Mentoring helps launch indigenous careers – Leader

AN INVESTMENT in mentoring indigenous clients helps inspire them to become great long-term employees, says Sarina Russo Job Access indigenous mentor, Rebekah Francis. "It's not about just getting people into work - it is about ensuring indigenous jobseekers retain their jobs longterm," Ms Francis said. "We help jobseekers adjust to the workforce. We offer hands-on assistance with career counselling, interview techniques, support jobseekers with workplace etiquette, and act as mediators between jobseekers and employers.

 

"Another vital part of our role is to educate employers about the benefits indigenous workers can bring to a workplace. "Employment is a key to social inclusion and we actively promote the skills of indigenous jobseekers such as Rebecca Coglan to employers such as Frantell Hair Design." Ms Coglan said she wanted to become a hairdresser. "I was passionate about becoming a hairdresser - although I had not been successful at obtaining a job by myself after leaving school," she said. "Shortly after registering with Sarina Russo, I worked with friendly consultants and with the valuable assistance of my mentor Rebekah I have been able to settle in to my new workplace."

 

Her employer Frank Burgo, of Frantell Hair Design, said Rebecca was a valuable asset to the business. Frantell Hair Design, formerly of McAdam Square Croydon, moved to Main St late last year. "As a relatively new business, we have employed Rebecca as a first year apprentice," Mr Burgo said. "Already she is a valuable asset to our business and has a lot of potential. We welcome new and old clients to our salon."

 

Ms Francis said mentoring particularly helped the indigenous jobseekers get past that first dangerous threemonth period, and gave them a greater chance of staying in employment. "The role of a mentor is so important because it encourages indigenous jobseekers to get into the workforce, stay there and develop to their fullest potential," she said.