Eighteen year old Tiffanie Johnson may be young in years but her determination to make a success of her life has not gone unnoticed by BUSY At Work Employment Consultant Maroochydore, Dana Caddell.
After completing BUSY At Work’s Transition to Work program back in April, Tiffanies’ life began to change to the point where she was able to put all her energy into pursuing new career opportunities.
“Tiffanie had hit a small bump in her life and we were able to help her refocus on getting back into work.”
“We assisted her by purchasing business clothing and coaching her in resume writing and interview techniques which really helped build her confidence,” Ms Caddell said.
After communicating with Gemma Layfield from Empyrean Lighting™ in Birtinya, Dana spoke with Tiffanie about the possibility of doing a PaTH (Prepare, Trial, Hire) Internship Program.
“Tiffanie jumped at the opportunity and was keen to learn new skills in an exciting new industry, coming into BUSY two or three times a week to learn more about the program,” Ms Caddell added.
The PaTH Internship Program is an Australian Government initiative that allows eligible job seekers to take part in the opportunity of an internship.
Instead of receiving a wage from an employer, the government provides interns with an additional $200 a fortnight on top of their income support payment. Employers receive a $1,000 payment to help cover the costs of hosting the intern during the four to 12 week period.
Following a successful interview at Empyrean Lighting™, Tiffanie commenced the initial four week PaTH Internship Program in early June this year.
Tiffanie is now working three days a week at Empyrean Lighting™ and is excited to be performing a range administrative duties as well as data entry. In addition, Tiffanie’s contract has now been extended from four weeks to twelve weeks.
Tiffanie said she was grateful for the opportunity to take part in the internship and work with the team at Empyrean Lighting™.
“Being able to develop skills in such a positive and friendly work environment has been really motivating and helped me grow as a person,” Tiffanie said.
Empyrean Lighting™ General Manager, Gemma Layfield said Tiffanie had performed very well in the initial weeks of her internship.
“We’re thrilled to have provided Tiffanie with the opportunity to experience working in a dynamic and fast paced industry. She has surpassed our expectations and we are excited for her future beyond this program.”
“As well as the added bonus payment, we believe the PaTH Internship Program is not only very helpful for businesses, but a great way for young job seekers to gain employability skills,” Ms Layfield said.
Gemma said she was thankful for the support she had received from BUSY At Work.
“BUSY had provided us with extensive information about the PaTH Internship Program as well as a suitable list of candidates to ensure we were able to recruit the right person for our business,” Ms Layfield added.
BUSY At Work CEO Paul Miles, said it was pleasing to see local employers taking the opportunity to see how a young person fits into their team and is suitable for employment with their business.
“With the support of the Transition to Work and the PaTH Internship Program we can ensure young people learn the vital communication and teamwork skills to overcome challenges and set them on a career pathway for the future.”
“Empyrean Lighting™ has set an example for other employers in demonstrating how you can make a difference and provide opportunities for young people who might otherwise not see a future,” Mr Miles said.
To participate in the PaTH Internship Program participants must be aged 17-24 and have received Employment Services for six months or more.
For further details about the program please contact BUSY At Work on 13 28 79.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Leanne Macnamara, Public Relations Coordinator
0438 173 960 | leanne.macnamara@busyatwork.com.au
