Six months ago, Paul rarely left the house. A father of six daughters, he had spent much of his life outdoors and always dreamed of working for his local council. But anxiety, PTSD and depression had made that dream feel out of reach.
“Six months ago I wouldn’t have been able to talk to many people,” Paul said. “Suffered from bad anxiety and PTSD.”
The challenges had gradually shrunk his world.
“I was feeling depressed, didn’t really leave the house, I stayed at home all the time,” he said. “I just didn’t trust people.”
Despite everything, Paul never lost the desire to build something better for himself and his family. When he connected with APM through the Inclusive Employment Australia program, Employment Consultant Corey saw much more than the barriers standing in his way.
“Paul is a really nice guy. For starters, he has really good values,” Corey said. “His family means a lot to him.”
Rather than focusing on what Paul couldn’t do, the team focused on what made him who he was.
“We listened to what he needed,” Corey said. “He wanted more than what he was able to get with his boundaries and he wanted to succeed.”
Together, they explored opportunities that matched his strengths. One thing was immediately clear: Paul belonged outdoors.
“Yeah, I grew up in the bush,” he said. “I love doing outdoors and looking at the sun. Being in the weather.”
APM worked alongside Paul to pursue a role with the council, a job he had wanted for years.
