Work & Study Month: Hard work pays off for Max

The ripple effect from working with the headspace Bendigo Work and Study team can stretch further than you think, just ask Max.

Reaching out in 2024 for help with anxiety and moving forward in life, Max says the Work and Study Program put things into perspective for him.

“They helped identify the area I wanted to work in and worked quite hard to assist me in getting the right kind of job for me,” he says.

Taking up a position as a Disability Support Worker with Golden City Support Services (right), Max is happy to be working in a job where he feels he can make a difference.

“Work has been great,” he says. “All my coworkers have been helpful; the work environment is friendly and the satisfaction from supporting individuals makes work enjoyable.

“None of this would be possible without all the support I’ve been given.”

In fact, Max is so appreciative that he decided to “give back to a place that has given me so much”, joining the headspace Bendigo Youth Ambassador Group and lending his voice to a chorus of others advocating for youth mental health and wellbeing services and initiatives.

Max is just one of many that the headspace Bendigo Work and Study Program has helped over the years. The team - made up of Vocational Specialists Dean Cosgriff and Lara Eames, as well as Vocational Peer Worker Alex Caines (pictured right) - are proud to be able to talk about Max’ story, especially as they mark Work and Study Month.

“We’re told Max has started his career positively, showing initiative and professionalism and we’re so happy for him,” Dean says. “Shoutout to Golden City Support Services too for providing Max with this chance.”

Opportunities and connections are central to the work that the headspace Bendigo Work and Study team do.

“We really strive to have a good rapport with young people not just during Work and Study Month but all year round,” Lara tells. “It allows us to better help young people. Plus, there’s more awareness about our services and the importance work and study support plays in mental health recovery.”

Those services include exploring career and study options, writing a resume and cover letter, looking and applying for a job, preparing for a job interview, enrolling in study, as well as tailored face-to-face support and online services for young people aged 15 to 25. 

With just 54 per cent of young people feeling confident in applying for a job, Dean says the work the team does bridges the gap between doubt and ability, helping young people achieve their goals.

“It can be challenging for young people to obtain employment in today’s tough labour market and we try to educate young people about what they can be doing to stand out from other applicants,” he says.

“It’s important to us to guide young people through the process of finding and applying for a job with the proper support and care,” Lara adds. 

“And we’re all about celebrating the big and the little wins too,” Dean says. “There’s stories like Max’, but then it might also be that a young person builds up the confidence to go and hand in a resume. Those are the results you can’t measure in stats, but we can see it and celebrate it with the young person when it happens.” 

For more details on the Work and Study Program click here.

“My favourite part of what I do is helping young people learn about who they want to be and setting goals on how they can achieve this.”  - Sam, Axis Employment

headspace Bendigo has recently partnered with Axis Employment to further support young people with their work and study goals. Meet Sam, a Youth Consultant at Axis who tells us what the top 3 most asked questions are.

“Hi, I’m Sam and I work as a Youth Consultant at Axis Employment. I’ll be working one day a week with headspace Bendigo providing vocational support and the top 3 questions I get asked are:

1. How can a get a job in retail? 
This market can be tricky as most stores will prefer you to submit an online application where you are sometimes competing with hundreds of other applicants. The best thing you can do to stand out is to write down why you like the brand you are applying to and describe how you can help sell their products. If you can follow up in store to show them your enthusiasm this can go a long way. 

2. What can I put on my resume if I have no work history? 
For this one it is best to think outside the box. If you have been in school, it is good to highlight the subjects you completed and any achievements in this space. Maybe you have done unpaid work like babysitting, housesitting or dog walking. Community involvement is a big area to demonstrate transferable skills; maybe you play a team sport each week or you have helped collect donations for charity. If these aren’t things you have done before then I highly recommend volunteering for a community organisation like an op shop to start building up your experience.

3. I think I want to study, what are my options? 
The best place to start is to think about what area you are interested in and what is available locally. Bendigo TAFE offers a variety of short courses, but you can also explore online training if you want a more flexible option. Where possible, meeting with a course coordinator or arranging a school tour is a great way to help you decide if study is the right fit for you.