Great Abilities
Helping Aussies with disability into employment
Looking for your first job when you leave school, with no employment history, is hard enough.
For 1.2 million Australians* with a communication disability, the challenge is even greater.
Micheal Zink knew it would always be tough getting his first job when he decided to leave school after finishing Year 12 and enter the workforce. After years in the classroom he was eager to find a job where he could do as much work outside as possible. But with no experience and a speech disorder that made simple conversations a struggle, Micheal knew he needed help. Micheal signed up with APM.
Working together with his dedicated employment consultant Nicole, Micheal started a personalised plan to build up his confidence and find a job he could do without the crippling fear of being misunderstood or rejected because of his challenges. As well as helping with resumes and coaching him in interview techniques, Nicole was able to speak to employers looking to hire staff. When she told the owners of Queensland Tractor Spares Ltd in Bundaberg about her dedicated new candidate they were keen to find out more and invited him in for an interview. Nicole spent time with Micheal to prepare him for the big day and went with him to the interview. Micheal made such a good impression that he was quickly offered a role at the company. “The smile that came onto Micheal’s face when Lance asked him to start work it was a very proud moment for me.” As part of APM’s post placement support for job seekers who successfully find employment, Nicole still visits Micheal to make sure everything runs smoothly during his first few months in the workplace. “Micheal is learning new things every day he works and is slowing starting to communicate more with the employer. He’s really coming out of his shell,” Nicole added. Micheal and Nicole worked with his employer to put strategies in place to make sure his speech disorder didn’t impact his ability to work. Such as having clearly written instructions so he remembers what to do and how to ask for help.