Jenny Wilson believes you are never too old to learn.

At 66, the great-grandmother says although physically, her body was no longer up to the rigours of physical labour, she wasn’t mentally ready to stop working.

“People of my age can certainly contribute,” she says.

“My body might be a bit broken down, but I can still use my brain and create stuff.

“I’ve got a lot of knowledge that I don’t want to be lost.”

Jenny has worked in and around gardening and nurseries for 30 years and only stopped, on her doctor’s advice, because she’s awaiting a knee operation.

“I went on medical leave, and then Centrelink put me onto The Personnel Group,” Jenny says.

“We talked about an idea I had for an online garden design business and that I wouldn’t mind training for that.”

Jenny Wilson

The Personnel Group worked with Jenny to improve her computer literacy and connected her with TAFE.

“We support her with things like help setting up and navigating social media, or any business stuff,” says The Personnel Group Workplace Support Consultant Grace Daley.

Through TAFE, Jenny gained the practical business skills she needed to make her new venture a success, completing Certificates II and III in Business Administration.

Then Jenny tapped into a Government-provided small business start-up and support program to take Planting By Design from an idea to reality.

“From there, I went on to the NEIS program and learned how to set up and run the business.”

Her new business, Planting By Design, allows Jenny to use her extensive gardening knowledge to help people design their gardens.

“It’s about designing a custom garden for people,” she says.

“I set up their design on the computer, and we then can try different options and plans –

I’m still learning new stuff every day.”

For Lynda, having a job brings many benefits.

“Earning money means I am financially stable, and I feel as though I’m productive in my life and in the community,” Lynda says.

Lynda works in customer service at Albury-based Aidacare, which provides healthcare equipment and assistive technology across the Riverina.

Lynda is the right fit for Aidacare, says manager Darrin Halcrow.

She enjoys being part of a positive, supportive team and says her confidence has grown, and anxiety has fallen since joining the Aidacare team.

“They are very encouraging,” she says.

Aidacare manager Darrin Halcrow says Lynda is the right fit for his business and thrives with constant client contact.

“Lynda’s confidence and communication have improved out of sight since she started,” Darrin says.

“Lynda has become an essential part of our team.”

Unsurprisingly, The Personnel Group considers The Sustainable Gardener a Canberra Community Champion.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer Warren Aitken says The Sustainable Gardener has built a loyal following across the ACT, with customers impressed with the quality of work and the organisation’s employment philosophy.

Warren Aitken with The Sustainable Gardener crew members Belinda and Georgia.

“One of the purposes of our business is to gainfully employ people with disability. So, it was probably natural for The Personnel Group to find us,” Warren says.

“We’ve got currently four people from The Personnel Group. One of those is in our accounts and administration section and the rest are employed out on the crews that do the gardening work.”

Warren established the Sustainable Gardener in 2009 to support, nurture and employ people with a disability.

“We provide a professional horticultural gardening service,” he says.

“We do everything. We can do lawns, we can do weeding, trimming, pruning, hedging, fertilizing, plant selection, planting and even small amounts of design, and we have a range of other products we use which tick the sustainable box.”

He says The Sustainable Gardener is always looking at new opportunities.

“When you have good people, regardless of their disability, they can perform really fundamental and very important roles in the organisation. And that’s what’s happening on a day-to-day basis with our group,” he says.

He has been impressed by the support and commitment of The Personnel Group Canberra and looks forward to an ongoing partnership.

“We’re happy because TPG’s been able to find us good people.”

We’re often inspired by people and organisations making positive contributions in their communities.

Among them is Roundabout Canberra, which provides baby and children’s items to families in need.

Carissa Minahan, The Personnel Group’s Braddon-based ParentsNext Client Development Consultant, says they have offered valuable, practical support for some of her ParentsNext participants.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Miranda, Hannah and the team at Roundabout Canberra,” Carissa says.

“I heard about this amazing organisation in 2019. Over the past few years, Roundabout has helped many of our clients and continues to do so today, by supplying large donations of much-needed items.

“I’m so grateful I found them and can count on them for assistance for my clients.”

Roundabout Canberra founder and CEO Hannah Andrevski launched the charity in early 2018 and relies on community donations and volunteer staff.

The Personnel Group’s ACT ParentsNext Client Development Consultant Carissa Minahan and Area Manager Cate Johnson collect donated support packages from Roundabout Canberra.

They assist families in need across the ACT with donations which include items such as; clothes, prams, baby car seats, formula, nappies, bottles, play mats, book packs, toy packs, school packs, toiletries, blankets and bedding, Christmas presents and more.

