Fourteen months ago, Kirk Baltimore boarded a plane to Byron Bay with nothing but a few dollars and the clothes on his back. “I wasn’t looking forward to another Tassie winter sleeping rough,” he says. “I’d run out of options, and I was ready to do whatever it took to change my life.”
A former mental health nurse for 20 years, Kirk’s life had spiralled after injury, addiction, and a long period of homelessness. But arriving in Byron Bay, he found something unexpected through a job at Beacon.
“Coming from where I did, having meaningful work again has been everything,” he says, “It’s simple work, but it’s what I need right now.”
Kirk works as a laundry operator, loading and sorting linen, operating various machines, and helping others learn the ropes. “It’s not like a laundromat. These machines are huge. You wouldn’t even recognise them,” he says. “But I love learning new things. I even got my truck licence since starting here, knowing it may be helpful.”
“I organised it, and passed the test, and it was really good. I’d never anticipated myself doing these things, but here I am.”
Beyond the practical skills, it’s the culture at Beacon that has had the deepest impact.
“There’s something special about this place. We’re a very neurodiverse, ragtag group of misfits, and I love that,” Kirk says.
Every day he finds purpose. This comes from the job, and the opportunity to help others. “If someone’s struggling, I’ll step in and give them a hand,” he says. “If I can help someone else skill up, they can pass it on. That’s the ripple effect.”
From sleeping rough to now holding down a steady job and renting his own place, life looks very different today for Kirk. He is about to finish his Masters in Cybersecurity, and continues to channel his love for music, playing regularly for the local community in public spaces with a hope of playing on stage somewhere one day.
When asked what he’s most proud of, Kirk doesn’t hesitate, “I wouldn’t call it pride, it’s gratitude,” he says. “I’m grateful for meaningful work. It’s another chance, a sort of a shot at redemption.”
If you’re curious to learn more about Beacon, read the FY24/25 Impact Report
