Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and suffering from severe bouts of depression and anxiety, the prospect of the future often felt daunting and all-consuming for Robert, but it was the advice of a teacher that guided him in a positive direction.
“Being neurodiverse, the idea of planning a future and finding employment was very nerve-wracking, and I experienced a lot of anxiety when thinking about job applications. My teacher, Jan, suggested I visit WISE Employment in preparation for graduation and finding work, and to talk through the anxiety I was feeling,” says Robert.
Robert was paired with WISE Employment Consultants Eddie and Christine through the Integrated Practical Placement Program (IPP) to assist him in finding new employment opportunities.
“When Robert joined WISE, it was clear he was extremely intelligent and high functioning, but there were social aspects he found overwhelming. His demeanor was quite reserved and withdrawn, you could see he was feeling very nervous,” says Christine.
“Routine was very important to him, from the minute he woke up to the moment he fell asleep. Everything needed to be planned otherwise he would really struggle.”
Having already completed the Holmesglen Integrated Practical Placement Program at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne – a program providing practical skills for people with disability – Robert was equipped with skills that he could put on his resume for future job applications.
Christine and Eddie worked closely with Robert to break down daily tasks in preparation for working life, assuring him that when you map out steps to action, the task doesn’t feel as overwhelming.
The next steps were uncovering Robert’s ambitions, identifying the right work setting and practising interview techniques to alleviate the pressure when an employment opportunity came around.
“I used to think nobody would pause during an interview – that to succeed, you had to have all the answers and be able to rattle them off quickly. Catherine and Eddie showed me it’s okay to pause, take a breath, and search for the answer,” says Robert.
“I learned to go easy on myself. Technique comes naturally with practice. Christine and Eddie really helped me to be patient and build my confidence.”
Once he felt comfortable, Robert applied for a placement position at employment agency G-Force to complete his Business Traineeship through Deakin University.
“Robert was so prepared for the interview that he barely even needed our help!” Christine laughed.
“He felt ready, and had rehearsed so many times that he aced the interview and they offered it to him on the spot. It turns out, all he needed was a bit of emotional and moral support.”
Having now worked at G-Force for a few months, Robert admits his quality of life has changed far more than he expected.
“I’ve noticed I’m a lot happier and more productive. I’m even sleeping better!”
“Having a great employer and friendly colleagues allows me to work on my social skills and connect with people, many of which have turned into friendships.”
Christine feels proud of how far Robert has come, noticing a huge change in his outlook on life.
“His communication skills have improved so much since the beginning. He now speaks comfortably with different people of all demographics and we look forward to seeing how much further he goes,” says Christine.
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