Laura is an Administration Coordinator in Allianz’ Dispute Resolution team – a role which requires problem-solving skills, resilience and stress management, particularly at busy times!
Laura was one of the first trainees at Jigsaw Melbourne (she joined online during the COVID-19 lockdowns even before the physical location had opened). Laura came to Jigsaw seeking stability, independence and a potential career in floristry. At the time, she said, “I just wish I had a job that was not casual because casual stuffs you around a bit… you might not work for three months, which is what happened to me. In the future, I just want something to have money for if I move out, to pay bills, and to have money for food, and not always rely on either mum or dad to help me with that. To start getting more independent as well.”
Less than four years after speaking these words, Laura is working four days a week on a permanent contract at one of the world’s largest insurance companies.
How did she do it? One of the secrets to her success is that she grasps every opportunity that presents itself with both hands. Throughout her journey to employment with Jigsaw, Laura threw herself into everything. She built her experience in a mainstream environment early on with a placement at information management solutions company “Compu-stor.” She featured in a video case study for Yarra Libraries whilst working on a digitisation contract for them. She worked on contracts across multiple Allianz departments, getting to know the company. She even took DSS Minister Amanda Rishworth on a tour of the Jigsaw Melbourne hub!
The workplace skills she learned at Jigsaw and the support she has received from the Jigsaw team have helped her along the way.
“For my role there is a lot of problem solving, being able to understand things well. I use some of those tips and tricks, [from Jigsaw] like, take breaks because you need them. I work better with checklists, so getting my team to understand that I work on a different level to them, and that I learn differently to them, and to figure out different techniques that help my learning, and create checklists.
“Jigsaw has played a really good part in helping me. Getting them [the Allianz team] to understand my learning disabilities, and helping them understand that it might take a little while for me to process things.”
Jigsaw and Allianz have developed a new pathway for people with disability to transition into employment in the insurance industry. Allianz departments outsource work to Jigsaw on a contract basis. Jigsaw paid trainees work directly with Allianz teams and learn role specific skills whilst working on these contracts at Jigsaw. Allianz then employs Jigsaw graduates once they are confident and ready. For Laura, this pathway helped her transition into her role: “my comfort and confidence went up understanding and being able to explore more about Allianz.”
As with any role, Laura has had to navigate some challenges since she started, including busy periods with a higher workload and a change in team structure. The support she receives from Jigsaw’s Connect team can flex during these periods, as and when she needs. “At the moment, since my workload’s been stressful, Dan [Jigsaw Connect] has been coming in every Wednesday with me. Before that, I was seeing him fortnightly, and after a while I would message him if I had an issue, or needed help understanding something better, or he would just check in with me. Having that supportive aspect is great, because not every enterprise or job agency gives that support once you’re in a job – they just forget about you.”
Laura also credits the support she has received from Allianz colleagues. “The managers and the DRT [Dispute Resolution Team] have really helped me out – to get out of my comfort zone and try to communicate the challenges. My manager is really supportive. We’ve had a lot of change happen in two months. At first it was very overwhelming and then, the support that we’ve had from our managers and some of the other team members – just saying that you’re not alone, that kind of thing – has really helped.”
Overall, Laura is very happy, especially when she reflects back on what brought her to Jigsaw almost four years ago. “It’s been awesome to work for [Allianz], to be a team, having people that care about you, and being able to work in a mainstream job without being judged.
“It’s been great to have a stable income, stable hours and stable days set, instead of having a casual role where they pick you up and put you down when they like.”
She believes strongly that sharing her story can benefit others, and has been interviewed by SBS news. “It’s good being able to get your story across to people, whether it’s going on the TV or the radio. Trying to make a change in the disability sector is something that I love – to advocate for myself as someone that has a disability. It’s hard out in the world. Not everyone is nice to you, not everyone is kind. But being recognised and supported, and giving it a go does help build your confidence and build your future to a step where you take on any opportunity.”
For now, these opportunities look like “trying to take one day at a time, but also build my skills and knowledge, understand a bit more about my role, and outside of my role.”
Whilst building her skills and experience at Allianz, Laura still has the floristry bug!
“I like anything to do with flowers or plants. I like doing terrariums, floral bouquets and arrangements. I know that maybe in the future, I do want to open something in floristry as well. I recently sent a photo to my manager, and another lady higher up, of flowers that I made. They were like, “oh, are you going to open a side gig?” Maybe they would buy from it!”
We look forward to seeing both your insurance and your floristry careers blossom, Laura!
About Jigsaw
Jigsaw is a social enterprise that provides an innovative pathway to mainstream employment for people with disability. By embedding a comprehensive skill-based training program within our commercial document and data management business, Jigsaw enables people with disability to achieve their employment goals at their own pace. Jigsaw’s holistic approach starts from the very basics of core work skills and supports trainees all the way through to transition to open employment with ongoing support and coaching once they have transitioned. Jigsaw is located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Canberra.