For Duarte, leaving East Timor and building a new life in Australia came with many challenges – learning English, finding a strong community and caring for his daughter on one income. Nevertheless, Duarte was adamant the work he’d done to get here would be worthwhile in the end.
A passionate activist for human rights, a community volunteer and a self-proclaimed storyteller, Duarte arrived in Australia with a clean slate. And while he was excited to create a life to be proud of for his daughter, finding employment became increasingly difficult.
Duarte’s lack of financial stability and a strong support network began to affect his mental health, suffering from depression and anxiety that felt inescapable.
“I had tried applying for numerous jobs but kept hitting a wall when finding the right one. I had a big gap on my resume as I had to stay home to care for my daughter for the past 5 years. I started to feel at a loss and didn’t know what to do,” said Duarte.
After being on the government’s job seeker payment for the duration of his unemployment, Duarte was referred to WISE Employment to better understand his needs, previous job history and goals for the future.
“With no employment history, Duarte really struggled to find long-term employment. He was constantly looking but never given the opportunity due to language barriers and a lack of confidence,” said WISE In-Work Support Consultant, Cynthia.
Despite facing challenges in the job market, Duarte remained committed to finding sustainable employment. With persistence and dedication, he was eventually placed in a position as a cleaner at ISS Facilities.
“Finding employment has completely changed my life. When I was in the depths of my job hunt, I considered going back to school but I thought ‘I’m getting too old!’” Duarte laughs.
“For me, this is the best job on the planet because it’s close to me and offers flexible hours which means I have more time with my daughter and am still able to volunteer in my community. I always say it’s not about the money, it’s about being able to give back and create a real life here.”
Duarte is passionate about supporting others, and regularly assists the East Timor community in his area by volunteering to set up live entertainment for locals – a way to connect, inspire and create memories with those around him.
Through finding work with WISE, Duarte feels like he now has two communities – his volunteering network and the friends he’s made at WISE.
“Duarte loves coming into the office and chatting with us. If you had seen him when he first came in compared to now, you wouldn’t recognise him. At first, he wouldn’t look you in the eye and was very timid. Now, he waltzes in the doors with a smile on his face and a pep in his step. It’s amazing to see how far he’s come,” said Cynthia.
When Duarte returns to WISE for his post-placement meetings, he often reflects on how grateful he is and how far he’s come.
“I feel so proud of the progress I’ve made and of working at ISS Facilities. I don’t want my daughter to go through the same struggles that I have. I want her to have the life she deserves and I’m so glad that I can give that to her,” said Duarte.
“Being able to provide for your family gives so much fulfilment. My focus now is to assist my daughter’s goal of becoming a lawyer. She already does mock trials at school and has so much passion.”
“I’ve worked hard in my life and found beauty in the world. I owe this feeling to my guardian angels at WISE. I don’t know what I’d do without them,’ said Duarte.
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