For the past 14-months, Ms O’Shae, 57, has been searching for a job and had come across hurdle after hurdle in her attempt to get back into the workforce.

“I just want to let people know what a person of my age, with good qualifications and life skills has to do to find a job – it is just so demoralising,” she said.

The former senior youth worker for Kiama Council has been looking for a new job for the past 14-months after a restructure of the Australian Red Cross, where she had worked for seven years, pushed her out of the workforce when her position was made redundant.

“I was the community services coordinator for the Southern Region and when I was put off I just thought ‘oh well, I’ll just get another job,’ but I was wrong,” Ms O’Shae said.

“It’s just been one disappointment after the other.

“I still have another good 10 years of working life in me but I just can’t get a break,” she said.

One of the saddest revelations that she has discovered during the last 14 months is the disheartening changes to current work practices.

“With all the forms of communication now available, it is just upsetting that applicants do not ever receive notification that their application has been received and even more dispiriting is the fact that applicants are not worthy enough to receive notification that their applications were not successful.

“This really hurts. Most people at 57 have got both work skills and a great work ethic, but can’t even get their foot in the door.”

On several occasions she has contacted prospective employers to see if she had been successful and they said that if they had spoken to her in person, she would have been granted an interview.

“It is so hard to sell your personality and qualifications in written form,’ she said.

“I feel I’ve got so much to offer and I just want to make people aware of how hard it is for people around my age.”

She also said that of the little feedback she received, Ms O’Shae felt the misconception was that she was either over-qualified or that she has reached retirement age.