Menu
Menu

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Find work
    • Find work
    • MAX Connect
    MAX Employment Services
  • Improve your skills
    • Improve your skills
    • Find a course
    • Study with us
    • Learning resources
      • Living in Australia
      • Learning English
      • Using computers
    Training courses
  • Health and disability
    • Health and disability
    • Health assessments
      • Do you need an assessment?
      • Refer someone for a disability assessment
    • Manage your disability at work
    • Group health programs
    • NDIS and Disability Employment Services
    • Long-term disability
    • Therapy Services
    • School leavers and students
    • Injury or Illness
    Support services
  • Help and advice
    • Help and advice
      • Getting started
      • Resumes and cover letters
      • Improve your skills
      • Health and wellbeing
      • Applications and interviews
      • Job searching tools
      • Starting work
      • Ongoing support
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Your rights and privacy
    • Help with Centrelink
    • Useful contacts
    • Feedback and complaints
    Get the support you want
  • Employer services
    • Employer services
    • National partnerships
    • Find candidates
    • How we support employers
      • Financial support
      • Employee Assistance Program
      • Pre-Employment Medicals (Injurynet)
    • Employ someone with disability
      • Benefits of diversity
      • Types of disabilities
    • Offer work experience
      • Join the PaTH program
      • Offer a traineeship
      • Be a work for the dole host
    • Our work with employers
    Find great staff
  • What we do
    • What we do
    • MAX Employment
      • jobactive
      • Workforce Australia
      • Employability Skills Training
      • Disability Employment Services
      • NDIS School Leaver Employment Supports
      • Parents Next
      • Jobs Victoria
    • MAX Support
      • Adult Migrant English Program
      • Skills for Education and Employment
      • Youth jobs PaTH
      • Vocational Training
      • Child Welfare Assessments
      • Disability Assessments
      • National Panel of Assessors
      • Program for Students with Disability
      • Therapy Services
    • MAX Community
      • Housing Employment Program
      • School Based Trainee Program
      • Prison-based services
      • Employer Services
    Our services and programs
  • About us
    • About us
    • Careers with MAX
    • Our customer promise
    • Our partners
    • MAXIMUS Worldwide
    • Our impact
    • Our leadership team
    • MAX Foundation
    Learn about MAX

Header Navigation Secondary Menu

  • News
  • Careers with MAX
  • Locations
  • Contact
  • Feedback and complaints

Language menu

  • ngôn ngữ tiếng Việt
  • اللغة العربية
  • پښتو ژبه
  • دری
  • 中文 Zhōngwén
  • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ
  • हिन्दी भाषा
  • 中文
  • Wikang Filipino
  • زبان فارسي
  • Language Support
Aa

MAX Connect

Social Icons

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube

Talk to our team

MAX solutions

MAX Solutions.

X

Services

  • Disability Employment Services
  • Assessments Australia
  • jobactive
  • Workforce Australia
  • Employability Skills Training

Training Courses

  • Adult Migrant English Program
  • Skills for Education and Employment
  • PaTH Employabililty Skills Training

Articles

  • Getting Started
  • Resumes and Cover Letters
  • Health and Wellbeing

General

  • Careers
  • Find an office
  • Feedback and Complaints
  • FAQs
MAXsolutions
  • English
    Choose a language:
    • ngôn ngữ tiếng Việt
    • اللغة العربية
    • پښتو ژبه
    • دری
    • 中文 Zhōngwén
    • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ
    • हिन्दी भाषा
    • 中文
    • Wikang Filipino
    • زبان فارسي
    • Language Support
  • Aa
  • MAXconnect
Search
Locations Contact

Breadcrumb

Home
  • Home
  • Robert’s championing Bunbury’s emerging leaders
  • Robert’s championing Bunbury’s emerging leaders

    Published by MAXSolutions on March 23 2022
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Linked in
    Robert Bunbury
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Linked in

    People like Robert Jones are a shining light in our community. 

