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Confidence increases as Chloe learns new skills

30 August 2019
Jobs, Land and Economy
Woman with long dark hair and wearing glasses has her left arm in a blue sling. In the background is a flat brown tree sculpture on a blue wall.

Chloe Backhouse is learning skills and growing in confidence thanks to support from colleagues at Camden Council and JLEP.

Chloe Backhouse, a proud Weilwan and Gamilaroi woman living in Sydney, is growing in confidence as she learns new skills through a traineeship. Chloe is undertaking her Certificate III in Business Administration at Camden Council.

When she started her traineeship in September 2018, Chloe was working in the Property Services team but recently moved into the Customer Relations team.

A highlight of her traineeship has been the opportunity to work in two different teams. She has also enjoyed getting the chance to be involved in other council community events and workshops.

’Council asks the trainees to help out with activities like Bounce Town and the NAIDOC celebrations, which has helped boost my confidence,’ Chloe said.

Chloe has also experienced the broader work of the Council which has helped her understand how the organisation works.

‘Getting to help out other teams within council and getting an understanding of what they do has been a highlight as well,’ she said.

Chloe’s role in the Customer Relations team has seen her grow and develop many skills, including her phone etiquette, use of different council systems, prioritising tasks and time management.

She answers many calls each day and is responsible for the team’s phone statistics, as well as managing the Companion Animals Register, weekly petty cash and community hall bookings.

Chloe’s supervisor, Karli Fairclough, has watched her grow in confidence, especially in managing phone calls.

‘Chloe puts herself out there each day to take calls about residents’ waste without being asked, as she understands the positive impact that has on the rest of the team,’ Karli said.

‘She overcame her reluctance to speak to customers over the phone and she is now dealing with calls that come in for our kerbside collections with confidence, which helps the whole team.’

With many responsibilities on her shoulders, the support Chloe has from staff within council has helped her greatly in her traineeship.

’Knowing that I am supported by numerous people here, when  I am struggling with something, I can go to someone for help, even if they are in a different team,’ Chloe said. 

’I have had my highs and lows [throughout the traineeship] but since I know I am supported here I feel a lot more comfortable to speak up if I do need help.’

My Gateway facilitated Chloe’s employment placement and is providing her with support during her training and work placement.

Find out more

MyGateway is a Group Training Organisation and member of the National Apprentice Employment Network (NAEN) which is funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency through the Jobs, Land and Economy Programme (JLEP) and Indigenous Advancement Strategy. NAEN has a School Based Traineeship activity under the Tailored Assistance Employment Grants.

JLEP works to get Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into work, support Indigenous business, and assist Indigenous people to effectively manage their land.

For more information, see Programme 2.1: Indigenous Advancement: Jobs, Land and Economy.