It’s in my veins as an Aboriginal man to feel connected to the land so I’m thrilled to have a job where I can protect Australia’s flora and fauna for a living and feel inspired to nurture my own wellbeing.
Having meaningful work like this, where I can accomplish something so fulfilling while gaining financial independence, has played a big part in my recovery.
I took steps toward this career path with a twelve-month course in Conservation and Ecosystem Management at Moree TAFE. The Flourish Australia team were so helpful with filling out enrolment forms and paperwork for Centrelink to get me started.
They also helped out with transport to make the whole undertaking more accessible for me.
My studies were so enjoyable I never missed a lesson! We covered so many native plant species, learning all about how to identify them and where they’re found in Australian ecosystems, their scientific names, and how to grow them.
I’ve found my calling and now have my sights set on a role in conservation with my local Council. To quality, it was necessary to complete an additional course with their Ranger Program which I’m pleased to say I’ve successfully done!
I want my achievements to be an inspiration to my 10 year old son to go after his own life goals. He looks up to me. I made the move to Moree from Dubbo to live closer to him so I can be more involved in his life and we’re making up for lost time. Holiday time together is wonderful.
When he’s not around I like to stay active by getting involved with activities at Flourish Australia’s Moree service. Connecting with friends there a few times each week beats sitting around at home feeling bored.
They offer a lot of different groups and programs so I’m always learning something new. Sometimes I like to just hang out with a few people there and get a darts competition going or cook up a big feed to enjoy together. With the Monday cooking class I’ve been collaborating on a cookbook of everything we’ve made and we’ll each take home a copy.
Caring for the natural environment through my work has motivated me to take better care of my own wellbeing. I’ve picked up some practical skills for prepping great tasting dishes that are healthy for me and straightforward to whip up. I had no idea how easy it can be to put together so many nice meals without blowing the budget.
All round, with the right support, I’m making leaps and bounds to living a very satisfying life that nurtures my wellbeing.
Talk to us today
For more information, contact us on 1300 779 270 or make an enquiry now.