    His story of transformation, his authenticity and his genuine passion for spreading cultural awareness and acceptance is what inspiration is made of. 

     
    A rocky start

    Robert is the first to admit he started adulthood unsure of where he wanted to go. 

    “I’m not perfect and I definitely did have my rocky parts,” shares Robert. 

    Robert left high school after having completed only some of his secondary schooling via correspondence.

    It was some time after he decided to start studying at TAFE to complete his high school qualifications. While he was still unsure what he wanted to do he knew he needed to at least close out this chapter to find out.

    Robert Bunbury

    A transformation begins

    During this time Robert was receiving support from his MAX team in Bunbury and as they provided health supports to help him manage his mental health, they joined his TAFE lecturers in championing Robert towards a career in education.

    “I got persuaded by the lecturers who said to me that they felt I’d do really well in education support,” says Robert. 
    “So, I took the lecturer’s advice and signed up for a Certificate III in Education Support. I wasn’t sure if it would turn into anything, but my MAX consultant Cathleen was determined to let me explore and find out what I wanted to do,” he says. 
    “She didn’t just try to push me into any job,” he says. 
    “With Cathleen’s support I was able to overcome my anxiety and build my confidence. She helped me believe I could go into a job and achieve. To get that kind of encouragement and leeway at that time was really helpful,” he says. 

    Cathleen shares from her perspective:

    “When he first came to me, he was very quiet, he never smiled, he never made eye contact with me. It took a long while until he was confident, and now he looks at me, we have really good conversations,” she says. 
    “I was aware of what was going on in the background for Robert, so taking that into consideration, that’s part of what we do,” she says. 
    “Coaxing and looking at things from a different angle, gave Robert the tools he needed to go forward – and that’s what our job is all about,” she says. 

    Robert 2


    A passion is born

    Robert found the course more enjoyable than he was expecting and understood the material more than he thought he would. 

    “That’s when I found my passion for education,” he says. 

    During his first prac at a local primary school, Robert was given the opportunity to be in the classroom, help run activities and help the students celebrate NAIDOC Week. 

    “The school gave me the independence to go through and see what I was good at and what I wasn’t,” he says. 

    What Robert is good at, and what he’s passionate about is making sure all children feel capable and valuable and that’s what drives him in his new Education Assistant role at the school – a paid role he was offered after completing his Certificate III. 

    “I firmly believe that without everyone’s help, I wouldn’t have gotten to this point,” he says. “I was given a lot of support and encouragement and I previously couldn’t give that to myself.” 
    “The kids are the same. They need encouragement and support, they need to feel like they can achieve. I want to give these kids what others have given me,” he says. 
    “When you’re young you start to think maybe I’m not good enough, I can’t do it, I’m not capable – but kids don’t think that unless an adult makes them think that. I want to be around to make sure they know they are good enough, they can do it and they’re capable so when the naysayers come, they’ve got the strength to shrug it off and carry on,” says Robert. 
    “I’m so passionate about helping everyone. I understand how difficult it is for some of these kids and I really want to show people that we can do whatever we put our minds to,” says Robert. 

    Robert 3

    A celebration of cultures

    Robert is also passionate about making sure children from different cultures and especially Indigenous cultures feel accepted and celebrated.

    Robert himself comes from a blend of Koori, Indonesian and Italian heritage but spent much of his childhood immersed in Wardandi and Kaartdijin Noongar cultures.

    “I’m deadset on making sure everyone’s culture is accepted,” says Robert. 
    “I enjoy going in and being really passionate and helping the kids understand that it’s that passion that’s going to drive them forward; that passion and respect for their culture, for themselves and for each other,” he says. 

    As part of his mission to do just that, Robert is helping to bring Indigenous culture to life at the local primary school, showcasing artwork by local Indigenous artists and dances by local performers and connecting students with Noongar elders and language.  

