Jaxon
Jaxon began his service with Youth Options in August 2022 and wanted to enhance his independence through the development of his communication skills, employability skills, and his adaptability as part of his pathway to employment preparedness. In the two years to date he has been empowered by the following services while he completes his bachelor degree in psychology.
Holistic Service Design
We have facilitated Jaxon’s development of his: communication and social skills through our Dungeon’s and Dragon’s communication skills for employment program; his adaptability and growth mindset through our resilience program; his employability skills and technical skills for part time work in the hospitality industry in our barista skills program; and his driving skills through our Drive Me program. These services have supported Jaxon to develop his confidence, resilience and skills in many areas. Not only has this greater enhanced his readiness for employment but it has helped him be clearer on what he wants from life and how to achieve it.
Cultivation of longer-term capacity and opportunity
In July 2024, Jaxon achieved his driver’s licence through our Drive Me program as a key milestone in his journey towards a career pathway. Having a driver’s licence empowers him with a more convenient and efficient way to travel in the community. Longer term it also increases his eligibility for a greater variety and depth of higher paid jobs which often require a driver’s licence. It is for this reason Youth Options offer’s our Drive Me program as part of our holistic and independence focussed capacity building service model.
Transition to Employment
So impressed were we with Jaxon’s attention to detail, problem solving, and blossoming demeanour, we have employed him in a front of house administration role. He has showcased the development of his skills from his ability to fulfill his responsibilities on reception as well as taking care of record keeping and database maintenance. He has also supported our NDIS with conducting research for our practice framework resource suite. We are excited about his working future and look forward to his transition to employment in a career of his choice when he completes his degree.”
Carter
Carter arrived in our service in June 2022 wanting to add to his employment history in Darwin where he worked as a barista and to develop his confidence in his working future. Over 24 months he was empowered through the below services to be ready to transition to employment.
Employment Preparedness
Starting in our career development program, he explored what types of hospitality work and employers he wanted to work with and developed a plan to achieve this. This included building his work preparedness by refining his barista skills, customer service skills, and employability skills. He did this in a simulated work environment through our very small group barista skills program where he received individualised guidance from our mentor with industry experience. He also achieved his responsible serving of alcohol (RSA) certificate through our SA Government grant funded HOSPO Prepped program as part of his re-entry into the hospitality industry in Adelaide.
A Responsive Service Design
During this time we were asked to empower him to build his confidence and skills to independently catch public transport from his home to our training facility in the Adelaide CBD. In eight weeks not only did Carter experience greater independence and confidence when travelling, he also eliminated the need to fund travel supports. These savings empowered him to use his NDIS funding to invest in other services and strengthen his capacity and longer-term independence.
Developing Partnerships for Employment Transition
Our career development mentor used their deep insights of Carter and his employment goals to connect him to suitable work experience. This included work experience with SkyCity in the Adelaide CBD where the mentor negotiated an individualised placement tailored to Carter. So successful was this experience, they have employed Carter in one of their restaurants. They have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment and capability to set Carter’s employment up for success and have remained individualised in their support of him in the workplace.
As part of our wrap around model to sustain Carter’s employment, we have also invited our DES partner Multiple Solutions to support Carter as part of his success story. Their employment consultants are collaboratively supporting him as a model of support that allows each service to bring their unique skill set for the same client focussed end result.
