Melissa Brown
Melissa is an intelligent young woman who suffers from OCD, which is exacerbated by stress and has led to a lack of confidence and depression.
While at university studying towards her Bachelor of Engineering, she found the pressure to achieve led to having what she describes as a ‘melt down' and she made the decision to move back home.
Once home, Melissa was referred to the Workwise Employment Agency to assist her with her search for employment. After helping her improve her presentation skills, Workwise found Melissa a role as a part-time administrator.
While working in this role, Melissa saw her ‘dream' job advertised and decided to pursue it. Despite some misgivings about the pressure a full-time role would place on Melissa, her Workwise employment consultant assisted her with accessing WINZ Job Start grants and, after securing the role, helped Melissa prepare for her first day.
Unfortunately Melissa's ‘dream' job did not live up to her expectations. With a severe blow to her confidence and now, with little idea of what her dream job actually was, Melissa returned to Workwise to further explore her options.
She and her employment consultant decided the best way to uncover her passion was to try lots of different roles so, together, they arranged for Melissa to register with a local temping agency.
Through these temping assignments Melissa found a company that she really enjoyed working for and accepted a permanent role with them. Melissa now works as a clinical programmes administrator for a local primary health organisation. She loves her job and says "it's the best environment I've worked in".
At a recent annual review, Melissa disclosed some of her experience with mental illness. She says her supervisor was very surprised, but it has had no impact on their relationship. Melissa is confident that if she ever did need additional support or time off it would not be an issue for her employer - she sees it as no different from colleagues who need time off to cope with their family issues.
Melissa still has bad days where she doesn't want to work but "I just try to plough through and wake up the next day and hope things are better".
She now works 36 hours a week and says she really values the stability her job provides.
Her Workwise employment consultant says it's been fantastic to see what being valued as an employee has done for Melissa's confidence.
"She's a completely different person from when she first came to Workwise - having this job has built her confidence unbelievably".
In Melissa's words, her life has done a complete 180 in the last two years.
"I have a fantastic job, a supportive partner and I'm building a house and getting married".
* Name has been changed to protect privacy.
