EastCoast HR Group has approached prominent and everyday Sunny Coasters about their careers. Follow our Friday Feature to find out what inspires those around to go to work every day!
Kerrie Atherton – Founder of EMPOWER Life Solutions, Book author of Stories of HOPE Australia https://empowerlifesolutions.com.au/.
What was your first job?
I was a receptionist/secretary for a small publishing company called “Inside Tourism”. It was located in a tiny building on top of a shop next to the Orient Hotel at the Rocks in Sydney.
Who are the people that have made the biggest difference in your career and why?
Nobody from my work life really but more my father. Aside from my work in offices in Sydney and in sales once I moved to Newcastle, much of what I do has been in a voluntary capacity helping people. My dad had a profound effect on shaping the way I see life and the inner rewards of giving of myself in service to others to help make their lives better. Once I moved to the Sunshine Coast 15 years ago, I completed my ‘Diploma of Community Welfare and Counselling’. My trainer personally employed me to work for her and run her program for troubled teens in high schools on the Sunshine Coast. The fact that she was willing to employ me, really encouraged me and made a big difference in the way I saw myself. It caused me to realise that I was gifted as a counsellor and had attributes that would really be able to help others. Since that day as well as my counselling coaching work, and all the voluntary work I do, I have continued presenting in schools and had a deep passion to help young people find HOPE.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
To start out the way I would like to finish. Also, don’t over commit myself to my own detriment and give myself room and space to move.
Think back to five years ago. Did you envision your career as it is today?
Not at all. Five years ago, I was counselling part time as a trauma and addictions counsellor, (something I still do today and something I absolutely love), and also working as a school based chaplain. My work as a chaplain was the most difficult job I have ever undertaken and an extremely lonely one where I felt very isolated with little support. It did however teach me how to endure through very difficult circumstances and taught me great resilience and really built my capacity to cope with challenges and taught me how to work under great pressure. It built into me stealth and strength I never knew I had.
I moved into that line of work as a result of the programs I was running with troubled teens in schools. I would go in weekly for one and a half hours and work with these girls who had been through the hardest times in life, but I would be exiting after 8 weeks when the program was over. Often on week two, I would run a class on what support they have in their lives and who they could rely on. On many occasions, these girls would nominate me as their main level of support. I found this very devastating as it made me realise that they really had no constant in their lives and I would also soon be another person moving on. After seeing the way their chaplains cared for them week after week, I decided I wanted to be permanently based in a school where I could build long term relationships, and have a solid impact on the lives of these young people providing ongoing support. I was warned it would be an extremely tough job but I was up for it. I lasted six years. I left that job just over four years ago. My mum had died, and my father was also dying. The next two years I was in the wilderness so to speak and totally lacked direction. After going through a long period of grief I hit rock bottom. I became so low that I couldn’t see the way up. After a period of two months of literally doing nothing I came to a fork in the road so to speak. Determined to not be defeated by the circumstances of those past few years, I knew that I had to use my difficult circumstances to change other people’s lives for good. That My pain would not be in vain, and that I would use it for other gain. Four months later on the 31st of January 2017, I started Stories of HOPE Australia and I have never looked back. It has been the most fulfilling time of my life and one that I know has only been made possible by the difficult times and challenges I have faced and emerged from in my own life. Now I have deep desire not only to continue running monthly events where I showcase others who have also overcome challenges, but where I can touch the masses by engaging audiences as an inspirational speaker sharing my own stories and the triumph over the many things I have overcome. I really am living proof that anything is possible.
How do you approach work – life balance?
That’s an interesting question. I have to say honestly, that I don’t really. Because I work in the people industry where my work is also my purpose and passion and I live and breath what I do, I often don’t have an off button other than when I am asleep. Having said that, because I spend a lot of time helping others, I have good boundaries and I make sure that I spend much quality time with people who lift me up, energise me and who encourage me to be the best I can be for others.
What is your proudest moment in your career?
There were two! The day I held my first event ever. It was such a huge step for me because I had always battled fear of rejection and humiliation, and I never really believed in myself or my abilites. Fear had always held me back from going through with my dreams. This was the day when I was prepared to lay it all on the line, and the fear of not carrying out my dream became greater than the fear of attempting to do it. I really believed that only five friends would turn up but I was happy if I could reach just one person. That night 30 people walked in the room and I stood up with tears in my eyes as I shared my vision to bring HOPE to lives in our community with all who were present in the room. My dream had just become a reality. It was the greatest feeling in the world. The next was the 28th Feb 2019, the day I launched my book. The Sunshine Coast Council put my book launch on for me and the Channel 7 news filmed it. I was absolutely humbled and blown away by the level of support for the work I was doing in the community. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me and continues on this journey with me. My mantra is this! ‘Its all about the ones’. If we can change one life, we never know what a world changer that one person will go on to be. With suicide rates so high and connection levels so low, this is the driving force behind everything I do. I never want anyone to get so low or so lonely that they want to check out of this world. Therefore by providing a platform like I have with Stories of HOPE Australia, it not only provides inspiration, encouragement and HOPE but provides true connection. Together really is better. That way nobody has to do life alone.
