Since 2017, one Hawke's Bay Employment and Training Consultant (ETC) has helped place around 240 jobseekers into employment.

ETCs support people we manage by providing employment and training opportunities upon release from prison or while serving sentences in the community. They work closely with jobseekers and employers to facilitate entry into the workforce and help sustain employment.

As demonstrated by Hawke's Bay ETC Bryce, the role often requires thinking outside the box and collaborating with colleagues and external partners to overcome the many challenges people can face.

Recently, a woman was referred to Bryce at our Napier Service Centre. She was highly motivated to find work and was making significant positive changes in her life. Bryce arranged a job interview for her, which went well with the employer happy to offer her a chance.

However, she faced two major challenges: she was living in her car while waiting to move into her Kāinga Ora property the following week, and she did not have a current driver licence due to a disqualification.

She arrived at the service centre in distress, her car had been borrowed by a family member and subsequently impounded. This left her without a place to sleep and unable to proceed with reinstating her licence. On that day, her probation officer was unavailable, so Bryce stepped in to support her immediate needs.

Bryce worked with other staff on site to coordinate assistance and began making calls for support. He suggested approaching MSD for emergency housing and was also able to secure respite accommodation in Hastings.

Additionally, he helped her apply to have her car released and begin the process of reinstating her licence, critical steps toward starting her new job.

Bryce highlighted the power of collaboration, showcasing the strong support from his colleagues that contributed to this uplifting outcome.