Bea joined AKG’s Workforce Australia program in Cairns in June. She was a solo parent, felt overwhelmed, and wasn’t sure where to start. By September she had been offered a massage job at a local business, working Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm, with guaranteed hours.
Bea had the skills. She didn’t know where to start.
Bea already had the skills. She’d worked as a masseuse and finding her any job wouldn’t have been difficult. What she didn’t have was a clear way forward. As a solo parent, everything already felt like too much.
So her Job Coach, Di, started there instead.
Support for her mental health came first
Di connected Bea with AKG’s employment health services team, where she got practical strategies for managing how she was feeling.
Learning how she works best
When Bea mentioned she thought she might have ADHD, Di referred her to a Living and Working with ADHD course run by Duke Education, one of AKG’s registered training partners.
“It was super helpful,” Bea said of the course.
It gave her a name for things she’d experienced for years without understanding them, and practical strategies for starting tasks she’d been putting off. She’s now seeking a formal assessment. That was her decision, and she made it because the course gave her the language and the confidence to take it.
Di checked the job before Bea applied
Di found a listing for a massage role. Plenty of people would have passed it straight on.
Instead, she looked into it. She called the employer directly to confirm the role was legitimate and genuinely suited to Bea’s situation. It turned out to be a business in Di’s own local shopping centre in Cairns, so she already knew how it operated.
By the time Bea heard about the job, someone had checked that it was real and right for her.
Removing the last barrier
Bea’s trial shift was booked. Getting there meant fuel she hadn’t budgeted for, so AKG covered it with a fuel voucher. She was offered the job soon after.
Why this job works for Bea
- It uses skills she already had. She was a masseuse, and this is a massage role.
- It runs during school hours. Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm.
- The hours are guaranteed. She knows what she’s earning each week.
- The conditions are good, and Di had already confirmed that before Bea applied.
For a solo parent, school hours and reliable income aren’t a nice extra. They’re what makes a job last.
Bea’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.
Looking for work in Cairns?
If finding work feels out of reach, get support from AKG. You have the option to select AKG as your Employment Services Provider under the Australian Government’s Workforce Australia program. Simply speak with Centrelink to make the request. Already with another provider? You can also transfer your services to AKG at any time.
