Suzanne James, a client of Job Centre Australia, Young and Compliance Officer at South West Slopes Credit Union, has recently been granted Employment Assistance Funding, through Job Access, as she works from home 2 days per week.
The total cost of the home modifications was $11,398.00. This included; an Electric Scooter, 2 portable ramps, a permanent ramp and associated concreting. These modifications allow Suzanne to continue to work part of her week from Home in a safe and independent environment. Suzanne said “As if that level of assistance Job Centre Australia provides wasn’t enough, the value of what the team have achieved for me personally in terms of employment security, safe access and future needs, is pretty much incalculable.”
Factors impacting on the level of difficulty Suzanne faces in maintaining her employment include; vision impairment, the expense of private transport (living 30 kilometres from work) and assisting her partner who has Muscular Dystrophy. The modifications will be doing double duty for many years to come and will allow Suzanne to remain in employment and in her own home.
Suzanne said, “My Pathway Coach and Assessor are two of the most compassionate, professional and understanding people with whom I have ever had the good fortune to work.
I sincerely thank both of them, South West Slopes Credit Union, the suppliers who have visited my home and Job Access for the professional and efficient handling of a relatively complex project. The time frames from application to delivery would have to be a record and for once, a Disability Employment Support Service did not leave me feeling embarrassed, mistrusted and defined primarily by the disability itself. Whoever matched the two of them with their jobs certainly knew what they were doing.”
Suzanne encourages all persons with injuries, illness and/or any disabilities, whether physical, intellectual or both, to contact Job Centre Australia. “You will be amazed what they can assist you with” she said.
