to a role that interested her - traffic control.

Taleah helped Holly-May access the necessary training, setting her sights on newfound qualifications.

With this newfound confidence, Holly-May reached out to local traffic control companies.

With Taleah’s coaching by her side, Holly-May’s determination shone through when Traffic Professionals in Nowra recognised her potential and offered her a golden opportunity—a position as a traffic controller.

Fast forward to today, Holly-May has already complete a full year in her role.

Her professional toolbox has expanded to include a Red Card and heavy machinery tickets, the result of APM's ongoing support.

Critical, too, was the psychological and motivational counselling that APM made accessible, equipping Holly-May with strategies to sustain her employment through a balanced mental state.

The fruits of employment were evident in more than just job satisfaction. Holly-May was able to bring her dream of a nurturing, safe home for her daughter into reality.

National recognition

Holly-May’s story doesn’t end there. Her transformation and dedication to achieve her personal and employment goals saw her recognised by Australia’s top employment services association.

Holly-May was named one of three finalists in 2024’s National Employment Services Association (NESA) Achiever of the Year Award.

The annual NESA Awards for Excellence recognises participants of employment programs who have overcome extraordinary disadvantage to achieve their job success. 

Since then, Holly-May’s continued working towards her career goals.

She recently completed her Red Card and Heavy Machinery ticket, with the aim for leadership roles in traffic control.

Holly-May's story is a call to action for those navigating similar challenges, and to employers who stand to gain from the unique strengths such individuals bring to the workforce.

If you're on the cusp of seeking employment or looking to enrich your team with diverse talent, connect with APM today.