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 levelled at the greater amount of attention focussed on Early Intervention within the ASD community. In light of this Autism Awareness has added this section. In this way we hope to keep families with autistic adults informed of the services available. To date most of the information listed on these pages is Sydney-centric. We look to change this over the coming months with your help. Please email relevant information for inclusion.
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 2008 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: Ingrid Kalnins on (02) 9450 7903
Metro South: Cassie Hawkins on (02) 8746 5514
Hunter: Post School Programs Project Officer (02) 4908 5200
Northern NSW: David King on (02) 6621 1414
Southern NSW: Carol Pearson on (02) 4251 2016
Western NSW: Rosalie Neville on (02) 6363 8670
Nova Employment - Disability Employment Specialist
http://www.novaemployment.com.au/
Nova are a specialist employment program that offers job seeking assistance and post placement support to people who have a disability. We find jobs in the general community, at award wage. Primarily, we work with young people who have an intellectual disability and are likely to require on-going help to stay in work. However, staff from our Campbelltown office also support people who are deaf or hearing impaired.
Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia)runs programs under DADHC's Community Participation program. For more information or to express your interest in this program contact Louise Berryman on 0413 432 995 or see aspect at http://www.aspect.org.au/our%20services/northsyd_cp.asp
For services run in Northern Sydney in Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Manly, Mosman, North Sydney, Pittwater, Warringah and Willoughby contact Mark Clayton on (02) 8878 1800 or email mclayton@aspect.org.au
For services run in Western Sydney in Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Holroyd, Parramatta, Penrith, Hawkesbury, Fairfield, Liverpool and Bankstown LGAs contact Louise Berryman on (02) 8878 1813 or email lberryman@aspect.org.au
For services run in Ashfield, Burwood, Canterbury, Canada Bay, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Strathfield, Bankstown, Liverpool, Fairfield, Auburn LGAs, Botany Bay, Hurstville, Kogarah, Randwick, Rockdale, Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra and Bankstown contact Karen Jones on (02) 8878 1810 or email kjones@aspect.org.au
Aspect also runs a social and communication group for adolescents and adults which meets fortnightly.
Web: http://www.aspect.org.au/our%20services/socialclub.asp
The Junction Works Inc. runs a Community Participation program (7-16 places) in the "Metro South Region" servicing the Liverpool Local Government Areas of Liverpool, Fairfield, Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly Shire. Junction Works Inc. website http://thejunctionworks.org/system/index.app?agent_id=1185
The Junction Works Inc. contact is Catriona Brown. Call (02) 9606 9628 or email atlas2.tjw@bigpond.com
Sunnyfield Community Participation programs promote independence by providing participants with individual support to learn life skills and be included in everyday community activities.
For Sunnyfield Community Participation programs run in Warringah LGA and Frenchs Forest contact Kate Pope on 0411 550 816 or email k.pope@sunnyfield.com.au
For Sunnyfield Community Participation programs run in Kogarah, Rockdale and Hurstville LGAs contact Cathy Commins on (02) 8977 8810 or email c.commins@sunnyfield.com.au
For Sunnyfield Community Participation programs run in Penrith, Blacktown and Parramatta
Contact Yvonne Matsas on (02) 9677 7047 or email y.matsas@sunnyfield.com.au
TAFE NSW
It is TAFE policy that vocational education and training is available to everyone.
The TAFE NSW website: www.tafensw.edu.au
Or call the Information Centre on 131 601
Call the TAFE Disability Programs on (02) 9244 5557.
Disability Access website: www.det.nsw.edu.au/disabilityaccess
Teacher / Consultants for Students with Disabilities: http://www.tafensw.edu.au/students/support/disabilities.htm
The best way to find an appropriate TAFE course may be contact a Teacher/Consultant. 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.
TAFE Disability Services - Institutes
https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/communityed/disabilityacces/da_tafeinst.htm
Consultants for Intellectual Disabilities can be contacted for the following TAFE Campuses:
Bankstown, Lidcombe or Padstow - (02) 9722 5359
Campbelltown, Liverpool, Macquarie Fields - (02) 4620 1804
Granville, Wetherill Park - (02) 9682 0384
Miller - (02) 9825 7448
Baulkham Hills, Nirimba, Blacktown - (02) 9865 1160
Blue Mountains, Kingswood, Penrith - (02) 9208 9329
Mount Druitt, Richmond - (02) 9208 6379
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/pdf/tvet/English.pdf
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) is a no-cost, not-for-profit organisation.
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. Alpha Employment Service's website is http://alpha-autism.org.au/services.html
If you know of an organisation in your state which you think should be listed or if any of the above information is now out of date, please email us (link to kara@autismawareness.com.au).