You may have seen Kris on your TV screens. From 1996-2019, he was a reporter on SBS and NITV, and most recently, he’s been reporting on Indigenous Affairs for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Whenever the AKG Employment Services team at Shellharbour see Kris, one of their Workforce Australia customers, delivering the news, they excitedly gather around the TV, filled with pride.
We’re proud that Kris has successfully returned to full-time work in a vocation he is passionate about, and that he leads with empathy, always considering how he can support those around him. He took a break from his successful career as a reporter to take on full-time care responsibilities for his elderly parents and children in his extended family.
These responsibilities required him to travel between his base in Shellharbour and Coffs Harbour; he only had capacity to take on casual employment in the rails industry as a general labour hand. To prepare him for this type of work, AKG assisted him with obtaining his White Card and Personal Protective Equipment.
“Right from the start I was welcomed into the office and assisted with job searches, updated resumes and employment related information. The AKG team have all been instrumental in their support and unwavering belief.”
When Kris’ caregiving commitments decreased, it was time for him to get back into the media landscape.
“Kailey (Job Coach) recognised that passion to return to something I loved doing and stepped up the search and worked to get me back into a workplace where I belonged.”
However, being out of the industry for an extended period had impacted Kris’s confidence. Kailey helped him rebuild it by giving him ownership over his cover letters, prompting him to articulate his skills and professional experience and rediscover his professional strengths. Kailey also encouraged Kris to reconnect with his professional network.
Kris was offered an interview with the ABC’s Indigenous Affairs Team in Ultimo, Sydney. As a proud Gumbaynggirr man from Coffs Harbour and now living on Dharawal country in the Illawara, this was the opportunity Kris was hoping for.
Dressed sharply in attire that AKG provided, Kris attended the interview and was offered a three-month contract in May 2025. To ease Kris’ transition back into full-time employment, AKG provided:
- Professional clothing to meet workplace expectations
- Fuel vouchers and public transport card to remove transport cost barriers
Kris’ employer extended his contract to 12 months, and we’ve continued to see Kris reporting from all over the country for the ABC!
“I know the AKG team were just as happy and excited as I was about getting back into work and back into an industry that I’ve always been passionate about. I can’t thank them enough and it was real team effort from them and myself.”
More information about Workforce Australia can be found here.
