Meeting new people and making friends can feel difficult when you first join a training program or workplace. But Tristan found that working to overcome his shyness and build friendships really paid off during the pandemic. Read his story below.

At SLES I have made many good friends and allies. At the start I was nervous and very shy but once I started talking to my peers, I found that they were in a similar position to me and that helped me bond with them a little. Once lockdown started, I found talking to them helped to ease my anxieties. We laughed, we cried, and throughout the whole lockdown we were there for each other and we managed to connect and grow alongside each other.

Each individual is special in different ways — from Michael who makes me laugh so hard, to Kyle and Caitlin who both brighten up everyone’s day, to Monica, Roy, Anthony, Aiden, Marcus, Josh, Keyannah, Chloe and Nathan — everyone in SLES has made being in the team a joy. I can’t wait to make more memories with everyone.

Pictured top right: Tristan stands in the centre of the SLES group. They are out on excursion.

To find out more about our SLES program visit our School Leaver Employment Support page.

Want to know if SLES is right for you? Contact one of our friendly team members on 9731 9200 or email us at hello@mambourin.org