As a young adult living with disability, and having graduated from high school a few years ago, it’s safe to say I’ve been thinking about how I can best hone my skills to assist me in gaining employment. As someone who is vision impaired, I already face a barrier when it comes to job access.
Luckily, there are many programs available that offer post-school, disability-focused employment support to people like myself and others who may be struggling—whether it’s working out which job or field is best for them, or developing job-ready skills such as office etiquette and routine.
The program I attend is classified as School Leaver Employment Support (SLES), and like several others, it is funded by the NDIS. It is aimed primarily at young adults with physical and/or intellectual disabilities that may hinder their chances of finding work, and it focuses on refining their strengths while improving areas they may be less familiar with.
This also extends to daily life skills such as cooking and mental health, as well as money skills including budgeting and cash handling, among many other things.
Although most participants at the program have recently finished school, there are also several who are still in their final years of high school and want to get a head start when they graduate alongside their able-bodied peers.
The program also supports older participants who may have past job experience and want to expand on what they already know, or who wish to learn a whole new set of skills for a future career path.
My SLES program runs during the week, with many participants able to choose which days they attend. Each day usually has its own range of activities, both at our factory and out in the community. This flexibility allows participants to attend one, two, three, or more days per week.
This ensures everyone can learn a wide range of skills, no matter which days they choose or how often they attend each week.
In addition to employability skills such as resume writing, job interviews, and workplace etiquette, there are many other areas explored within the SLES program.
Having our own factory space allows us to engage in hands-on activities including woodwork and tool use, horticulture and plant care, self-defence and physical exercise, coffee making and barista training, and my personal favourite—cooking and preparing meals to share.
I’ve always been interested in cooking ever since high school, so this activity appeals to me greatly.
We usually work in small groups depending on attendance numbers, often across multiple activity areas at once. For example, one group may be doing woodwork while another is working in the kitchen.
At other times, we come together as one group for activities like self-defence and life skills, which allows us to learn collectively and ask questions that benefit everyone.
Outside of the factory, we also have weekly days dedicated to gaining experience through volunteering in the community and learning to use public transport independently.
On these days, we split into two groups. One group volunteers at a workplace doing various tasks, while the other group practices using public transport such as trains or buses to travel to nearby locations like shopping centres or parks.
The groups then switch the following week, ensuring everyone gets to experience both aspects of community-based learning.
My favourite day at the program, however, is every second Friday. That’s when we go out as a group to do something fun, such as watching a movie, going swimming, or playing games.
These days are without a doubt the highlight of the program for me—not just because of the activities themselves, but because I’m doing them with friends and building deeper connections at the same time.
In many ways, I believe that’s what SLES is really about: forming friendships and gaining lifelong connections with people who understand and relate to one another.
Alongside all the group-based learning, the program also supports individuals with gaining employment in industries that interest them.
I know several participants who have secured employment—whether voluntary, casual, or part-time—with help from SLES staff through personal connections and outreach to businesses suited to each individual.
This shows that the program is not only committed to group learning, but also genuinely invested in supporting each person and identifying the best opportunities available to them.
This is one of the many reasons I am so impressed by, and grateful for, being part of this program.
As a side note, we have also recently launched an online store to sell the crafts and creations made through the program, and we now prepare coffees and hot chocolates to sell within the local community.
This has further strengthened our communication and retail skills, adding to the already extensive skill set we’ve developed thanks to the program and its ambitious, patient, and understanding trainers.
If you’ve been reading this and have someone in mind who you believe would benefit from an SLES or similar disability employment support program—whether it’s yourself, a friend, or a family member—I strongly encourage you to look into it further.
It’s a fantastic way to build new job and life skills, while also improving existing skills that may need strengthening.
The NDIS funds many of these programs, and they can be accessed depending on the areas included in your plan if you are plan-managed. More information can be found on the NDIS website, or by searching online.
– Sam Valavanis
A List Ambassador
If you’re interested in finding an SLES program, get in touch with us by email at hello@alisthub.com.au.