Amy shows how IMPACT grows its own

When Amy Macdonald first connected with IMPACT Community Services as a teenager, she was looking for a way into the workforce; she didn’t realise she was starting a seven‑year journey of growth.

That journey reflects IMPACT Community Services’ long‑standing commitment to growing its own pipeline of talent, with Amy’s progression from job seeker to Container Refund Point (CRP) and Logistics Supervisor a perfect example.

The organisation was Amy’s job seeker agency when she was a teenager, paving the way for her to upskill through IMPACT’s Certificate I in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. When Amy was working to attain this certificate in late 2018 and early 2019, her supervisor saw her potential.

Keen to see her grow alongside the organisation, he recommended her for a position opening at New iMAGE Laundry, one of IMPACT’s commercial social enterprises. The rest is history, with Amy marking seven years with IMPACT in February.

Amy said her four years at New iMAGE Laundry was a gamechanger, helping her understand the working world and giving her the skills she needed to thrive.  

“I was 17 when I started there. It was all new to me,” Amy said. “I built my confidence in the workforce and got used to having regular work time.”

During her time at the laundry, Amy also began working Saturdays at IMPACT’s University Drive CRP, broadening her experience and helping her purchase her first home.

After leaving the laundry, Amy continued her Saturday shifts with IMPACT while working full‑time in the technology sector. Before long, however, she realised that recycling was where her passion truly lay.

She went on to take on additional hours at IMPACT, working casually at the Quanaba CRP until its closure in March 2025, before transferring to the University Drive site. It wasn’t long before a supervisory position became available, and Amy was a shoo‑in for the role.

Amy said her favourite part of the job is the people she works with.

“I like the team. I like that it's active,” she said.  

The opportunities she has for growth and professional development also sweeten the deal. With support and funding from IMPACT, Amy secured her forklift licence mid last year.

Her ambitions don’t stop there, with Amy hoping to soon get her licence to step behind the wheel of IMPACT’s logistics trucks as a fill‑in driver. These trucks collect COEX container cages from the CRP depos that IMPACT services. 

IMPACT Recycling and Collections Manager Gavin Steele said Amy’s journey is a powerful example of what can be achieved when people are given time, trust and opportunity.

“Amy has a very good work ethic and a high level of integrity, and she is not afraid to jump in and do any tasks required,” Gavin said.

“It has been a pleasure to see her take on new responsibilities. She leads by example, which is a great leadership trait.”

It just goes to show that when the right support is in place, potential can turn into long‑term success, not just for individuals like Amy, but for the organisation as a whole.

For more information on IMPACT’s recycling family, visit the IMPACT Recycling Hub website.