    “I personally want non-Indigenous people to understand Noongar language. If it’s just us learning it, it will die out. We need everybody to want to speak it, to want to learn it, to want to be part of it, and to feel likely they’re welcome to do that,” says Robert. 

    Robert 4

    A future bright

    As he reflects on his journey to date, Robert shares: “I’ve come from a place where I didn’t know what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go, I didn’t have any qualifications – and it’s all turned around very quickly.”

    So what does the future look like for Robert? He’s started studying teaching at university while continuing to work in education support, championing the students while he completes his teaching degree.


    Acknowledgement: We chatted with Robert in front of a large-scale public artwork by Indigenous artist, Troy Bennell. Troy welcomes visitors to join him for cultural tours of Bunbury. He can be found at Ngalang Wongi Aboriginal Cultural Tours.

    These murals are part of a public art trail in Bunbury. Find out more here: Street & Public Art - Visit Bunbury Geographe.
     

    For more inspiring stories from Indigenous Australians read:

    Teska's Story

    Amy's Story

    Tracey's Story

    Find out more about our Employment Services

     

    Tags
    • Employment
    • Everyone
    • In work
    • Indigenous
    • MAX Employment
    • Videos
    • Youth and early school leavers
    • Log in or register to post comments
    Category
    News

    Most popular help and advice

    Jobs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Jobs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Published by MAXSolutions on March 22 2021
     

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on January 5 2021
     

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on December 7 2020
     

    5 ways to sell yourself in a job interview

    5 ways to sell yourself in a job interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on April 27 2020
     
    More articles
    Was this article useful?
    Why did you choose Yes?
    Why did you choose No?

    Found this useful?

    Copied to clipboard
    Share this article

    Contact us

    • Have a question?

      Chat Now

      Find quick answers about employment services.

    • Customer Enquiries

      1800 603 503

      If you are a new or existing customer or have an enquiry about a service, contact our Customer Servicing Team

    • Need support?

      1800 807 505

      Talk to someone in our health team.

        

      If you need urgent help or are in an emergency, please dial 000.

      Alternatively please call:

      Lifeline: 13 11 14

      Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

      Respect Domestic Family Violence Service: 1800 737 732

       

    Send us an email:

    • General enquiry
    • Register for Disability Employment Services
    • Register for a service
    • Feedback and complaints

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Please fill in the contact form below or   Complete a survey

    Recent posts

    MAX Solutions acquires Stirling Institute of Australia
    New Reconciliation Action Plan released
    Jazz’s journey with Voyages
    Jasmyne's first job brightens her future
    Culturally and linguistically diverse workers still struggling to find meaningful employment

    Most popular help and advice

    Jobs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Jobs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Published by MAXSolutions on March 22 2021
     

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on January 5 2021
     

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on December 7 2020
     

    5 ways to sell yourself in a job interview

    5 ways to sell yourself in a job interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on April 27 2020
     
    More articles
    • Find a MAX office near you

      Office

      Our locations

       
    • Register with us

      Edit

      Register now

       
    • Talk to someone now

      Call

      Contact us

       
    • Let us know how we're doing

      Feedback

      Feedback

       
    Providing employment, disability and training services

    Providing employment, disability and training services in suburban and regional areas across Australia including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Canberra.

    Providing employment, disability and training services

    iso

    Ensuring your safety and support

    If you need help or support, our offices are a safe environment.

    Contact us

    Language menu

    • ngôn ngữ tiếng Việt
    • اللغة العربية
    • پښتو ژبه
    • دری
    • 中文 Zhōngwén
    • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ
    • हिन्दी भाषा
    • 中文
    • Wikang Filipino
    • زبان فارسي
    • Language Support

    Footer

    • Home
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
    • Quality
    • Contact
    • Locations
    • Sitemap
    • MAXConnect

    Social Icons

    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube

    © Copyright 2022 MAX Solutions. All rights reserved Registered Training Organisation: 0667

    Ask a question