There was great news for Gellibrand client Stephen Cauchi this year when, after many years of trying, he got his first job – volunteer employment with the Vinnies Op Shop in Melton.
Stephen has been a Gellibrand client since 2010 and he is a man who has had many challenges in life. He was a smoker and had issues with managing his weight due to diabetes. But Stephen has worked through those challenges with grit and determination, always aiming to improve himself and what he can offer the world.
He has always been someone who values community connections. When his support team realised how much Stephen loved op shopping, they made enquiries about whether Stephen could work as a volunteer at a Vinnies outlet.
Stephen wasn’t about to miss out on his opportunity, patiently working through the long process of passing administrative checks. At last the big day came and he arrived for his first shift full of enthusiasm for his tasks, which included packing goods and organising donations. And, because Stephen loves album cover art, it was no surprise that one of his jobs was to manage storage of vinyl records.
“I am a hard worker. Any task I begin I finish and put a lot of energy into,” is the way Stephen describes his work ethic.
He started with one shift per week and the aim is that he will build up from that base. We offer a big and heartfelt Gellibrand congratulations to Stephen, and to his team, for continuing to support him in his goal of being a valued member of the community.
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