Asuria participant Swati, migrated to Australia in search of new opportunities and hopes of a better life, but unfortunately for Swati, she found it difficult to secure employment. Eventually, Swati did get a job working at a petrol station, but it wasn't Swati's passion, and she couldn't continue in the role.
Swati then entered long-term unemployment, and as a single mother with a three-year-old daughter, life became much more difficult. The stress of finding work and the implications it was having on her family, led Swati to experience a period of anxiety and depression.
“Being unemployed made me financially insecure and my confidence was very low when I was not working,” said Swati.
To take back control of her happiness and provide a comfortable life for her daughter, Swati decided to join our ParentsNext services in July 2021.
Through attending our Asuria ParentsNext Woodville site, Swati met her Asuria Support Mentor, Ruby, who worked to learn about Swati’s goals and understand her challenges. As a single mother, Swati expressed that she needed a job with flexible hours so she could manage her family commitments. Swati was also looking for work that she could enjoy, with hopes it would improve her wellbeing.
Ruby could sense that Swati wasn't truly confident within herself, so Ruby referred Swati to a family friendly, virtual yoga activity. The activity, provided by Asuria, aims to improve parents' overall wellbeing, mindfulness, and help develop social connections with other participants. As Ruby expected, the activity helped Swati come out of her shell, and find new motivation.
As Swati started to gain confidence, she became more proactive during appointments, which led Swati to discover that she wanted to work with children.
Now with clear employment goals in mind that, Ruby worked on finding pathways for Swati to get her into the childcare sector.
Ruby realised that Swati was missing the relevant qualifications, tools and skills needed to enter the early childhood education and care sector, so Ruby immediately enrolled Swati in a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, at Australian Child Care Career Options (ACCCO) in September 2022.
To assist Swati with her journey, Asuria was able to cover the cost of her Tafe enrolment, a laptop, and a Working with Children's Check. Asuria also provided Swati with four driving lessons, which allowed her to successfully obtain her license.
“Ruby was very patient and proactive with any queries I had during my employment journey,” said Swati.
When Swati was two months into her certificate, she started doing placement at Guardian Childcare & Education which she loved. Guardian Childcare & Education Manager, Jessica, saw Swati's positive attitude and enthusiasm, and offered Swati a casual position at the childcare centre, as Swati embodied the mindset of a Guardian Childcare & Education employee.
“Swati is a valued member of our team, and she works continuously to build positive relationships with children, families and staff and is always lending a hand and going above and beyond in her work. We are so proud of what Swati has achieved and are grateful that she is a part of our team," said Jessica.
Swati is now three months into casual work as a Childcare Educator, working 8-16 hours a week, whilst also studying part-time and looking after her daughter, who has just started school.
Swati says that she’s grateful for Ruby and Asuria’s assistance over the years, as it helped her get out of a negative headspace.
“When I was having mental health issues, the encouragement from Asuria to do a little bit more to help myself every day, made me feel fulfilled. They helped me believe I could overcome my mental barriers and I no longer struggle with negative thoughts and my mind is in a very happy place,” said Swati.
Ruby and Swati still keep in contact, as Ruby continues to check in on Swati to see how she is managing her studies, employment, motherly responsibilities, and self-care. Ruby says that it has been a pleasure to watch Swati find her spark again.
“Seeing participants like Swati, blossom into a positive individual, reinforces the very reason why we do what we do in the ParentsNext program at Asuria,” says Ruby.
At Asuria, seeing our participants progress and find balance in their lives is what we strive to see. We are so pleased to see that Swati has found employment that she loves, and that she is in a better place.
At Asuria, we understand that raising young children and having your own goals can sometimes feel out of reach, but with our services for the ParentsNext Program, you can find a healthy balance just like Swati. To find out more about our ParentsNext program, click here.
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