Finding the right pathway
Austin from APM Employment Services said Brian came looking for support to move forward in his life.
"(Brian) came to me basically telling me that he really just needed some help."
"He was really looking for employment and couldn’t find the right pathway" he said.
"I knew Brian was ready for work, but I knew that he needed some work and a lot of support."
Brian was supported into work, after engaging with APM through the jobactive program.
"There are a number of challenges, the biggest one would have probably have been my criminal history" Brian said.
Brian’s employer Neva shared the company’s ethos when it came to hiring
"Here at Footprints we employ people based on their heart, not necessarily their qualifications."
"And when we came across Brian …and the fact he hadn’t been given an opportunity, really stands for everything that we stand for, which is trying to give opportunity in adversity."
Qualifications and heart
Not only was his previous criminal history not a barrier, Footprints created a whole division around his skill set and the work Brian wanted to do mentoring Indigenous job seekers.
APM Employment Services CEO Karen Rainbow agrees how valuable someone’s experiences can be when looking for work.
"You don’t need a qualification to build your skills" she said.
"A person’s interests, styles of communication, their actions and life experiences can positively set them apart when looking for work."
"Someone’s empathy in their role can make all the difference to another person’s life" she added.