Sydney Employment Development Service
Robert Chanelian
“From the outset, everyone has been very understanding and helpful.” This is how SEDS client Robert Chanelian describes the response
of his employer and his co-workers when he started working at the Public Trustee over three years ago.
Robert, 32, has multiple sclerosis and works in the Trust Service Centre of
the Public Trustee’s Sydney Central office. Amongst other services, The
Public Trustee helps clients to make wills, and manages trusts and estates.
“I really can’t fault them,” said Robert. “They make any changes that
I need
to my desk or other things. They’ve gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable and assist me in any way they can.”
But finding work is not the only positive change in Robert’s life in the past few years. He and his wife Natalie
are the proud parents of Aron - an energetic three year old. Since the birth of his son, Robert feels that he has become calmer and more patient. This is reflected in his work, where he is more thorough and makes fewer mistakes.
Work has also been an extremely important factor for Robert in helping him to deal with his disability. He believes that work is particularly important in contributing to the self-esteem and sense of achievement of people with disabilities.
“With my disability, I think it’s important that I use my brain. I’m keeping my brain active by working. If I don’t use it,
I’ll lose it. That’s one of the reasons why I like working.”
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