Published: Dec 19, 2022
For the past six months, Lithgow’s Aaron Richards has bounced out of bed in the morning, raring to go to his job as a labourer at a local timber mill for JSM Workforce Solutions.
“That’s not how it’s always been. In fact, there have been many times when I couldn’t hold down employment,” Mr Richards said.
“I’m so grateful to have a job that I enjoy doing. It’s given me a purpose again.”
Mr Richards is one of many clients supported by not-for-profit employment, training and apprenticeships provider VERTO as part of the Australian Government’s Disability Employment Services (DES) Program.
According to VERTO DES Team Leader, Amy Waight, clients like Mr Richards are eager to work and more than capable of holding down employment, given the opportunity.
“When Aaron came to VERTO for help, he had very little work history, but what he lacked in experience, he made up for in enthusiasm and determination. We could see he wanted to create positive change in his life,” Ms Waight said.
“We were able to create a plan for Aaron to support him on his path to employment. This included drafting a resume, setting up job interviews, and supporting him once he landed a job.
“I’m so proud of how far Aaron has come in only six months. His full-time job has just been made permanent, and he is no longer receiving Centrelink payments for support, which is an incredible outcome,” she said.
VERTO CEO Ron Maxwell believes Mr Richard’s story is an inspirational one for all job seekers with a disability and one that should encourage others to seek help when they need it.
“It can be daunting to know where to start when finding a job, but Aaron is proof that anything is possible, and good, quality support that can be life-changing is at hand,” he said.
“Disability doesn’t need to hold you back from a meaningful career. VERTO has more than 20 years of proven success and a strong track record working with clients from all backgrounds,” Mr Maxwell said.
If you are a job seeker, please reach out to VERTO’s experienced employment consultants for support on 1300 4 VERTO (1300 483 786) or
About VERTO
VERTO is a community owned, not-for-profit organisation delivering a range of apprenticeship, community support, employment and training services to assist individuals, employers and industries. We can be found in over 60 locations across the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. For more information, visit verto.org.au.
