“It really clicked with me that this was a place that could fulfill that goal of getting back into work,” said Vinnie.
Proud Ballardong Noongar man, Vinnie Ugle experienced a full-circle moment when he returned to Waalitj Foundation’s P242 Employment Program as an employer, having once been a participant himself.
Growing up in Wheatbelt towns including Brookton, Northam and York before spending most of his adult life in Perth, Vinnie’s first introduction to our Employment program came several years ago at an Ashfield NAIDOC event. It was there that he met the team and struck up a conversation with Employment Mentor at the time, Byron.
At the time, Vinnie was finding it difficult to secure a job after being out of the workforce for quite some time. He said his mentor and the team at Waalitj provided valuable support throughout his journey, “The help I received from my Mentor was beyond words, at the time I didn’t have a job. He helped me connect with the rest of the team at Waalitj, he helped me get to the Fit 4 Work sessions on Thursday mornings, he kept me accountable if I ever missed sessions. He was such a positive influence through what happened to be in the end a very long process of me getting back into work”
Today Vinnie works at Legal Aid as the First Nations Services Coordinator. In his role he supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and enjoys the variety each day brings.
“Some days I’m out in the community, and other days I’m talking with clients over the phone. No two days are really the same,” he said.
Recently, Vinnie returned to our P242 Employment Program, this time representing Legal Aid as an employer. Vinnie said, “It’s very strange being on the other side of the table. It definitely felt like a full-circle moment.”
Our P242 Employment Program supports Indigenous job seekers to build employability skills and prepare for work through tailored training and mentoring. As part of the program, participants attend weekly Fit 4 Work sessions, which provides opportunities to connect directly with potential employers while building skills through mock interviews, budgeting and wellbeing activities.
Reflecting on his full-circle journey, Vinnie said “I feel privileged to find myself in this position now, to give back to the program that helped me get back into work”
Looking back on his journey, Vinnie encourages others who may be considering taking the first step towards employment to back themselves and give it a go.
“If you’re interested, I’d tell you to just give it a go. You are more than just a number on a sheet or a box to tick off. They really do a lot of work to help you get a job. It’s a team effort, it’s not just one person.”
“It’s never too late to get back into the workforce and get yourself together. It’s such a big step to make and such a positive step to make, because you never know where one Fit4Work session may lead you.”
