Let’s Change Together

My name is Matthew Tonks, and I live in Hobart, Tasmania. In July of 2017 I was made redundant from my place of work because the business had slowly begun to close down ever since the owner passed away in 2015. Initially I thought it was a great opportunity for me to spend time with my 4 year old daughter before she started kindergarten this year. As of this moment, as we enter February of 2018 I have still be unable to find myself a position even though I am regularly applying for jobs within my vicinity of expertise. To date out of the 63 Jobs I’ve applied for since September I have had 3 interviews, 1 meet and greet that should’ve led to the first job I’ve really got excited about since leaving my previous employment, and several phone interviews that have not worked out. Simply put I don’t know what it is I’m doing wrong, I worked my way from a Service Attendant to General Manager of my former place of employment and amassed many skills and abilities as well as a diploma in management along the way, but these have yet to wield anything for me. So I have decided to take a different avenue, as I will now have to start applying for anything and everything as I need to work for bills will not pay themselves and centerlink have not been forthcoming with assistance.

So today, I challenge not only myself, but the very way we employ people in today’s society.

I challenge the job agencies that have deep POOL’S filled with people wanting employment.

I challenge the business of not only Hobart, but the business around Australia to sit up and take note.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS!

My challenge is simple.

I believe I can work a day in any retail job, relying on the skills I already have in place to help me.

So if you’re a southern Tasmanian retail business that has a position available, or you just wish to take me up on my challenge, contact me on [email redacted] today and we’ll talk it out and arrange a day. If you’re not a retail business or you’re outside of my area, please still contact me as I might still do it, we just might need a little more forward planning.

Once a day is arranged I’ll come into your business and we’ll sit down with a camera and talk about what the job is, how you think I’ll go, and how you currently employ staff.

Then it’s the fun part, I’ll work one full day in your place of business in a way to prove that anyone willing to work, can do any job if it’s within their skill set.

At the end of the day we’ll sit down again with a camera and talk once more, and see if either of us have changed the way we see how we employ our staff.

At the end a donation can be made by the employer in lieu of payment to this go fund me page, which will help me support my family and this idea.

Of course if you just want to donate to my cause, it is greatly appreciated and will not only help me pay my bills, but also continue this movement, the campaign total is what I’d like to see raised from the challenge itself over a year period, but if we hit it earlier I’d be absolutely blown away.

We’ll hopefully get some footage of me working each job, but at this moment we’re going to just try and see what we can start off with.

All the videos will be posted on YouTube, Facebook and my personal webpage mtonks.com as they are completed.

We may even make a documentary out of all this one day.

Well, let’s have you Tasmania, give me your challenges!