For parents, returning to the workforce can be challenging.

Although her journey has not been fast, Cootamundra local Natalie Wilson said that being supported by her jobactive provider has pushed her further than she had ever expected.

Joining with Sureway Employment & Training when her youngest child turned eight, Natalie was unsure of the direction she would like to take when re-entering the work force.

A struggle that faces many parents, Natalie also discussed various barriers she felt stood in her way to finding sustainable employment.

However, with support from employment consultant, Kristy Manning, the two worked together to build Natalie's confidence to ensure she could put her best foot forward.

"I always reinforce that it is not necessarily about what you have done but more about what you can do," Mrs Manning said.

After expressing an interest in traffic control, Mrs Manning arranged for Natalie to complete the next available course where she absolutely thrived on her new skill set.

"Natalie was so motivated after gaining her Traffic Control License that she traveled to both Young and Wagga Wagga seeking work," Mrs Manning said.

"She really showed me that week that she wanted this, and she was working hard for it."

Soon after a partnership between Sureway Cootamundra and a number of local NBN Contractors presented Natalie's lucky break.

"As we worked through their staffing needs we got to traffic controllers," Mrs Manning said.

"I couldn't wait to tell them that we had the happiest traffic controller on earth ready to work."

As part of her induction, Natalie completed a number of courses and licensing requirements which was "leaps and bounds" ahead of the career path that Natalie expected to take when she first came to Sureway.

Natalie's contracted employment on the NBN install ended, and she is pursuing further heavy vehicle machinery licenses to help her on her way to her ultimate dream of securing full-time work with Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council.