0:03
Leaving school and finding a job can be really scary. It's a big change with a lot of new things to learn. Wallara have been helping people with disabilities to prepare for employment for over 50 years and we've got a lot of great strategies to help them through that process. We recently interviewed several of our clients to find out how they transitioned from school to work. We hope you'll find their stories helpful and encouraging.
0:32
Hi, I'm Tanya I'm 19 years old and I went to Heatherwood. When I left school, I wanted to come to Wallara. I did work experience before I start doing it. It really helped me. It's a big place, it's a lot of people and the staff are very helpful. They teach you what you need to know. They show you how to be safe and help you settle in. Leaving school can be a bit scary but working at Wallara’s really good and you will like it.
1:06
I'm Courtney and I went to Marnabek school and I'm 20 years old. When I finished school, I wanted to work but I didn't know where to go. I work two days a week in production and two days a week in the café. In the cafe it can get pretty busy, and I do get tired, but I love it. If you come to Wallara come and say hello, Wallara is a calming place, just stay calm you will be able to do it, and you will get through it.
1:42
I'm Leona and I just started at Wallara Logistics. At first I did work experience and I really liked it and now I'm here two days a week. It doesn't matter if you don't know what to do the staff will teach you how to do everything. I do [?nose strips], laundry and packing books and I'm learning new jobs all the time. Trying new things is a bit scary but you make sure you give things a go.
2:27
Hi, I'm Jared Hayloft, I'm 25 and I work at Wallara Logistics. I drive the forklift I Pick and Pack orders and I do miscellaneous things when they need to be done. When I left school I didn't think of where I wanted to go so I did a lot of work experience. Doing work experience helped to find what I like to do. I first came to Wallara on a trial to see if I liked it. I really like working in warehousing. You need warehousing people otherwise the world just stops. Some days I still getting nervous, but I take five so cool off and that helps with maintaining stress.
3:08
Hi, my name is Steven I work for Wallara Land Management Services. My favourite job is mowing on the ride-on. Since I've been working, I've learned how to brush cut, edge, hedge trim, blowing and to run a crew every now and then. Having a job coach really gives you the confidence to do your job properly. My next goal is to get my truck licence. I've always wanted to drive a truck. My dad was a bus driver, and I reckon he'd be very proud for me to do so. Wallara Land Management Service is a great place to be, I enjoy the outdoors, and I reckon you do too.
3:56
I’m Ben. All my life I’ve been passionate about a career in the media, but I didn't know how to get there. I joined one of Wallara’s video editing courses and they helped me to build a pathway to achieve my goal. It didn’t happen easily, it probably took me about three years to develop the confidence and skills I needed to become a video editor. One of the things that helped me is the understanding that failure is never final and it's okay to make mistakes. I've produced corporate videos, training videos, five TV shows and a radio show.
One of my favourite experiences was doing an internship with the Saints Football Club. I worked in the media Department editing player highlights and promotional videos. I'm now working two days a week editing videos, I'm doing a podcasting course, and I want to get my own radio show. I love what I'm doing, I get to be creative, and I get paid for it and when I'm editing I feel like my disability disappears
5:02
Transitioning from school to work can be challenging, but with a positive mindset and a great team around you, you can achieve anything.
