GOLD COAST EMPLOYMENT

SUPPORT SERVICE

(GCESS)

NEWSLETTER JAN - MAR 2018

Gold Coast Fresh Futures Market is

being held on the 30th May 2018. This

expo is for people living with a

disability and their families to provide

information to participants on

Education & Employment including

products, services, technology, aids &

equipment, support and the NDIS…

Date and Time

Wednesday 30th May 2018

11:00am — 6:00pm

Location

Home of the Arts

135 Bundall Road

Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

A connected community is a vibrant

community. On the Gold Coast,

there is a community guide to link

people with the right service.

Gold Coast Community Directory

www.cityofgoldcoast.com.au/

communitydirectory

or ask staff for a copy

Most Relevant Categories include but

not limited to -

Accommodation Services

Advocacy Services

Ageing Services

Child & Youth Services

Community & Information

Community Clubs & Interest Groups

Community Halls & Neighbourhood Centres

Cultural & Migrant Services

Disability Services

Education

Employment & Training

Health Services

Indigenous Services

Information & Counselling

Recreation & Leisure

Self Help

Transport Services

Volunteering

Welfare Assistance & Services

From the desk of the

MANAGER

Melissa Williams

The year has started off with a BANG. The students and schools have been very keen to get started. We have a list of 60 + students on the Gold Coast and 35 + students in the Logan area that would like to participate in a School Based Traineeship this year.

As the year progresses we will assist students through career assessments, job matching and work trials, to find suitable industries for their abilities and goals.

The more popular School Based Traineeships are Retail, Business, Horticulture, Auto motive and Hospitality. If you know of any business that would be

interested in supporting and supervising a trainee please contact

us and we can give you more information about how

traineeships work.

A Message from the

School Liaison Officer

I hope this newsletter finds you well and into the swing of 2018 which is flying by very

quickly and we have the Commonwealth Games almost on our doorstep. As the games

get closer so do the changes to parking, street access and travel times etc.

I urge you to access the Get Set for the Games website to see how this will impact you

(https://www.getsetforthegames.com). This web site will give you all the information

about the changes throughout the Gold Coast & Brisbane including event routes, road

closures, impact on M1 etc. There are fact sheets about what the impact will be for

different areas and the best travel times along with all the event information.

It is important that if you are working, you are aware of possible delays and the need to

allow extra travel time to and from work. Please speak to your Training & Placement

Officer if you need any assistance and it is a good idea to talk to your employer about

any impact to your workplace.

All GCESS offices will be open and we will endeavour to deliver services as usual but are

not in a position to assist with transport and our access to worksites will also be

impeded during this time. I hope you are all able to take advantage of this amazing

event and managed to secure some tickets to some of the competition.

Leisa Gamblin

Kristy would like to thank her team at

GCESS for bringing her to and from work

whilst she has a broken foot, for providing her

with crutches and a wheelie walker and for all

the running around the office for her...

Staff

LOVE

IS IN

THE

AIR

A Thank you Message

A huge congratulations to Natalie and

Family on the arrival of their baby girl,

Maisy Jae

A Baby Girl

Congratulations to

Jason and Tiffany

on their

engagement. We

wish them every

success for their

future

together

BROKEN FOOT

My passion is empowering people to regain their self-agency. Employment is one of the greatest leverages as it provides an opportunity to give value, to earn a living and to have mean-ingful contact with society. I have worked in employment services since 2009, DES, JA and Pre-Employment training. Prior to that I operated freelance in global and national com-panies as an executive supervisor, business coach and train-er.

I am happily married to Chris Lavery. We have four grandchil-dren (all in Melbourne), 2 sons and the best daughters-in-law one could hope for.

I moved to the Gold Coast to bring my elderly parents under my roof in 2016. My father passed away in October last year

and my Mum is in palliative care in my home. My family includes multiple cats and dogs.

I look forward to helping GCESS clients in-crease their choices and achievements and love being part of a productive team.

Michele

Natascha

I have relocated to the Gold Coast to live with my mother and my son

Daniel who is 29 years old and has Autism Spectrum Disorder. The rea-

son I have chosen my career in Disability Employment was because of

my son’s disability and shortly after his diagnoses; I was working in the

school system as an Education Support and Admin Officer, and complet-

ed a Certificate III in Community Support Disability. After completing that

course I decided I wanted to assist people with disabilities in their em-

ployment and life goals and applied for an admin role for a Supported

Employment company in Wollongong and started with that company in

early 1999 in an admin role. Since that time I have had roles as Training

and Placement Officer and Employment Consultant for Job Active, DES

and Occupational Rehabilitation services and have gained experience

working with adults with disabilities, injury and health conditions and

have been advocating for and supporting these individuals to achieve

their goals both professionally and personally since that time. My com-

mitment to improving the life options for people with disabilities is some-

thing that is very close to my heart.

