Finding My Place Again: A New Chapter in Work and Purpose

When the Arts Wellbeing Collective was shut down, it was a big blow — not just for me, but for the team and the performing arts industry more broadly.

The last few months have brought a lot of unexpected changes... some joyful, some difficult, and some that left me wondering what would come next.

When the Arts Wellbeing Collective was shut down, it was a big blow — not just for me, but for the team and the performing arts industry more broadly. We had poured our hearts into that work, and for many of us, losing it felt like losing a part of ourselves. I’m still processing the full ramifications of this closure, and I’ll share more about it when the time feels right.

At the same time, I had been reflecting deeply on the kind of work and workplaces I wanted to be part of moving forward. I realised I wanted to align with environments where wellbeing, leadership, and culture were truly lived values, not just words.

Truthfully, I felt a bit lost for a little while. In many ways, I still do. I know I have so much to give, but finding the right way forward, especially after a season of change, takes time.

I've realised that knowing your purpose and living out your purpose are two different things.

I've realised that knowing your purpose and living out your purpose are two different things. I have a strong sense of purpose, but figuring out how to bring it to life in ways that help people takes patience. I want to make full use of my strengths and experience, and part of that journey is recognising where I can add value, and where, sometimes, the best thing is to step back.

Breakaway Youth has become a steady foundation for me, offering both meaningful work and consistency as I build the next part of my path. It’s part of why I’ve been a little quieter lately. Sometimes, we need to retreat for a while — to listen, to learn, to figure things out. And that’s OK. Growth often happens in the quiet spaces, long before the results are visible.

Just before Christmas last year, I visited Breakaway Youth to reconnect and catch up with the director. We had a conversation that changed everything and led to a win-win. They needed someone to manage daily operations, improve workflows, and strengthen systems from a workplace wellbeing perspective. And with my background and experience, it was a natural fit. 

I stepped into a new role as Program Operations, helping the team work more efficiently, reducing stress, and creating hands-on solutions that directly impact the team's performance and wellbeing.

By February, I stepped into a new role as Program Operations, helping the team work more efficiently, reducing stress, and creating hands-on solutions that directly impact the team's performance and wellbeing. At this point, you might be thinking, 'Wait, but Breakaway isn't an arts organisation!' Yes, my dear reader, you are quite right, and I would not have it any other way, because I am learning so much about myself and how to help people. 

For example, it clicked for me that I'm a gun at work processes: spotting what's not working, smoothing out the bottlenecks, and making the day-to-day flow better for everyone. There’s something deeply satisfying about finding and removing the "pebbles in the cog", which are those small blockages that, once cleared, allow the whole system (and the people within it) to thrive.

One of my mantras has always been: "Find a job where you can get paid to learn."

You see, one of my mantras has always been: "Find a job where you can get paid to learn." Breakaway Youth has offered me that opportunity not just once, but twice. The first time, I was given the chance to learn grant writing from scratch. They trusted me to figure it out, and I did. Now, I’m being paid to learn how to create stronger work systems, identify stress points, and spot leverage points for real change in teams. It’s work that stretches and grows me, and it’s work I know I can help others with, too.

This new chapter isn’t just about finding a new job. It’s about finding my place again in my work, in purpose, and in a culture that values people first.

I'm learning that living out your purpose sometimes means doing work you never expected and finding meaning in places you never thought to look.

I'm learning that living out your purpose sometimes means doing work you never expected and finding meaning in places you never thought to look. I'm passionate about inspiring and empowering people, and now I get to do that through creating better systems and processes that make work life lighter for others.

What strengths or skills have you discovered that can be part of your purpose, even if they weren't what you first imagined?