Strong Voices

Sometimes it’s just about getting your foot in the door.

Twenty-three-year-old Christchurch resident Joshua Hendriks has far surpassed that, and is now celebrating a year of employment at Bupa Parkstone Retirement Village as an activity assistant.

Joshua connected with Choices NZ at a time when much of the country was closed for business because of COVID-19 restrictions. He used the opportunity to become “work-ready” so that when the right role came along, he’d be prepared to apply.

“The hardest part was the interview,” says Joshua. “But I knew once I got a job, I’d be able to keep it.”

Joshua has been working five hours a week over two days at Bupa and helps facilitate a range of activities from indoor bowls, board games, music and outings to a happy hour each Friday. He knew he wanted to work in a rest home from his young days of volunteering.

Two shifts are never the same, and Joshua says he loves interacting with the residents in a supportive environment.

“My parents and co-workers have seen huge growth in me over the past year. I have way more control in my life; I just needed that door to be opened.

“I’ve been very lucky with Choices NZ and Bupa and I’m hoping to gain more hours in the future.”

IHC’s Donna Higgs-Herrick and Choices NZ’s Jo Hannah have supported Joshua along the way. Jo says a lot of good things have come from his employment.

“Work has been a game changer for Joshua. With his confidence growing he is now progressing with work-related qualifications, starting with getting his NCEA in literacy,” says Jo. “He is also keen to learn to drive and find a flat and is working on his own physical fitness and health.

“He sees the potential now and the pathway he needs to take to get there.

“The Bupa team has supported Joshua in his employment placement from day one, working with him to understand his disability and ensure he has the resources he needs to succeed in the workplace.

“Now that Joshua has been employed for a year and built natural supports, we can fade into the background and allow him to thrive more independently.”

Jo says she’s incredibly proud of Joshua’s achievements, especially given the tough job market.

“Although we support people to do mainstream applications, most of the time we’re working with employers to create new roles that match the expertise and needs of the people we support.

“Sometimes we’re working from the ground up, by developing CVs and cover letters and working on interview skills and how to go about job searching. Some people don’t know what they want to do so it’s about investigating different types of jobs. It’s mostly about getting to know those people and matching them to the businesses.”

For Joshua, gaining more hours and a qualification is his next goal.

“After finishing my literacy course, I want to go on to study diversional therapy, which is all about helping people focus on the good rather than the bad,” says Joshua. “It’ll help me learn different activities and methods for the residents I work with.”

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Caption: Joshua with a resident of the Bupa Parkstone Retirement Village.