“This course pushed me to think and plan my future and even have the guts to apply for one of the largest companies.”

One of our recent Charged Up for Work (CUFW) graduates from our Joondalup cohort is Azal. Azal began the work preparation component of the program as a quiet and timid individual but grew with confidence over the initial seven weeks before graduation.

Like most Year 12 students, it’s daunting not knowing what your employment pathway might be, and even more daunting knowing where to start. Azal aspired to work in a call centre to help others and to go to university to obtain a degree. With her newfound confidence and skills from the CUFW program and skills from the capacity-building sessions, Azal began applying for jobs and looking into further study options.

During this time, Azal shared the following email with our team, “In the very beginning when I was told I was going to do this course, I just thought my teachers don’t think I’m an academic enough, I guess I’ll do this, but I learned so many life skills I would never get from school. This course pushed me to think and plan my future and even have the guts to apply for one of the largest companies.”

Along with her newfound confidence, Azal’s drive and motivation also grew as she started applying to more and more courses autonomously. She completed her Mental Health Training and Domestic Violence Response Training as well as completing a Certificate II in Workplace Skills.

Along with increasing her employability, Azal was invited to join the Youth Focus Reference Group for like-minded marginalised youth groups to discuss community issues and help create outcomes to address them. Azal also completed Keys for Life, enabling her to start the process of obtaining her driver’s licence. This has allowed Azal to apply for appropriate Centrelink funding resulting in her feeling a new level of empowerment.

On top of this, Azal was accepted into Curtin University’s Uni Ready Course for 2024, a dream she never believed she would be able to reach. At her recent High School graduation, Azal received the ‘McAuley Award & Most Hard Working Student’ academic award. This was a wonderful surprise as she is the first Muslim woman recipient in the history of the College.

With the assistance of the Charged Up for Work team, Azal has been setting herself up for future success, “Your support is what made me push through to the end and prepare for a future I did not know I was capable of.” We could not be prouder to work with a driven, capable, and motivated individual like Azal. Like Azal, we too are hopeful for a future that she couldn’t imagine.