Starting up at a new job is never easy, but for Dubbo PCYC's Emily Ross, her first few weeks in her new role have been more unpredictable than imagined.
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Ms Ross has taken over the manager position at the youth centre and has already found out exactly how demanding the position can be in just three weeks.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ms Ross is the only full-time staff member currently working at the facility aside from the police and while it's been challenging, the role is everything she'd hoped.
"I love this sort of work, I find it so rewarding to do, when I was at school I worked in volunteer programs in an immersion type experience," Ms Ross said.
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"I worked with remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and got a chance to see the lack of programs there."
"I want to be able to give these kids the opportunity, no matter what they need, to excel wherever they can, whether they just need a friendly face or some support, whatever I can provide."
PCYC is the people I want to work with, I love working with the youth and using sport to get them active and get them doing something positive.
- Emily Ross
The PCYC has only just started running a limited range of programs again as restrictions ease, and much of Ms Ross' time has been spent familiarizing herself with the organisation and making sure everything is ready for the children to return to a full schedule.
"I'd like to think that I'd tackle any challenge head on, that's just the sort of person I am, I'll grab it with two hands and run with it," Ms Ross said.
"If my role at the moment is cleaning floor and wiping door handles and doing that means there's a safe space for kids to play and hang out, then I'm totally okay with that."
"In a month's time, that will likely be completely different, and I'm ready for that as well."
Amongst her responsibilities, Ms Ross said that working with the police to deliver programs that improve children's lives would be like 'creating magic' and that she was happy to be playing a role.
"I'm loving it, you get to learn a lot of new, different things and it's a motivator to think outside the box a little bit," Ms Ross said.
"I'm grateful to have a job right now because there's a lot of people out of work."