After facing some of life’s toughest challenges all at once, Kate wasn’t sure where to turn. Today, she’s working, thriving, and happier than she’s ever been. This is her story – and it starts with finding the right support at the right time.
A fresh chapter begins
Kate had spent 16 years building a career as a chartered accountant. She was skilled, capable, and experienced. But life behind the scenes was becoming increasingly difficult, and when everything seemed to fall apart at once, Kate found herself without work, without direction, and searching for a way forward.
That’s when she discovered WISE Women – an employment program run by women, for women, designed to help those facing real barriers find meaningful work and rebuild their lives with confidence.
When life gets overwhelming
Kate’s challenges didn’t arrive one at a time. Leaving a toxic job of 16 years, the end of a long-term relationship, and eventually moving back to her parents’ home in Berwick – it all happened in quick succession. With no employment and little sense of where to go next, Kate also received a new ADHD diagnosis that, while clarifying, added another layer to navigate.
Before connecting with WISE Women, Kate had tried to access support through other services – and found the experience deeply frustrating.
“I was in an abyss,” she recalls. “I’d been jumping from social service to social service – there were roadblocks everywhere. Not being in the right district meant waiting another eight weeks for therapy.”
For someone already overwhelmed, those delays made an already hard situation feel impossible.
The support that made the difference
Kate originally connected with the WISE Women program after being referred by Centrelink. From the very beginning, something felt different – the support was personal, practical, and consistent.
Counselling through WISE Occupational Rehabilitation was the first thing that truly shifted things for Kate. She describes the impact as “massive” and “huge.” Her counsellor, Enessa, created a space where Kate could work through her experiences in her own way – at her own pace.
“Enessa was fantastic – she helped me get there myself through prompts,” Kate says. “I could talk about things I couldn’t share with my family. It gave me clarity.”
Employment support followed naturally. The WISE Women team helped Kate secure a cleaning position through Goddess Cleaning, an organisation with a strong employee-first culture. As her confidence grew, she also took on a bookkeeping role at Coonara Community House – working two mornings a week and reconnecting with the accounting skills she’d spent years developing.
The team showed up in the smaller moments too. When Kate felt overwhelmed and slipped into “shutdown mode,” her WISE Women Coach Natalia helped her plan, organise, and take things one step at a time. When she needed practical help – like a fuel card when she started the bookkeeping role – the team made sure she had it.
Social connection also played a meaningful role. Attending WISE Women’s International Women’s Day event with others in similar situations gave Kate what she describes as a “mental reset” – a chance to communicate, connect, and feel part of something bigger than her circumstances.
Throughout it all, WISE Women offered something Kate hadn’t felt in a long time: stability.
“They gave me consistency and a support base I could lean on,” she says.
Where Kate is today
Kate is in a place she couldn’t have imagined when she first reached out to WISE Women. She’s working in roles she genuinely enjoys – active, social, and well-suited to her strengths. She has ongoing support around her, and she feels genuinely hopeful about what lies ahead.
“I’m happier than I have ever been,” she says simply.
Along the way, Kate also noticed something she hadn’t expected – a new perspective on the people around her.
“I realised that so many people were rooting for me and willing to help – I just didn’t see it until I stopped and looked back.”
You don’t have to do this alone
Kate’s journey is a powerful reminder that the right support, at the right time, really can change everything. What she needed wasn’t a one-size-fits-all approach – she needed people who would listen, show up, and help her rediscover what she was capable of.
WISE Women provided exactly that.
If you’re going through something similar, Kate’s message is simple:
“The help is there – you just need to ask. Have a bit of faith, be open to opportunity, and trust in yourself, even if that trust has been shaken for a while. Different doesn’t mean wrong.”
Your journey to a brighter future can start today. Register your interest as a WISE job seeker, or find your nearest WISE office – we’re here to help you take that first step.
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