Working this out together with Jack, Julia, James, and Rachael

In this episode, we hear from Jack, a 21-year-old with a diverse range of interests and experiences, including being a CrossFit member, a Lifeline volunteer, and a reception worker at UniLodge. Jack shares how his Circle of Support, including his job mentor Julia, has played a crucial role in his journey toward employment. 

Julia discusses her role as a job developer, emphasising the importance of truly understanding the interests and strengths of the jobseeker through the Discovery process. She explains what it’s like to work as a job developer, the opportunities she managed to uncover, and the nuances of her interactions with Jack’s colleagues and managers. 

The conversation highlights the success of Customised Employment and how personal connections, rather than traditional job advertisements, have led Jack to fulfilling roles that align with his interests. We hope you’ll finish this episode with a good understanding of the impact of tailored but fading support in achieving workplace success.

You can watch this presentation on our website.

The presentation transcription is also on our website.

On our website, you’ll find:

• all the presentations from our Opening Opportunities conference in 2023
• many other resources about helping a person with disability find meaningful employment
• events related to employment and other topics relevant to people with disabilities seeking to enjoy a typical life.

Many thanks to Osher Marks, who is the voice of this season of the Imagine More podcast.