The APM Employment Services team in Townsville was delighted to help Ruby return to work following a horrific accident – and now Ruby is sharing her story to help other people overcome challenges to employment.
Ruby was in a coma for a month after she was hit by a 4WD while out jogging six years ago.
Sharing her story with the Townsville Bulletin, Ruby detailed how doctors didn’t know if she would survive after suffering major injuries.
She also shared how APM Employment Services consultant Theresa helped her find a meaningful job in the community after 11 years of unemployment, through the Disability Employment Services program.
“APM bent over backwards and went above and beyond to make this work for me, I think I’ll be grateful to Theresa for the rest of my days,” Ruby said.
“I hadn’t worked for 11 years, so this is my first job in a long time. The team at IGA, they really lift your spirits. I love coming to work.”
Read more of Ruby’s incredible story below.
Injury, illness or disability and want to work?
You could be eligible for help in finding a suitable job from APM Employment Services like Ruby did.
Register with us today, or call our team on 1800 276 276 for more information.
Looking for staff?
We don’t just support job seekers, we also help thousands of employers find reliable staff and access government incentives when hiring new employees.
If you’re an employer, you could access wage subsidies, plus funds for training and workplace modifications when hiring a person with disability for full or part-time work
Visit your nearest APM Employment Services team, or email support@apm.net.au.
Published by the Townsville Bulletin
Ruby Hindon returns to work after horrific accident nearly killed her
A brave Townsville woman who has returned to work after a horrific accident nearly killed her is hoping her story will help others on their darkest days.
Ruby Hindom, 35, was left in a coma for a month after a 4WD struck her while she was jogging in 2016.
“I was in a coma for a month, and they didn’t know if I was going to survive,” Ruby said.
“I had a crushed skull, a broken arm. Some of my ribs broke. Three vertebrae broke. My hip broke. My pelvis got compound crushed. My heart and kidney got bruised. My lung got punctured. My spleen was cut in half and the nerves going to my leg, they were severed at the spine.”
While the list of injuries, and the recovery time and rehab was horrific, Ruby said there were days where rehab at Performance Physio ended in tears.
But her physical scars weren’t the only challenges she had to overcome.
“After the accident, I was suicidal, it was horrific,” Ruby said.
“I’ve dealt with domestic violence, I’ve dealt with homelessness, I’ve dealt with addiction. You name it, I’ve dealt with it.”
Off work for 11 years, Ruby was desperate to find a way back to normality during her recovery while raising her son.
“What really kept me going was my boy and I wanted to show him what we’re supposed to do in life. That’s been my biggest motivator,” Ruby said.
“I’m still dealing with the accident that destroyed my body. I think it’s cost me a part of my soul to get that back. I don’t where the strength comes from sometimes, I just know I can’t show my boy that we fail.”
With the help of APM Employment Services, Ruby returned to work in 2021, finding shifts at her local IGA and helping rebuild her confidence with help from employment consultant Theresa McGreevy.
“APM bent over backwards and went above and beyond to make this work for me, I think I’ll be grateful to Theresa for the rest of my days,” Ruby said.
“I hadn’t worked for 11 years, so this is my first job in a long time. The team at IGA, they really lift your spirits. I love coming to work.”
Aside from her shifts at the local store, Ruby is also setting her goals further, tackling a TAFE education while working.
“I’m studying a certificate three in community services because I really want to help the girls that need it, just like when I needed help,” she said.
“One of the biggest motivators for me to get my story out there is so people that are in my position can see it. They see me and they’ll say ‘if Ruby can do it, I can do it’.”
Her son, her father, the medical professionals who saved her life, her co-workers and her supporters at APM are all on the list of people Ruby is thankful to.
“They really believed in me, that was a big part of me leaving those dark parts of my past behind,” Ruby said.
“I wanted to show them that it was worth believing in me.
"What really changed the game for me was having that support around me and having people that taught me to strive for more."