Battler Deb’s clean start

DEB Brown has no hesitation in calling her career training in commercial grade cleaning a life-changer.

A mere seven months ago she and partner Neil Horsten had spent nine months living in a car along the Barwon River.

Now empowered by a partnership between Gordon TAFE, SalvoConnect and St Laurence, Ms Brown is enjoying not only the wage provided by employment, but also the fulfilment.

She and Mr Horsten have completed a sixweek pilot Certificate II Asset Maintenance training program at SalvoConnect in Bel- mont, which provides an ideal learning ground with its commercial kitchen, accommodation rooms and administration areas requiring cleaning.

‘‘ It’s fantastic, it’s been really, really good,’’ Ms Brown said.

‘‘Being homeless is a real eye-opener. ‘‘ It’s an experience you d o n ’ t want t o g o through again. I’m hoping now to get into either aged care or counselling,’’ she said.

Ms Brown cleans at SalvoConnect and has also started working mornings at Kmart Corio.

‘‘I love keeping myself busy.

‘‘It’s not a lot, but it’s something in the bank and it’s been good,’’ she said.

Tutor Michael Boerner has led 10 people facing issues including homelessness and disability through the course and another is scheduled for next month.

SalvoConnect network director Lisa Dalla- Zuanna said results of the course might be powerful.

‘‘Perhaps the greatest outcome from the program is the empowerment to head to a better place, to secure appropriate longterm housing and further independence, ultimately breaking the cycle of homelessness,’’ Ms DallaZuanna said.

Ms Brown and Mr Horsten found emergency accommodation at SalvoConnect in May.