Todds story: Motivated by what matters most

Todd Herring admits he didn’t know where his life was headed when he first made contact with IntoJobs Rockhampton in August 2025.

Todd had been out of work since the mother of his daughter passed away in 2024. Becoming a full-time single father meant putting employment aside while he helped his then eight-year-old daughter settle into a new town and school.

When he felt ready to return to work, Todd found he needed support to navigate the process.

IntoJobs Mobile Employment Consultant Amanda Simpson remembers there were several barriers holding Todd back when they first sat down to make a plan.

“I could see Todd was a motivated guy but his mental health had taken a hit. When you’re dealing with loss and have that huge responsibility, it can be exhausting. We wanted to tap into the drive he clearly had to do what’s best for himself and his little girl,” Amanda said.

IntoJobs (delivered by MRAEL) helped update Todd’s resume and complete training that aligned with his work goals, including Confined Space, Elevated Work Platform and Working at Heights certifications. He also participated in a Match Fit Resilience Day to help with motivation and to prepare for returning to work.

As he progressed through the training, Todd’s confidence grew and he began to recognise the skills and experience he could bring to a workplace. Rather than feeling like he had to manage everything alone, Todd knew he had people he could turn to when he needed guidance.

His efforts soon paid off when he secured a labouring role with Heritage Minerals.

“They were awesome,” Todd said of the IntoJobs team. “I feel on top of the world. I feel like I’ve got a purpose again. It’s just… morale boosting, I suppose.”

The Monday-to-Friday role gives him the stability of regular employment while allowing him to finish by 3pm and spend weekends with his daughter.

“She’s my little minion,” Todd said. “It took a while to get her settled in a new town and a new school. But now she’s going great guns.”

Todd has found a renewed determination to succeed. The stability of regular employment has restored a sense of direction that had been missing during one of the most difficult periods of his life.

“If you want something in life, you’ve got to try. You’ve got to go for it. You can’t sit there and dwell. You can’t get under it, so you’ve got to get over it and move forward.”