With sheer determination and the right supports, Mackay NDIS participant Joshua has achieved his goal of finding and securing work – and he couldn’t be happier.
Working 3 days a week preparing and delivering catalogues, the 18-year-old, who has Level 3 autism, an intellectual disability and obsessive-compulsive disorder, is filled with pride and purpose in a job helping him to build his skills and independence.
Joshua used his NDIS funding to engage Queensland disability support provider Feros Care. They linked him to Emily, a local area coordinator, who worked with him to get to know his likes, dislikes, interests and strengths.
Emily said Joshua made it clear all he wanted to do was work, so they started looking for jobs he liked and would feel comfortable doing. Any potential job also had to align with his strengths and interests and help build his confidence, skills and independence.
Seeing a catalogue delivery job advertised, Emily discussed the role with Joshua and what it entailed. He was keen, so she supported him to apply, and he was successful.
‘For Joshua, the structured role plays to his strengths, and he’s really found a sense of pride and purpose in what he’s doing,’ Emily said.
‘He enjoys sorting all the different catalogues into separate piles. Then he rolls them up, puts them into his delivery cart and heads out with his support worker to deliver them.
‘Joshua started out sorting and delivering catalogues one day a week, but as his confidence grew, his hours did too. Now he’s working 20 hours a week over 3 days!’
Dedicated to his job, Joshua walks 26 kilometres a week, which is also improving his health.
Emily said Joshua’s dad, Graeme built him a custom metal trolley after his plastic one broke. It’s been a game changer and it’s much easier for him to manage.
Joshua’s mum Shirley marvels at her son’s determination and strong work ethic. She credits much of his success to NDIS funding and the support he’s had from Feros Care.
‘Joshua is much happier working. He sees his father and brother go to work, so for him the natural progression was to go to work too,’ Shirley said.
‘Even though he can’t read or write, he’s found a job he can do, he’s good at, and he enjoys. We are very proud of what he has been able to achieve.
‘The progress Joshua has made is just incredible. This job has given him a new sense of purpose, and it’s fantastic to see how much it’s helped to boost his confidence.’