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When Alex joined National Joblink and the Transition to Work (TtW) program in November 2024, he was shy, nervous, and unsure of what his future might look like. Through determination, support, and a clear vision for the life he wanted to build, Alex has transformed his life – building his confidence, skills, and opportunities over the past 12 months.

Upon joining TtW, Alex had recently completed Year 12 but had no previous work experience. Despite this, he quickly identified that he wanted to pursue a career in customer service and hospitality, setting himself the goals of gaining his Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and getting his driver’s licence. With the help of his mentor, he achieved both by preparing for and sitting the driving tests, attending goal-setting sessions, and following through with everything he set out to do.

One of Alex’s biggest strengths has been his commitment. He regularly attends games group—both in person and on Discord—and is well known by mentors for his excellent attendance. Even though the journey takes him 45 minutes by bus, Alex travels in two hours early so he can have breakfast downstairs and start his day in a positive routine.

Through his participation in TtW Alex has now almost fully completed his Certificate II in Hospitality, with only a couple of weeks left to go. To help with this, every Thursday Alex travels to the Mowbray Golf Club where he continues to develop these practical skills. Alex has also taken part in the Transition to Work Enterprise Learning Project – Bunnings BBQ, where he has gained hands-on experience in food preparation, customer service, money handling, teamwork, and Work, Health and Safety procedures.

Alex’s long-term goal is to work in a bar, where he hopes to increase his service skills further and eventually learn to make cocktails and serve beverages. His enthusiasm for building experience in the industry is clear to everyone who works with him.

A major milestone came when Alex attended a local career expo dressed in professional interview clothing. There, he impressed the managers from McDonald’s so much that he was offered a job on the spot! TtW further supported him through onboarding and assisted by purchasing new work boots to help him start strong.

Today, Alex is in his second week of training at McDonald’s—and he couldn’t be prouder. He’s already sharing with everyone at NJL how much he’s enjoying the work and how quickly he’s mastering cooking nuggets and chips.

Alex’s journey is a testament to what dedication, support, and self-belief can achieve. From anxious beginnings to workplace success, he continues to grow, learn, and prove to himself what he’s capable of. His future in the hospitality industry looks incredibly bright!