The moment that car pulled out unexpectedly from behind the tall truck is etched in my brain. In fact, as I lay in a hospital bed for the best part of three months there was very little else I could think about.
G’day I’m Wayne and I’d like to tell you about a journey I made. No, not the one when I was flung from my motorcycle that left me permanently disabled. The journey back to work.
Following the accident, I had a pretty rough patch. Recovering from the accident physically was hard. But perhaps recovering mentally was harder. I found myself stuck in a dark place where I was struggling to adjust to the new me. I used to be a landscape gardener – that was not going to be possible anymore but I was desperate to get back to work. It just seemed overwhelming.
Where to start?
That’s when I got in contact with Workforce Australia, the government organization that helps people with disabilities – both mental and physical – get back or get into work. To be quite honest I didn’t know quite what to expect but I’m so glad I made that first step.
The team made a real difference to my life and step by step they started to help me understand the new me if that makes sense. After my referral from Centrelink we worked on a plan together that suited my needs that soon led to the employment agencies that put in the final pieces.
First up, Workforce Australia helped me get the right assessments done to help me understand what I could accomplish. This was crucial as I had gotten into my mind a mental picture of a broken man. Together we looked for roles that I COULD do rather than focussing negatively on what I COULDN’T do.
They helped connect me with some great training that enabled me to upskill. I was offered courses to gain new skills that matched with my disability. My confidence grew as I began to see light at the end of a dark tunnel in a way that was manageable and realistic.
But it didn’t stop at training. The team provided help with searching for job opportunities with assistance in resume writing and interview preparation. I lacked confidence but they reignited the fire that drove me forward.
Getting a job that could allow me to be useful and utilize my knowledge of horticulture was a godsend. But Workforce provided ongoing support. It was good to know that someone was looking out for me after I got back into the world of employment.
Getting back to work was not about a pay check. It was about getting back to normalcy.
Accepting that I was still me, just a different me.
And above all I could be useful.
If you’re reading this, thank you Workforce Australia. You know who I was, and who I am now.
