"I needed a reference though ... it was just a case of getting some practice and building my confidence."
While volunteering, she heard about Seekers looking for staff and soon got work with SaveMart.
She advises others looking for employment to also take up the offer of help from manager Trudi Jones and other staff at the centre.
"They offer a lot of support but you have to be motivated, reliable and committed. You have to be dependable or you let people down. It's just like a job ... They can give you a reference and say whether you are capable or not. You can say anything to get a job but the proof is in the pudding," she said.
Ms Jones said she was pleased Mrs Nolan had found employment but sad to be losing a good volunteer.
"She is motivated and will do well. We have a lot of good workers but we keep losing them because they get a job. It's good though. This is why we are here."
Currently, Ms Jones has 23 people volunteering who are looking for work. Two have recently found jobs and another possibly has one.
Centre staff teach the volunteers basic shop assistance and stock-filling skills, how to operate the cash register and Eftpos machine as well as customer service skills.
Ms Jones provides them with a reference and those who are motivated are eventually placed in jobs.
"Employers are reliant on them so they need to be committed," she said.
If you are an employer looking for staff or someone wanting to gain experience or volunteer for the King St centre, call Trudi Jones on (06) 377 2090.
