Substation33 founder Tony Sharp describes 17-year-old Jayde as his go-to person.
She has earned that trust by being ready to take on almost any job. She works in customer service, sorts containers and operates equipment at Canstation, pitching in wherever she’s needed. Jayde has embraced the opportunity and has encouraged several of her friends to give it a go too.
“The biggest compliment is when young people get their mates to come and work for us,” Tony says.
Life has not always been easy for Jayde, but she has worked hard to build greater stability and independence for herself. After receiving support from YFS when she was younger, an employment provider connected her with Substation33. She was initially meant to complete four weeks of work experience, but after just four hours, she was offered a job.
“That was my first day. I was meant to volunteer for four weeks, but I came in, did four hours and basically got told I had the job,” she says.
“When I started working and getting more involved, I was like, this place is amazing.”
Jayde has now been working at Substation33 for about a year. She rents a home with her partner and is building the independence she has always wanted.
“I think I’m most proud of having a job, being able to live independently, buy my own things and look after myself,” she says.
“Having my own money and not having to rely on anyone has been good.”
Jayde now has her sights set on getting her licence. Until then, her supervisors are helping her get to and from work. Through Substation33’s driving school, she is also building the hours she needs for her provisional licence.
“I’ve done most of my driving hours through Substation and the driving school,” she says.
“I’m just so excited to get my licence. They’ve really helped me achieve that. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the people here.”
The support Jayde has received has helped her recognise her own capabilities. In turn, she has become someone others look to for encouragement. She has helped several friends connect with Substation33.
“I brought a couple of my mates in who needed jobs and wanted to do something with their lives, and Tony gave them a chance,” she says.
One of those friends started at Substation33 not long after Jayde and has now been working there for close to a year.
“She was nervous because she hadn’t worked with her hands before, but I said, ‘If you’re ready and you don’t care about getting dirty, my boss said you can come in tomorrow.’
“She came in, smashed that day out, and she’s been here ever since.”
More recently, Jayde encouraged another friend to look for work and asked Tony whether she could join the team at Substation33.
“I was a bit nervous to ask in case it didn’t work out, but Tony said, ‘If she’s ready to better her life, then bring her in.’”
For Jayde, supporting her friends is a way of giving back to the people who supported her when she needed help herself.
“They helped me in the past, so it’s time that I can step up and help them,” she says.
That same generosity shapes what Jayde wants for her future.
“I just want to give back to the people who helped me when I needed help,” she says.
“I want to look after my younger siblings the way my brother looked after me and set a good example for them.”
Jayde credits the people at Substation33, and particularly Tony’s faith in her, with helping her recognise what she could achieve.
