Adversity to Advocacy: Ian’s Mentorship Role Shaping Future Leaders

Ian, who is a 40-year-old from Dungog, NSW, is blind in both eyes. His life took a drastic turn at age 21 when he was wounded by a bullet that struck his face. The injury led to the loss of his left eye and damaged the optic nerve in his right eye, resulting in total blindness. Ian adapted remarkably well to this major life shift, and he credits Vision Australia and Guide Dogs Australia for their support to learn new life skills.

Originally aspiring to become a tattoo artist, Ian's blindness forced him to reconsider his career path. Ian hadn’t completed high school, so he returned to finish his education. Determined to make a positive impact, he decided to focus on community service, particularly working with young people. He went on to complete a Certificate IV in Youth Work, a Diploma in Community Services, and a Diploma in Child and Youth Family Intervention, setting himself up for a career in this sector.

A new path with Castle

Ian began working with blind and vision-impaired students at a local high school, supporting and mentoring them, but after the students graduated Ian found himself unemployed. Unhappy with the support from his then-employment provider, a friend recommended Castle. In 2021, Ian switched to Castle, where he found the support and encouragement he needed.

"I’d never interviewed for a job before, had never done a job interview before coming to Castle," Ian says, as he remembers he was initially very nervous about employment opportunities.

"Losing my sight, I didn’t know what I was capable of. The staff at Castle aimed higher for me than I thought I would be capable of – they believed in me."

The Castle team recognised Ian’s potential to thrive. As part of his job readiness support, they introduced Ian to the recruitment process and helped him practise by doing mock interviews.

"Losing my sight, I didn’t know what I was capable of. The staff at Castle aimed higher for me than I thought I would be capable of – they believed in me." 
Ian Clements

Finding a home at Top Blokes Foundation

With Castle's help, Ian secured a position at Top Blokes Foundation. The organisation’s young, energetic and inclusive culture resonated with Ian, who sees himself there for the long term.

Ian’s work at Top Blokes involves delivering workshops on topics like healthy masculinity, relationships, sexual health, mental health and anger management. He mentors students in high schools, helping them develop life skills not typically covered in the school curriculum.

“Ian is continually growing in his role as a mentor. He is genuinely interested in his colleagues and cares about their lives, and this is no different for the young men he works with. Ian brings a unique story that allows the boys to see a real-life example of resilience, which is a consistent theme in our program,” says Aaron Driscoll, Top Blokes’ Regional Coordinator.

"Ian brings a unique story that allows the boys to see a real-life example of resilience, which is a consistent theme in our program"

Aaron Driscoll, Top Blokes’ Regional Coordinator

Ian continues to be supported by Castle. The Castle team work closely with Ian and Top Blokes to ensure Ian’s ongoing job training and workplace accommodations, such as software compatibility with screen readers, are seamlessly adapted to his needs.

“Ian is the first employee we’ve had who is blind. We continue to work with Castle and Ian to ensure we’re supporting him in the best way. Ian has become an integral part of our team in the Hunter Valley and we are very grateful to have him on board,” says Aaron.

Teaching the power of privilege

A part of Ian's mentoring involves discussing the concept of privilege with the boys he mentors. He helps them understand how various privileges—such as access to public transport, healthcare, or the ability to communicate in the dominant language—are not available to everyone. He also addresses gendered privileges, the right to practise one's faith, and the ability to participate in sports.

"It’s nice to support these boys to recognise that some people are born with all the privileges, that they themselves might have more privileges than others, and to encourage them to become the type of individuals that want to help others," Ian says. Through these discussions, Ian aims to foster empathy and social responsibility among his mentees.

Going above and beyond

Beyond his role as a youth worker, Ian is passionate about supporting Top Blokes’ fundraising activities. He has previously helped at fundraising events and continues to contribute his ideas towards the organisation’s efforts.

"I have lots of ideas to help Top Blokes raise their funding," Ian says, reflecting on his previous fundraising experience. Ten years ago, he organised a successful fundraiser for his niece who had cancer, raising nearly $10,000.

The impact of Ian’s work

Casey Payne, Ian’s case officer at Castle, says: “It’s been a pleasure to see Ian’s true passion for work and to notice his increasing confidence. This role gives Ian an outlet for his genuine, creative and quick-witted personality to shine.”

Ian’s story is a testament to his resilience, determination and the support from Castle. His journey from overcoming personal adversity to becoming a respected youth worker at Top Blokes Foundation is inspiration to many.

Castle is proud to continue supporting Ian and Top Blokes on this career journey.