Anglicare news
Age no bar to new career
Alan Hirst, of Wynyard, has 27 years’ experience as a Police Officer in Western Australia, but thought he had no hope of starting a new career at nearly 60.
Alan retired from the Western Australian Police Force in 2001 and spent five years caring for his wife until she passed away. Grieving for his wife took a substantial toll on Alan but as he began to deal with his loss he started to look for regular work.
Mr Hirst said, ‘I knew I had lots of skills to add value to a workplace but I worried that my age would be a barrier.’
Staff at Salvation Army Employment Plus in Burnie were impressed by Alan’s desire to make a contribution to people in need in Tasmania. Their compassion for Alan’s situation helped him build his capacity to return to work.
Alan also managed a police station at Wongan Hills in Western Australia. During his time at Wongan Hills Alan, his wife and other community members developed projects enabling young people who had committed offenses to do work around the local shire to repay their Court-imposed fines.
The Salvation Army Employment Plus team helped Alan to apply for a job with Anglicare. Anglicare Tasmania jumped at the chance to employ Alan as a part-time Case Manager for the Court Mandated Diversion program.
The Court Mandated Diversion program supports young people, who have committed drug-related crimes, to get out of the crime cycle by helping them to abstain from taking illicit drugs, find employment, stable accommodation and re-establish relationships with family and friends.
‘Alan has a wealth of experience working with young people and he has the skills to make an invaluable contribution to the clients of Anglicare’s Court-Mandated Diversion program,’ said Anglicare’s Coordinator of Counselling and Family Services North-West, Helena Pearson. ‘Although Alan struggled when he first started working for us, he now has become an integral part of the team and Anglicare’s Devonport office. Alan has just had his contract renewed for another six months.’
Mr Hirst said, ‘It was tough starting work again. At first, I felt like a fish out of water but the Anglicare team have been supportive and I love my job.’
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