Meet Australia’s best employment consultant.
Caroline Springs resident Irene Sazdov has been named National Employment Consultant of the Year at the National Employment Services Association awards in Queensland.
The 49-year-old is a specialist Indigenous employment consultant, who is based at Werribee, but works across the state.
Ms Sazdov, who is of Aboriginal-Serbian heritage, said she was thrilled to win.
“It is a big deal,” she said. “It’s nice to be recognised at a high level, not only for myself, but also for the Indigenous community.
“Helping the Indigenous community, it’s about the holistic approach, it’s not just about getting them employment – it’s about peeling back all the layers and making sure they’re getting appropriate support,” Ms Sazdov said.
Growing up in the mining towns of Coober Pedy and Andamooka, Ms Sazdov understands first-hand the challenges facing Indigenous communities.
However, it was only after becoming an employment consultant that she decided to focus on helping forge new job opportunities for Australia’s first peoples.
Most recently, Ms Sazdov has been running a unique training program, Deadly Yakka, across Victoria and Queensland.
The program helps job seekers set goals and personal development aims, develop life skills, interview advice, cultural awareness training, workplace expectations and job search skills.
