Rita is 20 years old and relocated to Australia from New Zealand in 2020 because of family violence and childhood trauma. When she arrived, she was not eligible for Centrelink payments, so was supported by a minimal allowance from her sister.

When Rita was first referred to BSL, she wasn’t taking part in education or employment, lacked confidence and spent a lot of time gaming. After exploring her interests and finding that Rita likes hands-on work, she joined our Building Youth Pathways program working at caravanning manufacturer, Jayco. Rita impressed the managers at Jayco from the outset and was immediately offered a role in general assembly. She has since had three managers all wanting her to work on their line.

Now, Rita is mentoring new starters at Jayco and relishing every opportunity. She is grateful for the support she has received at BSL as before ‘she had no idea how to find or get a job’ – and now, she is helping others find their way in the workforce.

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