Wesley Mission Annual Report 2020 - Flipbook - Page 50
No more training wheels – Tim rides towards his future
“Schooling’s not a happy place for
me, ever,” Tim sadly reflects. For
as long as Tim can remember, he’s
always struggled to read and write.
“They put me through all sorts of tests when I was
at school, for ADHD to not being able to look at the
page and tell that there were letters. It just looked
like squiggly lines to me.”
Diagnosed with meningitis when he was young,
Tim’s learning abilities were affected. And
unfortunately, Tim’s finite literacy and numerical
skills has limited his ability to find stable work.
Now a single dad at 40, the prospect of studying
again was initially daunting. Over the years Tim has
studied numeracy and literacy courses but faced
many non-supportive teachers.
When Tim was referred to Wesley Mission, he
assumed this course would result in little progress.
“I didn’t want to be there. Just looking at the
paperwork, put knots in my stomach,” Tim says.
But as Tim began studying his (BSB30415)
Certificate III in Business Administration at Wesley
Vocational Institute (RTO Code 90091), he noticed
the people were different.
“With Jill, I tell everybody, she’s the world’s best
teacher. She really is. She put just as much effort
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into teaching me as I did to learn. I can’t thank her
enough for it,” Tim says.
Thanks to Wesley Vocational Trainer Jill’s guidance,
Tim’s been given the support he needs to balance
his studies and parenting duties.
“Every time a barrier comes up, Jill always finds a
way to make it happen – to be a single parent and
have time off for school holidays,” he says.
No matter what the challenge is, Tim continues to
overcome. “When I first started the course, all I
knew how to do was turn on a computer and play
Solitaire,” he shares.
Now Windows and Excel are second nature for Tim.
“I know how to make my work pop so that it stands
out above everybody else’s.”
Jill adds, “I got him behind a keyboard. And he just
shone from that side of things. So instead of starting
with theory training, I put the practical in front of
him. So, it gave him that confidence to be able to
develop.”
Now finished his first course, Tim’s studying a
(BSB42015) Certificate IV in New Small Business at
Wesley Vocational Institute to pursue his ambition to
open his own bike safety business for kids.
“Every time I’ve got a business plan and I meet
somebody as wonderful as them (Wesley Mission),
that business plan grows, and I’ve got to change it
slightly to be able to fit it all in.”
To help Tim achieve his dream, he’s also being
supported through Wesley Mission’s Opportunity
Pathways – a program that helps people achieve
their housing, development and employment goals.
Here’s where Tim met Hayley, Wesley Mission’s
Opportunity Pathways Coach.
“Hayley’s a bit like Jill. She will find a way to help me
out. It’s just amazing that Wesley Mission’s got such
a good team. I’ve never been anywhere where I’ve
had such open hands and such honesty and such
belief in me.”
Hayley adds, “He wants to engage because he
wants to get the best outcome for himself. You
never have to ask him twice to do anything. He
knows the harder that he works, the better outcome
he’s going to get.”
Tim is now on his way towards a career he’s
passionate about. And he says, it’s all thanks to
Wesley Mission.
“ I’m a better person for
coming into Wesley Mission…
They’re all telling me to stand
up and be counted.
It’s changed my life.”
“I’m a better person for coming into Wesley
Mission… They’re all telling me to stand up and be
counted. It’s changed my life.”
The idea started off small but through the
encouragement of his team at Wesley Mission, Tim
says his dream has grown to be as big as his 12-size
shoe.
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