In August 2023, for the first time in over 30 years, 62-year-old Barry found himself out of work. His determination to re-enter the workforce, combined with support from Global Skills, led to his securing a job in a new industry. Barry describes his new job as “perfect for me.”

Barry’s long tenure working on Roads and Construction in a local council on the Central Coast ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He found labouring work with a local builder but was made redundant again after just 14 months. Soon after, Barry joined Global Skills.

When he joined our Wyong office, Barry was connected with Employment Consultant Angela. The two worked together to identify Barry’s skills and interests. “I’m pretty good with people and I like to provide good customer service, so I realised that upskilling to hospitality was perfect for me,” Barry explained.

Barry’s manual work history left him with limited computer skills, but he was motivated to learn and secure employment that would benefit his family. With Angela’s support, Barry completed a Hospitality Pre-Employment Program including accredited Hospitality training. He also gained certifications in Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG), which are essential for hospitality work.

With skills in place, Angela assisted Barry with his job search. He says, “Angela’s a great Consultant and she’s done wonders for me. The Hospitality training opportunity came up and Angela secured a spot for me. She then helped me find a job. The support I received is just astronomical.” Barry started work at  Wyong Leagues Club on June 6 as a courtesy bus driver and club all-rounder.

Expressing gratitude for the support he received from Angela and the team at Global Skills Wyong, Barry said, “My experience with Global Skills has been tremendous. I am so grateful for the support I received. Angela is fantastic. Everyone else at Global Skills also played a part in my success at finding work. They are a great bunch; it’s a great service.”

Congratulations Barry! The entire team at Global Skills wishes you all the best in your new role. Thank you for generously sharing your story.