After more than two decades in a full-time warehouse job, James never imagined he’d find himself out of work in his 60s. But, when chronic fatigue and other long-term health issues caught up with him, he stepped away from work, taking a redundancy and entering early retirement.
“I thought I’d take six months off and rest,” James says. “But after that, I wanted to give work another go. I just didn’t know if anyone would take me seriously.”
At 65, James was medically restricted from driving and had to give up his forklift licence. His superannuation was dwindling, and the job market felt stacked against him.
“I was trying job websites, but they’d offer me random things – one even suggested a job as an intelligence analyst for the army! I’ve got a high school education from the ‘70s,” he laughs.
A well-timed introduction
James had been connected to WISE for some time through Business Manager Kevin, who supported him with regular check-ins and post-placement preparations. But his journey with WISE started much earlier. At the Sutherland site (in New South Wales), Job Coach Elaine first supported James in identifying suitable roles and overcoming barriers posed by chronic health issues.
“James remained hopeful and active even through a series of health setbacks.” Elaine recalls. “He was honest about his limitations, but he never gave up on finding meaningful work.”
As the job hunting continued, Job Coach Yolanda stepped in to explore warehouse opportunities. She applied for a role at ANSTO on James’ behalf. “His attitude was really inspiring,” Yolanda says. “He cycled every day to stay fit and told us to keep trying, no matter what. That spirit is what made me go the extra mile to support him.”
Then the stars aligned. As James was popping in for one of his routine appointments, WISE Industry Employment Partner, Ali, was in the middle of setting up a new employer connection with the team at Fast Fuel Meals – a food processing company in nearby Revesby.
“Talk about perfect timing,” reflects Ali. “James came in and we sat down for a one-one-one. I’d never met him before, but it was clear he wanted to work. Bad. He had the right background and attitude, I just needed to get him in front of the Fast Fuel team.”
Ali arranged a meeting with James, Fast Fuel Head Chef, Dave, and Head of Operations, Ben. “James did most of the talking,” Ali says. “He owned his story and made a real impression. They offered him a trial almost immediately.”
Interestingly, shortly after starting with Fast Fuel Meals, James was notified that he had also been successful in his ANSTO application. But by that time, he’d found his groove and opted to stay where he was.
A new routine
James now works three days a week as a kitchen hand, cleaning and preparing food trays in a busy commercial setting.
“It’s physical work, but it’s manageable,” James says. “And the pay’s better than what it was before I retired – it even goes up after probation.”
Despite his chronic fatigue, James has settled into a part-time rhythm that works. “I do Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tuesdays and Thursdays, I rest. If I tried to do five days, I’d burn out.”
He makes the 10-minute commute on his e-bike and has found a safe spot to lock it up out front. “The team are so lovely that they even offered me a dedicated space for my bike.”
Independence, pride and a sense of purpose
In chatting with James, what he values most, is the independence his job brings. “I’ve never liked relying on government support,” he says. “Now I’m earning again, putting money back into my super instead of taking it out. That means something.”
He’s also become a quiet leader on the floor, helping junior staff understand how things work. “Some of them think the tray washer does all the cleaning. It doesn’t. I just show them – no pushing, just leading by example.”
Ali says James’ approach is really having an impact. “The feedback from the team at Fast Fuel has been amazing – they see James as a system-thinker, someone who takes pride in doing the job right.”
A partnership that works
WISE’s ongoing support has made a difference too. Business manager Kevin continues to provide follow-up care and check-ins while Job Coach Armak played a crucial role in the lead-up to James finding work.
Armak assisted with onboarding paperwork, co-ordinated police checks and referees and helped rebuild James’s confidence. “Thankfully James had full trust in our process,” Armak says. “I just made sure he felt supported and ready every step of the way.”
Another important part of the process is the way the WISE team work with employers. Dedicated Industry Employment Partners mean that businesses have a direct contact to identify additional recruitment opportunities and connect with WISE customers across the region.
“Fast Fuel have taken on three WISE customers already,” says Ali. “It’s been a great partnership. Before we started working together, they were really struggling to find the right people for the right roles, thankfully we’ve been able to help fill those gaps.”
Looking back on his journey, James is crystal clear about what made the difference.
“I’m really grateful,” he says, “WISE didn’t overpromise. They just listened, helped and found me something real. That’s so much more than I expected.”
If you’re a job seeker, register your interest as a WISE job seeker
If you’re an employer, please register your job vacancies with us