For more than 16 years, much of Joanne’s time and energy had been devoted to caring for her children.
As a full-time carer, the 48-year-old Bathurst local had significant responsibilities at home that required much of her time and availability. While Joanne had considered and applied for work over the years, the unpredictable nature of her caring role made finding employment she could reliably commit to difficult.
But as her children grew older and became more independent, Joanne began thinking about what the next stage might look like for her.
For Joanne, that meant making space for something of her own again. She wanted to return to paid employment, connect with new people and enjoy the sense of purpose and achievement that could come from being part of a workplace.
“I felt like the time was finally right for me. I wanted to get back out there, meet new people and have something that was mine as well. After so long away from work, it was exciting, but there were definitely some nerves too.”
Joanne had been part of VERTO’s Inclusive Employment Australia program for several years, but until recently, her circumstances had made taking on regular work difficult.
When Joanne felt ready to make a more committed return to employment, she began working closely with Employment Consultant Cathie Cottrell.
Through VERTO’s professional relationship with a local McDonald’s, Joanne was put forward for a casual cleaning role.
After so long away from the workforce, there were a few things to work through first.
Cathie helped Joanne update her resume and prepare for the interview, including how to approach different questions, talk about her experience and present her strengths clearly to a potential employer. There were practical hurdles too, including helping Joanne obtain a copy of her birth certificate, which she needed for the employment process.
For Cathie, the preparation was also about helping Joanne see the strengths she could bring to the role.
“I think Joanne knew she was ready, but after so many years away from the workforce, she needed to back herself again. It was really about helping her see that she still had plenty to offer.”
Joanne successfully secured the position and started working in August 2026, with VERTO also purchasing the work shoes she needed to get started.
Since then, she has quickly found her feet.
Joanne has attended every scheduled shift, adapted well to her new role and become a reliable member of the team. Her manager has been really happy with how she is going and the contribution she has made since starting.
That positive start was recently recognised when Joanne received McDonald’s People Month Award for her strong work ethic and the initiative she has shown in her role.
“I was really surprised when I found out. I wasn’t expecting anything like that. It was a nice feeling knowing that the work I was doing had been noticed and that my manager was happy with me.”
But the recognition is only one part of what returning to work has meant for Joanne. She now has the routine, social interaction and sense of being part of a team that she had hoped employment would bring.
For Cathie, the recognition reflects the way Joanne has approached her return to work from the beginning.
“What’s been really nice is seeing Joanne settle into the team and become more comfortable in herself. There’s a real sense now that she knows she belongs there and can be proud of what she’s achieving for herself.”
For more information about the Inclusive Employment Australia program, contact VERTO on 1300 483 786 or visit https://www.verto.org.au/employment-services/inclusive-employment-australia.
