Community Connections lead to Employment Success

11th November 2011

Community Connections lead to Employment Success

Sometimes it's the small things.

AJ Murtagh is a young man who is living his dream.

A recent graduate from the YMCA Nelson's Horizons course, AJ has been accepted to the Toi Whakaari/The New Zealand Drama School- a major step in any actor's career.

YMCA Horizons does not train actors but AJ's success is an example of the value of allowing people to explore their career options and the importance of the connections between the organisations and agencies that help them.

Like many young men today, AJ was looking for work and was referred by WINZ to the TEC funded, YMCA Horizons course which provides training in Retail, Security and Employment Skills. During his regular interviews with tutor, Tremain Mikaere, AJ expressed his passion for theatre and said his ideal job would be as an actor.

Then Mr Mikaere saw a notice from the Community Support Service (CSS) inviting auditions for Choices, an educational theatre project about safer partying commissioned by Health Action Trust and led by HYPE-GS.

"Our job at YMCA is to help people find their path" says Tremain. "We provide training but we also provide the sort of pastoral support everyone needs at some stage in their life - health, life skills, literacy or - as in AJ's case - just pointing them in a helpful direction. I had heard AJ loud and clear about his career aspirations" says Tremain. "I thought 'well, this is his opportunity.'"

AJ was employed on the Choices project and toured with the show to schools and youth centres thought the region. The experience cemented his determination to work in the performing arts and on 29th October he successfully auditioned for Toi Whakaari.

"I wouldn't have even known about Choices if Tremain hadn't shown me" says AJ. "Choices was a great way to develop my skills and with the support of all the people I've met I wasn't too nervous at the audition. It was more that I wanted to do the best I could and my nervousness was about getting accepted!"

Mr Mikaere says the AJ's experience shows how sometimes it is important not to be too prescriptive about employment options. "We don't train actors!" he says. "No-one saw this outcome when AJ was referred to YMCA but by doing what we do and being flexible we have a positive outcome for all concerned."

Executive Director of YMCA Nelson, Ron Kjestrup, says he is delighted for AJ. "AJ is a fine young man and we are pleased our connections provided him with the opportunity to show his abilities. He's obviously very good because Toi Whakaari has a huge number of applications. We can't take any credit for his talent, of course, but sometimes it's the small things. The community sector puts a lot of work into sharing information and collaboration. This helps us provide outcomes for our clients and in this case it assisted AJ. I'm proud of that."

AJ moves to Wellington in February to take up his place on the course at Toi Whakaari.

ENDS