At 34 years-old, Toby came to atWork Australia after being unemployed for seven years. Despite his gap in employment, Toby remained positive and had high hopes of one day returning to work.
Toby connected with Job Coach, Maggie, at atWork Australia’s Disability Employment Services office in Nowra, NSW.
Toby shared with Maggie that he was Autistic, he had limited employment experience and had no driver’s licence.
As a starting point, Maggie wanted to find opportunities to build Toby’s confidence and gain some work experience. Toby relied on public transport, it was a priority that they find a suitable opportunity that was close to home and Toby could easily commute using public transport.
“I have worked with Toby from the first day he connected with atWork Australia, he has always been an enthusiastic participant,” said Job Coach Maggie.
“We started by finding him a volunteer position at the Salvation Army, he has excelled at his role and I have received fantastic feedback from the store manager.”
The volunteering position provided Toby a great opportunity to develop his skills and build his confidence in a work environment. While Toby was thriving in this position, his main focus was to find paid employment.
With Maggie’s support, Toby continued to look for new paid positions and Maggie was able to tap into atWork Australia’s broad network of diverse employers.
atWork Australia have a strong relationship with the local McDonald’s. Maggie thought they would be a great employer for Toby.
Timing is everything, and that was the case for Toby. When Maggie approached the local franchise, they had a Crew Member position available and were happy to offer the opportunity to Toby.
Toby was thrilled and excited to get started on this new chapter in his life. In preparation for his first day, Maggie arranged funding for Toby to get a fresh haircut and his beard groomed. He was feeling confident and eager to get to work.
This has been a fantastic outcome for Toby and his story proves that with the right attitude you can achieve your goals.
atWork Australia will continue to support Toby to ensure he can thrive and progress within his new workplace.
Every year, atWork Australia help thousands of clients like Toby expand their skills and qualifications to help them gain the right job with the right employer. Call us today on 1300 080 856 or enquire online to find out how we can help you meet your career goals.