Creating employment opportunities in regional Australia

Our Care Communities are part of the fabric of their local communities, and residents and team take pride in giving back. Across Australia, strong communities provide opportunities for people of all abilities and challenges. Sale Gardens Care Community, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, is helping to build equality by supporting employment opportunities for marginalised people.

Working with Workways

Workways is an organisation that connects people from a diverse range of cultural and social backgrounds to local employment and education opportunities. Our team at Sale Gardens Care Community has teamed up with Workways to help people who are facing employment challenges find or prepare for work.

In 2024, Sale Gardens welcomed six new team members through its relationship with Workways. Four joined as General Services Officers (GSO), and two as Personal Care Assistants.

Of those, one GSO has commenced a traineeship to become a Personal Care Assistant, and another is completing a Certificate III in Individual Support.

“Coming to Sale Gardens has opened up so many opportunities for me,” says Connor, General Services Officer.

“I love spending time with our residents and making people smile, and I’m much more confident now. I’m proud to tell people where I work. And having stable employment has allowed me to buy my first car!”

Sale Gardens’ efforts extend beyond employing our own team. Two of our leadership team offer interview practice for Workways clients who are seeking employment outside of aged care.

General manager, Ann, and wellbeing manager, Julieanne, conduct mock interviews and provide constructive feedback to help the client understand the questions they are likely to be asked and how best to prepare for employment.

And, for people who have never been employed before, Sale Gardens offers Workways clients the opportunity to spend a day at our Care Community with our residents and team to experience life in a caring workplace.

John’s story

John came to live at Sale Gardens via the NDIS, after he struggled to find accommodation. Throughout his life, mental health challenges and other circumstances meant John had difficulty finding and holding a job. But John was keen to work and our team at Sale Gardens supported him through our Helping Hands program, where residents participate in essential tasks at our Care Community.

Working with maintenance officer, Wayne, John polished furniture, tended the gardens and kept the car park clean. He thrived on helping chef Alex and our team by assisting residents at meal times. As John progressed, our Sale Gardens team supported him by teaching him money management skills, including paying bills, and life skills like washing clothes.

After two years living at Sale Gardens, John was able to move into supported living, and then community housing with NDIS support. And, with the confidence our Care Community helped instil in him, John secured a volunteer role with Foodbank – giving full bloom to his generous nature.