I have gained ongoing and sustainable outcomes for many people with disabilities throughout my career and

often see these same people in the community and in their places of employment that are enjoying all the bene-

fits of a full and inclusive lifestyle in the community. I am looking forward to working with Melissa and her team at

GCESS and have felt very welcome and am already enjoying the opportunities that I have been given in support-

ing a young lady at Coles Supermarket in Ormeau who is completing a school based traineeship with the assis-

tance of GCESS. I am very keen to demonstrate my skills in marketing and my ability to establish effective rela-

tionships in the execution of my duties for this company for the benefit of all stakeholders including the staff I

work with, jobseekers, families, allied health professionals, tertiary education services, and Mental Health ser-

vices.

GCESS CLIENT XMAS

PARTY 2017

LABRADOR

CHARIS

SEAFOOD

LOGAN

BOWLING

Rowan had been looking for work for over a year. His goal was to find employment in

the warehousing industry. With the assistance of his Training & Placement Officer

Tim, he secured a position with “Spandex”, a company who works with leading brands

to offer Graphic Solutions. Rohan is now working full time and loving it. He has

passed probation with flying colours and his Manager has nothing but positive things

to say about his work performance. Rowan is learning more and more about the

warehousing industry and loves driving the forklift, creating new orders and using the

in house labelling system. Such a well deserved outcome for both Ryan and Spandex.

- TIM

Rohan

Ryan

Ryan is 25 years old and was interested in obtaining a job in hospitality, last year an

opportunity for Ryan to complete a Certificate II in Baking at the 6729 Bakery was

found and Ryan took full advantage. With the support of his trainer, Ryan completed

his theory components and excelled in the kitchen. Ryan received his Cert II in Baking

in December and has developed skills and confidence. After the Christmas break Ryan

and David (GCESS Training & Placement Officer) went in search of a job in a bakery or

hospitality. Ryan has recently started working at Goldstein’s Bakery and the employer

reports that he is doing a great job. Even better news is that after Ryan settles into his

new job Goldstein’s have said that they will consider offering Ryan an apprenticeship

Ryan had not worked in a long time but

perseverance and a little hard work have finally paid off!

We know that Ryan has a big future! - DAVID

Rohan

Ryan Ryan

Rohan

Client Meeting

Wednesday

21st March 2018 - 3pm

Southport Office

“Lets Talk about your service”

Come along and let us know your thoughts on

the service you are receiving and give us your

thoughts on how we could improve our services

to you, or bring any questions you may have

and we will endeavour to ensure you get all the

information you need to understand your

service or your Centrelink requirements.

RSVP to Debbie on 07 5591 9199

Afternoon tea provided

MEET THE

MANAGER

MEET THE STAFF

YOUR QUESTIONS

ANSWERED

MANAGER

MELISSA WILLIAMS

TRAINING & PLACEMENT OFFICERS

PHILLIP BODYCOTT

JASON BOURCHIER

MICHELE CARSE

GREG DAILHOU

REBECCA DIXON

MITCH ENSBEY

HAYDEN FOOTE

TIM GORNALL

MONIQUE JENNINGS

NATASCHA LAVERY

DAVID LINDSAY

SHIDO NOAI

GWEN O’LEARY

ROBYN ROBERTSON

JODIE RUSSELL

SUZANNE STANLEY

ASHLEY SZYMANSKI

SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICERS

LEISA GAMBLIN

BIANCA WILBY

INTAKE OFFICER

KRISTY JAMES

ADMINISTRATION

DEBORAH EVERSHED

www.gcess.org

SOUTHPORT 4/127 Nerang St (Cnr Cougal St)

Southport QLD 4215

MIAMI 59 Paradise Auenue (Cnr Ozone Pde)

Miami QLD 4220

ARUNDEL 5 Byth Street

Arundel QLD 4216

COOLANGATTA 306A Coolangatta Place

87 Griffith St (Cnr. Warner St) Coolangatta QLD 4225

PHONE : 07 5591 9199

Gold Coast Employment Support Service Inc (GCESS) is a not for profit employment service that assists

people with disabilities/barriers to gain and retain award based employment in open community

based settings. Since GCESS was first incorporated in 1992 we have grown steadily and our twenty staff

members now assist an average of one hundred and sixty seven service recipients.

“ GCESS Inc. is committed to providing quality employment

support and training for people with disabilities/barriers who

aspire to obtain and maintain award based employment “

O U R S T A F F