By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A lack of confidence kept Aliesha Vicars moored to the couch of her parents’ Corio home after leaving school.
“I had no motivation to do anything because I had no idea what I wanted to do,” Aliesha said.
Aliesha had never worked since she completed her VCE in 2012.
“I had been on the couch for two years. I had no confidence, that was the main reason, but I didn’t like being at home.”
Being unemployed wasn’t the only negative in her life; watching her parent’s relationship break down put further pressure on her.
Little did she imagine that a referral to Northern Futures at the beginning of 2014 by her job service provider Matchworks would prove life-changing.
“I was accepted into a Certificate II in Business Basics at the Gordon and once I committed to study my confidence grew.
“It meant that my days spent on the couch were a thing of the past.
“From that I got a traineeship with Glastonbury Community Services in Business Administration and it was a dream come true.”
The dream continued for Aliesha when she was awarded Trainee of the Year for her efforts.
But others challenges remain to come.
During her traineeship Glastonbury merged with two other organisations to become Barwon Child Youth and Family.
Aliesha said the change made her unsure of her future again, but this time she responded differently.
“I decided to take as much control of my future as possible so I set goals including gaining full-time employment and a career.”
Aliesha achieved her goal when her employer offered her full-time work at the completion of her traineeship.
Aliesha said she had now developed a passion for study, pursuing an interest in photography while working full-time with Barwon Child Youth and Family.
After completing a Certificate III in Photography Aliesha said she hoped to one day have a small business and sell some of her photographs.
“It’s good to be in a job and living life,” Aliesha said.
