By CASEY NEILL
NATHAN Isailofski never thought he’d be able to handle a 7am start at work.
But with help from DVJS Employment Solutions and employer Lakkis Catering, the 22-year-old from Narre Warren is now doing just that.
He’s worked for Lakkis since February and is no longer letting his battle with mental illness hold him back.
Nathan started out working afternoon shifts.
“Sleep is a big problem for me but we’ve worked through it,” he said.
He gradually brought back his starting time, an hour at a time.
“It was what I needed to be able to keep a job,” he said.
“In the past I’ve just burnt out. Being able to do it and do it at my own pace …
“Now I’m starting at 7am which I thought I’d never be able to do.
“This is the longest I’ve ever held a job.”
Max Lakkis is one of three brothers who own Lakkis Catering, which has cafe contracts with Holmesglen TAFE in Chadstone and Glen Waverley, Kangan TAFE in Docklands and Federation Training at Chadstone.
He employs five clients with mental illness disabilities through DVJS – formerly Dandenong Valley Job Support – and has given more than 20 a go over the past two years.
“Often these people can’t sustain work for a long period of time, so some start with us and after a couple of months they start to drop off,” he said.
“Things don’t always work out.
“But I’m a strong believer in giving people opportunities.
“These people have lost a lot of confidence and haven’t worked in a long time. They come in very shy and very nervous.
“It’s all about empowering people and letting them realise what they’re capable of.”
Mr Lakkis also offers unpaid on-site training for DVJS clients.
“People have got some experience in the kitchen and moved on to work somewhere else,” he said.
He said DVJS provided training and check-ups and government incentives made his decision to give people a go a little easier.
“Without that you wouldn’t take the risk,” he said.
“A lot of them are slower or not as capable as able-bodied people.”
DVJS is a non-profit service with eight sites in the south-east, including Dandenong, Cranbourne, Narre Warren and Pakenham.
It specialises in placing people with disabilities into the general workforce.
