Leaving her last job after eight years and stepping out of that comfort zone to find a more rewarding career opportunity wasn't an easy decision for Bethany Daley to make.
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The 26-year-old Aboriginal woman from Dubbo lives with depression and thought she was going nowhere in the position she held since leaving school.
"I was really comfortable and I thought 'if I leave here I'm never gonna find another job'," she said.
In December Ms Daley took the risk and resigned with no new job to go to but a lot of determination to find a role that offered the career progression she was craving.
After using an employment service provider and failing to find a suitable role, Ms Daley came into contact with the Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES) - a service that helps people unlock the potential within them so they can secure work.
"I went to the AES and once I found them I never really looked back," Ms Daley said.
"They were the only ones that I found really helped me. I cannot praise them enough."
BETHANY'S BIG LIFE CHANGE
Ms Daley started her new role at Wingewarra Dental in April and has already been given additional responsibilities.
"For about three weeks I've been training someone," she said when the Daily Liberal spoke to her.
"It's a new challenge, I'm thriving so much and I really love it."
Ms Daley said her new colleagues were "lovely" and she is learning heaps.
"I said I wasn't doing anything for Easter and asked if there was anything I could study over the Easter break," she said.
"I knew none of the instruments proper names and while I felt like I was very knowledgeable in my old job, I felt dumb.
"They gave me a training manual of all the different tools and I studied that over Easter."
It's about empowering people and creating positive changes.
- Anne-Maree Chandler
In her new role Ms Daley works with patients, assists dentists and does some administration work.
"It's so fast paced and it's never the same," she said.
Because of her success, Ms Daley said she is now considering taking up an offer to work towards obtaining a certificate III qualification in dentistry.
KEVIN'S BEST CAREER MOVE
Like Ms Daley, Kevin Wilson was looking for a career change after he spent 18 years working as a security guard in pubs and nightclubs.
With support from the AES, the 51-year-old has been providing support to people with disabilities for Westhaven.
if you want something you go out and get it, you earn it.
- Kevin Wilson
"I didn't have any expectations of really getting the job but I put my application through and they took me on," he said.
Mr Wilson, who moved to Dubbo from Bourke in 1987 to play rugby league for the Macquarie Raiders, said working was always important to him.
"I don't like sitting around home too much, I do get bored very quick.
"I was on state rail for a while, I was mowing lawns and doing odd jobs," he said of his work history.
I would like to see more employers like Wingewarra Dental and Westhaven investing in our Aboriginal community and creating a diverse workforce.
- Ashleigh Knight
Mr Wilson said getting the job at Westhaven was one of the best things he'd done in his life.
"My father said to me 'if you want something you work for it' and I've been doing that ever since I was 14 years of age," he told the Daily Liberal.
"If you want something you go out and get it, you earn it."
ANN-MAREE'S PASSION
AES team member Ann-Maree Chandler mentors and coaches Mr Wilson and Ms Daley throughout their employment.
She said mentoring is focused on bringing out Aboriginal people's light and "making it shine".
"Often we hear of the disadvantage of Aboriginal people and communities," she said.
"We want to make sure you can hear about, see and feel the good stuff too, that is happening every day.
"We liaise with our candidates and employers to support and develop our people and community to enhance overall wellbeing through employment.
"It's about empowering people and creating positive changes."
ASHLEIGH'S ENCOURAGING EMPLOYERS
AES business development operations manager Ashleigh Knight has been in her role for eight years and she said stories like Ms Daley's and Mr Wilson's should be celebrated along with others.
"We know so many people that are doing really amazing things," she advised the Daily Liberal.
"I have seen first-hand the impact a career can have.
"I would like to see more employers like Wingewarra Dental and Westhaven investing in our Aboriginal community and creating a diverse workforce."
Ms Knight said the AES team are passionate about what they do and invested in creating positive change.
"Our highly successful mentoring and coaching provides an individual approach to career development, goal setting, achieving long term retention and valuable team members," she said.
"I encourage our local employers and business owners to connect with us, have a conversation with us about their employment opportunities, join the AES and celebrate the success of our people."
