Anna's Story.

WORK WORK

Trigger warning; this brave story discusses assault, homelessness and mental health challenges. Please read with care.

A friend said, you’ve thrived since you've been at Two Good; you're a different person. And it's true.

“I've never been so happy.”

Everyone at Two Good has made me feel so at ease. They’ve been like my second family. They’ve taught me not to panic. When I do have anxiety attacks, they've taught me how to breathe my way through it. How to take care of myself in a busy environment, and then be able to rejoin the team and finish my day.

It’s helped me so much with my anxiety and my depression, and how to be more aware of how I move through the world and the workplace - how I interact with others. I can control my feelings, now; I can think before I act.

Work Work was a challenge, at first - I could not imagine having the skills that I have today. I wouldn't even go near a knife. I’ve worked in cafes before, but I was never backstage - learning the skills of how to prep fruit and vegetables, how to help produce big orders, the right way to read and follow recipes. Now, I can say that I'm an experienced kitchen assistant.

Two Good really take care of you. They think about everything - they even took us to Dress For Success when we were applying for jobs, so we could feel prepared for our interviews. I was a bit worried, I didn't feel like anything would look good on me. But I got a beautiful outfit to, to wear to my interview – I felt really good. And I ended up landing a dream job!

I was a bit sad, realising our time had come to leave - but seeing the new girls coming in and seeing them start their own journey, it reminded me that so many more women will get to experience this now. Which is how it should be.

I’m more secure, I’m more confident. I told one of the new girls - it'll change your life for the better. I can’t thank Two Good enough, for believing in me.

CHANGING THE COURSE

“When I started at Two Good Co, I was going to be homeless.”

I had lost my partner very young in life. He was only 25, and our daughter was only one at the time. I was suddenly a single parent. I managed to raise her on my own, while working full time at RPA hospital as a ward assistant - and somehow, I kept a roof over our heads.

After my daughter grew up and moved out to start a family of her own, I found living on my own incredibly expensive. I couldn't afford the rent, the bills, the food. I ended up in a boarding house, and I was there for a very long time. It was a toxic environment to be in, but it was something.

Then, we were notified that we were being evicted - in three weeks’ time. I thought, what am I going to do? I'm going to be homeless.

I was put in touch with Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (NNC) - I was lucky to be rehomed quickly, and felt so much safer in my own place, after living in the boarding house. But I struggled with staying at home all week – I told my support person at NNC, ‘I need to go out and work’.

So they told me about Two Good, they helped me apply… and I began a journey that I'll never forget.

Two Good has made me feel safe. Which has been something I haven’t felt in a very long time. A couple of years ago, I was severely attacked by one of the residents at the boarding house I was living in.

I was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time. He caught me from behind. I needed 14 stitches in my head, I had a fractured wrist…I thought he was going to kill me.

I had to move in with my daughter while I recovered from my injuries. I felt like I’d failed her, I felt so embarrassed that I needed so much support. But she said, no, Mum; I'm here to look after you. I had to get used to be taken care of, after so many years of being the one who cared for everyone.

Slowly, I healed – but I was scared for a long time after that. Scared to go out of a night time, or even leave the house at all. I'd gone from a fairly resilient person, to a very frightened person, always watching my back and expecting the worst. My anxiety and my depression sky-rocketed - I'd lost all trust.

I can actually tell that story without breaking down, now. That’s how much confidence I've built, since being at Two Good. They’ve made me feel so safe and secure.

“…I'm not scared anymore.”

My daughter said, “Mum, I'm so proud of you for what you've achieved with Two Good - you've just turned into this amazing person.” She’s very, very educated and talented, my daughter. She helps me out with things, if I’m struggling on computers or phone things – but she helps me do it myself. She says, “how are you going to learn otherwise?”. So it means a lot, for her to be proud of me now.

She came to my graduation for the Cook & Connect program – which was a big moment for me. I've worked all my life, but I've never received a graduation certificate in anything. I actually framed it – and I’ll be framing my Work Work Graduation Certificate, too.

I’m proud of myself, completing the program and staying so determined. I've not had a day off since I've been here - my attendance is 100%. I’m so proud of what we do here, too. I get stopped in the street on the way home, just because I was in my Two Good T-shirt – they’ve had their meals, or they want to know more.

It's been a lot of hard work, and it's pushed a lot of boundaries. But it’s made me grow.

I’m in love with life again.

TWOMORROW.

My experience at Two Good has been a blessing. It's given me so much experience I've never had before - which has now got me to a position that I've always wanted, working in the Chris O'Brien Lighthouse kitchen at RPA, handing out meals to patients.

I used to be a ward assistant at RPA, back in 1986 - I’m excited to be back around patients. Especially in a food capacity – I’m looking forward to being able to give them a bit of comfort. It was my favourite part of the job, all those years ago. I remember one patient – a young boy, only 20, blind. He’d just had neurosurgery, because he was having seizures all the time, and his parents weren’t able to travel to visit often - I took him under my wing. He’d have his cries, and I'd be there with a shoulder for him. His parents ended up invited me to their home for his 21st.

I know it'll be a challenge to learn a new kitchen environment - but I won't be as nervous as when I first started here. Two Good has brought me a lot of confidence in myself. And I love my food, coming from an Italian background; cooking all those shelter meals has reminded me of the power of a warm meal for someone who’s struggling.

“I hope I can take some of that magic back to the wards.”