Brett’s a man of few words, but it’s not too hard to see what Beacon means to him.
Today he works five days a week, always smiling, and one of the hardest workers on the floor. He has purpose now and it shows.
When Brett started at Beacon about a year ago, his life looked very different. “I was actually homeless before Beacon,” he says. “Living day by day, in and out of hospital.”
With consistent shifts, practical support from the Beacon team, and a steady income, Brett now has his own place and is managing his type 1 diabetes far better.
“Working here has helped me with a lot of things,” Brett says.
Beacon’s employee support goes beyond the workplace. The People and Pathways team also help individuals overcome foundational barriers, like health and housing. In Brett’s case, the team were able to support him with rental references, and connect him with the right services to get the equipment he needs to manage his diabetes.
“It’s helped me heaps,” he says. “I can manage my sugars better now.”
The most important change for Brett however has been rebuilding a relationship with his 16-year-old daughter. Prior to Beacon regular contact wasn’t possible.
“They wouldn’t let me see my daughter,” he says. “And now because of work, they can see I’m making good steps for yourself, so I get to see her again. That means the most.”
Read more about Beacon Bangalow in its first-ever impact report.
