Player Profile Cheryl Kapp

Cheryl Kapp

Mission Providence, East Gippsland

“Never give up on anyone, if I’ve learnt anything in the time that I’ve been an EA it’s that people surprise you and being positive and directing your client in the right direction eventually pays off.”

Employment Advisor with Mission Providence

Hi Cheryl. Where do you work and what’s your current position?

Hi. I’m an Employment Advisor (EA) with Mission Providence Bairnsdale, East Gippsland, Victoria

How long have you been in the employment services sector Cheryl?

I’ve been at this site in this position for 12 years

How did you come to be an employment consultant?

I moved to this area to be with my family and was very fortunate to be offered work with Mission Australia.

What’s the best thing about your job?

I get a real kick out of seeing clients move from payments to a salary and then getting on with their lives. I love the team environment and the support we give each other.

Tell us a little about your background?

I emigrated from South Africa in 2000 and moved around a bit deciding on where to settle and then chose to settle in Bairnsdale, a small country town in East Gippsland, to be closer to family. It’s because my family is so important to me that I wanted to be in the business of helping other families to lead normal stable lives with Mum and Dad employed and setting an example for their children.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

I’m very health conscious and I like to walk a lot, I love cooking and preserving but at the moment most of my spare time is spent in my hothouse with my orchid collection.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I was one of those people that did not really know what I wanted to be. I ended up being self-employed for many years and loved creating new products and marketing them. That all ended when I moved Australia and life took a totally different direction for me. I loved being in Australia and was so grateful for the opportunity to live here so was keen to be able to pass on my skills and to guide those less fortunate. Back in South Africa there is no dole system and I am still amazed at the opportunities that there are here. I am constantly reminded of what the good and the bad things are about this. For instance I found that some people become too reliant on receiving benefits and don’t have that pressure on them to be self-supportive out of necessity. I have experienced this and have seen how creative and entrepreneurial people can be when faced with no other options! I could go on about this for a long while so I’d better cut it short here!

Tell us a little about Bairnsdale and your employment region.

There are a number of major national businesses with head offices and regional offices based in Bairnsdale and East Gippsland. Companies include

Government and public sector organisations including East Gippsland Shire Council, Gippsland Ports, Bairnsdale Airport, East Gippsland Water, DELWP and DHS
Manufacturing companies such as Patties Foods and One Harvest Vegco
Health sector businesses such as Bairnsdale Regional Health Service and Orbost Regional Health, Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Health

Full time work is difficult to obtain but due to an influx of visitors in the holiday periods casual work increases hugely in Bairnsdale and our neighbouring towns like Lakes Entrance.

What’s one of your favourite employment consultant experiences?

Just recently, one of my clients who has an extremely rough background and hasn’t worked for over twenty years gained employment. This person has been a client for a number of years and I’ve seen her go through the low points in her life and the difference in her at this time is totally amazing! She received heaps of support, counselling and training and at the end she managed to put her past behind her with the assistance of all the support services and others and is now working. When she came in for her last appointment she was in tears because as she said, she never thought that she would be able to do this.

How important is ‘rapport’, and what are some of the things you do to build rapport?

The role of the EA is to support a diverse caseload of clients into sustainable employment by addressing their individual needs and focusing on practical job search activities. Building rapport is paramount to be able to achieve this. Each client comes with their own unique set of circumstances, and getting to know them and building trust goes a long way to assist with addressing those individual needs.

In your opinion, what skills and qualities do some of the best employment consultants have?

Having a positive attitude seems to rub off on people so I would say that is paramount! Problem solving is another important asset, along with time management and the ability to adapt to change. Just having plenty of energy and resilience goes a long way.

What do you think employers look for in a job seeker?

Besides the necessary skills for the position, employers take note of enthusiasm, attitude, communication, reliability. Being contactable is very important.

I remind my clients that presentation starts when they come in the door for their appointments. Being reliable, on time and dressed as though they are attending an interview creates that impression that they are keen and eager to obtain employment. We need to be able to refer suitable clients and job match correctly to keep our employers interested in lodging vacancies with us. It’s imperative that clients understand this.

If you could give three pieces of advice to a new employment consultant, what would they be?

Never give up on anyone, if I’ve learnt anything in the time that I’ve been an EA it’s that people surprise you and being positive and directing your client in the right direction eventually pays off.
Don’t always expect instant results, your clients will all have their own unique set of circumstances and some may take longer than others to get there.
New EA’s might experience a bit of information overload in the beginning, don’t be afraid to ask questions even if you ask the same one a few times, it does eventually sink in!

If the Prime Minister came to you and asked you about changes you’d like to make to the employment services model, what might you suggest?

A good look at WFD in regional areas, there are not enough community based projects.
Clients should be assessed and then allocated a reasonable period of time to obtain employment – utilising incentives and benefits for employers sooner. Residing in a small town sometime has its challenges, full time work is hard to obtain so clients should be encouraged to move for the job if they have been unsuccessful in obtaining employment within a certain period of time.
Benefits should not be only in the form of monetary payments, other forms of assistance should be included to make up their assistance, for instance having a card to pay groceries and day to day necessities. It is very puzzling how some clients can afford certain items while on benefits.