Getting Ready for Work
What Happens after School?
Families which include an adult member with autism often find the worry, the care and the responsibility increase as the years go on. Criticism has been leveled at the greater amount of attention focused on Early Intervention within the ASD community. In light of this Autism Awareness has added this page on post school options. In this way we hope to keep families with autistic adults informed of the services available. Please email all relevant information we may have missed for inclusion.
FaCSIA: Disability Employment Services
Provides information about Disability Employment programs and services available through the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
http://www.facs.gov.au/sa/disability/progserv/people/Pages/EmploymentPeopleDisability.aspx
Disability Employment Network
The Disability Employment Network (DEN) provides specialist assistance to job seekers with disabilities who require ongoing support to find and maintain employment. DEN is delivered by a network of organisations – large and small – around Australia.
http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Programmes/DEN/DisabilityEmploymentNetwork.htm
JobAccess
For more information about how the Disability Employment Network (DEN) members can help you, or to locate your local service, visit JobAccess for information. It offers workplace solutions for people with a disability and their employers. The information on JobAccess focuses on employment or work related issues and includes a list of links to other disability related sites.
http://www.jobaccess.gov.au/joac/home or phone a JobAccess Adviser on 1800 464 800.
Australian Disability Enterprises
Australian Disability Enterprises enable people with disability to engage in a wide variety of work tasks such as packaging, assembly, production, recycling, screen printing, plant nursery, garden maintenance and landscaping, cleaning services, laundry services and food services. There are over 600 Australian Disability Enterprises Australia-wide, providing real work for more than 20,000 people with disability in a supported environment.
http://www.australiandisabilityenterprises.com.au/
Auties.org
A site to promote the self employment skills of people on the Autistic Spectrum as well as to promote businesses which are considered 'Autism Friendly'.
http://www.auties.org/
NSW
The NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) funds a number of Transition to Work and Community Participation Programs for High School leavers with a disability. A student in Year 12 who wants to join one of these two post-school programs needs to apply to DADHC around September / October. The Transition to Work Program aims to develop skills over 1 to 2 years that may assist a school leaver gain paid employment, vocational education or training. The Community Participation Program teaches life skills and community involvement as an alternative to paid employment. For general information about Post School Programs call 1800 761 030.
Information from the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, "Post School Programs" for 2009 school leavers - http://www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/People+with+a+disability/Post+School+Programs.htm
For information about Post School Programs, contact your DADHC Regional Officer.
Metro North: Martin Daly on (02) 9841 9437
Metro South: Elizabeth Brack on (02) 9334 3748
Northern NSW: Robyn Norris on (02) 6659 1334
Southern NSW: Vivienne Audus on (02) 4251 2002
Western NSW: Stephen Lynch on (02) 6041 7700
Hunter Region: Amanda O'Hara on (02) 4978 6117
Nova Employment - Disability Employment Specialist
Nova is a part of the Disability Employment Network (DEN) and offer job assistance and post placement support to people with a disability. They assist people to identify career goals, develop pre-employment skills, and once employed provide ongoing support. http://www.novaemployment.com.au/
Disability Services Australia (DSA)
Disability Services Australia has a range of employment options and assists people to find work in the open workforce or within a supported employment environment. They also run a Transition to Work program which is a DADHC funded work readiness program.
See www.dsa.org.au
Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia) runs programs under DADHC's Community Participation program and also a social and communication group for adolescents and adults.
Visit http://www.aspect.org.au/our%20services/northsyd_cp.asp
The Junction Works Inc.
Junction Works runs Community Participation programs and Work Preparation Skills designed to help school leavers move to employment or vocational education and training. It services the areas of Liverpool, Fairfield, Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly Shire.
http://thejunctionworks.org/system/index.app?agent_id=1185
Sunnyfield
Sunnyfield Enterprises employs hundreds of people with a disability in a range of roles within the packaging, collating and manufacturing industries. They also run Community Participation programs to promote independence by providing participants with individual support to learn life skills and be included in everyday community activities.
http://www.sunnyfield.com.au/templates/su2/page/page_html_standard.php?secID=1
TAFE NSW
www.tafensw.edu.au or call the Information Centre on 131 601.
Call TAFE Disability Programs on (02) 9244 5089.
Disability Access website: www.det.nsw.edu.au/disabilityaccess
Teacher / Consultants for Students with Disabilities:
TAFE NSW employs specialist Teacher/Consultants for Students with Disabilities to ensure that people with a disability have equal access to education and training at TAFE NSW campuses. Teacher/consultants should be able to inform you about which options, assistance and support may be made available to you for a chosen course. The TAFE NSW website, although comprehensive, does not list all possible courses and options available.
http://www.tafensw.edu.au/students/support/disabilities.htm
Outreach Programs aim to make some TAFE courses more accessible to those with a disability or other barrier to learning. See the below site for TAFE campus locations and contact details for a Teacher / Consultant.
http://www.tafensw.edu.au/students/support/outreach.htm
For some students the TVET program (TAFE Vocational Education and Training) may be suitable. It is designed to give students in Years 11 and 12 a taste of what TAFE can offer. These vocational courses then count toward attaining the HSC.
http://www.tafensw.edu.au/translations/by_document/tvet/
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program (AAAP)
The Australian Apprenticeships Access Program provides training assistance to people who need preliminary training to successfully participate in an Australian Apprenticeship.
https://accesstraining.dest.gov.au/
https://accesstraining.dest.gov.au/Information/Information.aspx
Learner Support assists with numeracy, literacy and communication skills.
http://www.tafensw.edu.au/students/support/tutorial.htm
VICTORIA
Alpha Employment Service (AES)
Alpha specialises in assisting job seekers on the Autism Spectrum with employment preparation, job search, job placement and post-placement support in the open labour market.
http://alpha-employment.org.au/
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Interwork Ltd - Disability Employment, Recruitment and Services
Interwork is a flexible and innovative South Australian specialist employment and training service for people with disabilities and others who experience disadvantages in accessing the open employment market. Our employment, vocational training and personal support services help job seekers, workers and employers, to enable people to contribute their skills and abilities to businesses and industry through meaningful employment.
http://www.interwork.com.au/
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
AIM Employment Services
AIM Employment is part of the Autism Association (WA). Funded by the Commonwealth Government this service assists people with Autism find employment and is free to Employers.
http://www.autism.org.au/aim%20employment%20services.htm
If you know of an organisation in your state which you think should be listed or if any of the above information is out of date please let us know at kara@autismawareness.com.au.