We’re excited to welcome Nicole Stephens to the team as our new Employment Coach in Aruma’s Tamworth Work Ready Program.
The Work Ready Program supports people with disability to build the skills, confidence, and experience they need to enter the workforce. It also offers a pathway into employment, empowering participants to kickstart their careers.
Nicole has been with us for a couple of months and is already making a positive impact. She brings a wealth of experience from the health sector, having worked in aged care, disability support, and as a general practice nurse.
“The Work Ready Program in Tamworth has a dedicated learning space inside the Club Aruma Hub. Everyone at the Hub has made me feel very welcome and I love getting to know the Club Aruma participants as they are showing me the ropes. I love that we have a learning space but also that we can go into the community and do work experience at local businesses,” said Nicole.
When Nicole saw the opportunity to join Aruma, she jumped at the chance to do more of the work she loves, supporting people to build independence and find meaningful employment.
“In a previous job, I had the opportunity to support a young person through finding a job and money management, and those afternoons made a lasting impact on me. When I saw the employment coach role advertised, I instantly knew it was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with something I loved doing so much,” shared Nicole.
It also helped that she had heard amazing things about Aruma.
“Aruma has a fantastic reputation in Tamworth and word spreads really fast. The Work Ready Program is much needed here, and nobody else seems to do it quite like Aruma,” she said.
A standout moment for Nicole has been visiting Aruma’s Summerland Farm in Alstonville before starting her role, which gave her a first-hand look at the life-changing impact of employment supports.
“I really believe in the program and the opportunities it creates. Getting out there and talking about it is easy — even for someone shy like me. I truly hope to be part of the Aruma team for a long time,” said Nicole.
We’re thrilled to have Nicole join the team and we know she’ll do great things at Aruma.
Growing opportunities
Did you know Aruma’s Work Ready Program is expanding?
Current sites: Newcastle, Forbes, Alstonville, Burleigh Heads, Tamworth, Taree, Armidale, and Ipswich.
Coming soon: Loganholme, Windsor, Caboolture, and Central Coast.
Through our Work Ready Program, participants have the chance to gain real work experience, both within Aruma businesses (like Summerland Farm) as well as external businesses, supporting them to transition into meaningful employment.
Know a person with disability who has employment goals?
If you know a person with disability who dreams of getting a job, we’d love to hear from them! Reach out to our Work Ready team to learn how we can support their journey towards employment.