Roundabout liaises directly with service providers such as The Personnel Group.

“I fill out a donation application form with my client and send it to Roundabout,” Carissa says.

“Then I go and pick up the donation from Roundabout and bring it back to our office so the client is able to pick it up when they attend their ParentsNext appointment.

“All clients that have received donations from Roundabout have been extremely grateful, and most have been brought to tears of happiness and relief.”

Carissa is one of The Personnel Group’s trained ParentsNext professionals delivering the life-changing skills across the ACT region and making our participants work ready.

ParentsNext is a pre-employment program to help parents plan and prepare for employment by the time their youngest child reaches school age.

“Carissa was a breath of fresh air in the often exhausting, dehumanising and demoralising path of government payments, ParentsNext and seeking employment,” is how one participant – an unemployed single parent – describes the support she received through ParentsNext.

Unplanned time away from her retail job because of illness gave Brianna the opportunity to re-asses her career goals.

With support from The Personnel Group Employment Consultant Sandra Andronicos, Brianna set about exploring new options.

One that really appealed was an office administration traineeship.

“I hadn’t worked in admin before, I finished school and then did retail work,” Brianna says.

“Because I worked in retail I was initially looking at that field, and Sandra suggested I maybe lean towards a traineeship.”

Brianna agreed and took the step out of her comfort zone.

“I spoke to Brianna about a PaTH Internship, and explained it was a trial to see if she fits with the team, and see if they fit with Brianna,” Sandra says.

“I then met with Sherrie from G.J. Gardner Homes and discussed an internship option.”

Brianna is working full time with G.J. Gardner Homes Albury.

Brianna and Sherrie both jumped at the opportunity and Brianna started a six-week PaTH Internship in office administration with builders Leigh and Sherrie McGlynn at G.J. Gardner Homes Albury.

“Sandra was fantastic. She told me about Bri and the trial to see if she’d be a perfect fit,” Sherrie says.

“We offered her a trial of six weeks. After only four weeks we knew Bri was a great fit and offered her an Administration Business traineeship.

“Even though we had employed her, The Personnel Group kept in contact with Bri throughout. Sandra gave her that extra reassurance and support.”

Employment Consultant Sandra Andronicos and Brianna at G.J. Gardner Homes Albury.

Brianna recently completed her Certificate III in Business Administration and is now working full-time.

“It’s always exciting when you get told: ‘we want to offer you a full-time position’, Brianna says.

“It’s very family orientated, there’s only 11 people working here so we’re very close.

“It’s like I matter.

“It’s nice. You feel part of a connected team rather than just a number to an employer.

“Because we are such a close network of people, I feel so safe and secure in this job.”

Sherrie says the timing of the traineeship was perfect as the husband and wife team needed to take on more staff as their business grew.

“Working is great, I feel happier and my family is proud of me,” Scott says.

Having a job means everything to Scott.

For six months he’s been a steel labourer with the Australian Reel Company in Marong, Victoria.

“Working is great, I feel happier and my family is proud of me,” Scott says.

Australian Reel Company office manager Bridie Brennan says Scott has really settled into his role.

“He gets along well with all our steel and timber staff members,” she says.

“Scott is determined and proud of his work.”

Having a steady job, a supportive workplace and reliable income has made a world of difference for Scott.

“The place is really good, everyone treats me well, and I get paid,” he says.

Mining, telecommunications, rubber belting and many other industries use Australian Reel Company products.

“We’re a small/medium business operating for over 20 years with 18 employees,” Bridie says.

Bridie says Scott is a great asset for the Australian Reel Company.

“We believe in embracing equal rights and looking after the vulnerable people of our community, The Personnel Group reflected these beliefs and assisted us in finding a long term and reliable employee to join our team.”

Cameron had volunteer experience but no employment history when he turned to The Personnel Group for help.

Although Cameron has completed a Certificate III in Individual Support and a Certificate IV in Community Services a lack of experience was holding him back.

Cameron expressed an interest in personal care or cleaning work and his employment consultant Shelby reached out to a hospitality contact, Harry at Echuca’s American Hotel, about work opportunities at the hotel.

Harry and Cameron at American Hotel, Echuca.

“Cameron’s very humble and does not like to give himself credit but he attended two interviews and did extremely well, he got some great feedback from the manager, Harry, and 2IC Nathan,” Shelby says.

“The best news was that from his interview Cameron was offered a position.”

He has been cleaning there for more than three months, working above his benchmark hours most weeks.