Eighteen-year-old Alex Flutey-Rowe is the 12th Active in HELL (AiH) trainee to graduate from HELL Newlands in Wellington – and she has used her experience to land contract work in a range of commercial kitchens.
Newlands manager Ranie Liua'ana says Alex was incredibly easy to work with and wasn’t surprised that she walked into a job after graduation.
“Alex is so bubbly and super independent; she got through all the work with a smile and without asking for heaps of direction.
“I just had to show her how to do something once or twice and she was away.”
Learning came easily to Alex, who completed her shifts with a fellow AiH trainee – something Ranie says was beneficial to both of them.
“Alex would pass the info on to our other trainee – she was a real leader – which helped her gain confidence through her teaching.”
Alex agrees: “Active in HELL definitely helped me grow my confidence. I was pretty nervous at the start but now I know I can do the work – plus the interview I had with Ranie before my placement really helped me feel less nervous about the interview I had for my current job.”
She also displayed impressive determination getting to her shifts, taking a train and two buses to get to work from her home in Upper Hutt.
Now working in her dream job as a contractor in various rest home kitchens, Alex says her experience in Newlands was absolutely priceless and gave her the tools she needed to secure her new position.
“It taught me how to behave in a workplace, and it also taught me how to prepare food, about how to stay safe and have good hygiene in a kitchen.”
Alex can now walk through her front door with a new sense of independence and pride.
“I was so proud when I got my first paycheck! I can now help out my parents and chip in with my fair share, which I really want to do as family is really important to me.”
Alex’s personality lends itself perfectly to working in the care sector – she says it’s a brilliant place for her.
“I love looking after people and working in a team environment, so a care home is the dream job for me.”
Outside of work, Alex has plenty of volunteer experience working with kids and young adults, and loves video games and Netflix – recently completing Grand Theft Auto V and is saving up for the latest Tony Hawke PS4 game.
HELL Newlands continues to inspire young people and provide them with a path to permanent employment. Alex is the branch’s latest success story and looks set to inspire the next generation of Active in HELL trainees!