25-year-old Kelvin moved to Australia at 16 as a refugee from Africa, and after four years of job applications, finally landed a role he could thrive in.
Kelvin lost his hearing when he was very young and had to overcome many obstacles to get to where he is today. From moving to Australia without speaking English and learning Auslan, to holding out hope that he would one day find employment and secure his life here, Kelvin never once lost faith in making something for himself.
“I first met Kelvin in 2019 when he joined the WISE Campbelltown office and we hit it off right away. He was feeling down that it was taking so long to find employment, and frustrated employers didn’t have the knowledge or resources to assist him in securing a position,” said DES WISE Employment Consultant Krisztian Torok.
Before joining WISE, Kelvin was a cleaner for a North Shore cleaning company and suffered a major car accident due to exhaustion from his two-hour commute after working a long shift.
“After my accident, I was referred to WISE Employment through Centrelink but had a bit of trouble self-advocating because I was deaf and English was my second language. I got in touch with Sharon from Sign Hear who was able to bridge the gap between myself and Krisztian to get the most out of our sessions,” said Kelvin.
With the help of Krisztian and Kelvin’s interpreter Sharon, the trio met freq uently on Zoom to determine Kelvin’s passions and career goals; developing a resume and working on building his motivation and confidence.
WISE Employment Consultants often build relationships with employers in the local area to assist customers in finding work. Krisztian spoke to Audrey, the owner of homewares store Cosmopolitan Living, about Kelvin’s needs and desire to find a position that enabled him to stay fit – a big passion for Kelvin.
“I said to Audrey, ‘I have a customer who is young, fit and sporty, and he really wants to work in a factory. Can you help me out?’ So we set up a Zoom interview, and from there Audrey could see his big smile and friendly attitude, and locked in a job trial. After the trial, Kelvin was offered the job on the spot and continues to love the role,” explains Krisztian.
Since landing the position as Warehouse Assistant at Cosmopolitan Living, Kelvin says he’s never felt happier.
“My boss is so supportive, and my team is great at communicating with me. I always feel included at work and we have a good laugh. We all find ways to make each other smile throughout the day. I love the effort my colleagues put in to communicate with me and ensure I feel included. I know it can be challenging at times, but many of the team members have learnt sign language to make sure I never feel left out,” said Kelvin.
Kelvin was the first person living with a disability that Audrey had hired. She is now on a mission to ensure her business, and others, have a more inclusive hiring process.
“I think the most common misconception about disability in the workplace is that it’s very hard to communicate effectively. This hasn’t been an issue with Kelvin. We use sign language most of the time and he understands us with ease,” said Audrey.
Sign Hear’s Managing Director and Kelvin’s interpreter Sharon are committed to informing businesses about the benefits, processes and resources required to hire deaf people.
Many businesses are unaware of the support our government offers and it is a common misconception that there are additional costs that come with hiring a deaf individual. Sharon is adamant the benefits far outweigh any adjustments that may need to be made.
“There is government funding that can cover the cost of interpreters and equipment. Yes, there may be some extra time people need to fully understand their role, but statistics show people with a disability stay in their workplace for a long time and prove their loyalty.”
“Kelvin is one of the most reliable people you could come across, and through the years, has never allowed rejection to dampen his positivity. Kelvin has shown us how capable he is – regardless of his hearing loss. He puts 110 percent into everything he does,” said Sharon.
Now that Kelvin is cemented in his role at Cosmopolitan Living, he can’t wait to see what the future holds.
“I have so many goals and dreams and above all just wanted to be given an opportunity. Working with WISE Employment and Sign Hear helped me to stay positive and on track,”
“Now that I’m employed, I was able to move out of shared accommodation and into my own rental property for the very first time. Learning to live independently has changed my life. My next goal is to save up to see my family back in Africa and to hopefully one day buy a home,” said Kelvin.
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