MatchWorks staffer shortlisted for award
16 August 2010
MatchWorks Employment Consultant Rachel Barry has been nationally recognised for her achievements in helping people who have faced huge hurdles to employment as part of the 2010 National Employment Services Association (NESA) Awards for Excellence.
She travelled to Sydney in August to accept her award from the Federal Minister for Employment Participation, Mark Arbib.
Ten years ago, after a relationship breakdown, Rachel suffered from severe depression. She isolated herself from friends and family, and at times struggled to get out of bed each day.
In 2003 however, Rachel got her life back on track. She faced her demons, told a friend and close family members about her struggle, and began her journey on the long road to recovery.
After turning her own life around, Rachel turned to helping others who had experienced such hurdles. She worked as a telephone counsellor for Lifeline before finding her way into the employment services industry. She now works for MatchWorks at their Preston site.
According to MatchWorks General Manager Michael Wasley, Rachel specialises in working with the most disadvantaged and vulnerable of MatchWorks clients, including those experiencing homelessness, long-term drug and alcohol dependencies and mental health issues.
"Rachel has a particularly challenging caseload, and works very well with engaging these people and helping connect them with other services that may improve their lives," he said. "We are very proud that Rachel has been chosen as part of the select few to be recognised."
Rachel said that to be selected by MatchWorks to be nominated, let alone reaching the finals, was a great honor.
"The whole process has been really overwhelming, to say the least," she said. "I didn’t believe my manager when told me that I had made the finals. I was shocked!"
Ten years ago, after a relationship breakdown, Rachel suffered from severe depression. She isolated herself from friends and family, and at times struggled to get out of bed each day.
In 2003 however, Rachel got her life back on track. She faced her demons, told a friend and close family members about her struggle, and began her journey on the long road to recovery.
After turning her own life around, Rachel turned to helping others who had experienced such hurdles. She worked as a telephone counsellor for Lifeline before finding her way into the employment services industry. She now works for MatchWorks at their Preston site.
According to MatchWorks General Manager Michael Wasley, Rachel specialises in working with the most disadvantaged and vulnerable of MatchWorks clients, including those experiencing homelessness, long-term drug and alcohol dependencies and mental health issues.
"Rachel has a particularly challenging caseload, and works very well with engaging these people and helping connect them with other services that may improve their lives," he said. "We are very proud that Rachel has been chosen as part of the select few to be recognised."
Rachel said that to be selected by MatchWorks to be nominated, let alone reaching the finals, was a great honor.
"The whole process has been really overwhelming, to say the least," she said. "I didn’t believe my manager when told me that I had made the finals. I was shocked!"