After losing his pizza takeaway job, Evan Bell’s confidence took a hit.
Evan decided to hit the reset button and reached out to Community Solutions Gladstone to help him find a new job. Within four weeks Evan found a new and rewarding role, and his confidence returned!
Evan met Recruitment Partner, Kristy Sturzaker through employment masterclasses she was running through his high school.
“In the masterclasses, we teach 10 classes over 10 weeks, covering topics such as choosing the right job, writing a cracking resume, and how to nail your cover letter,” said Kristy.
“We can provide uniforms, personal protective equipment, or even fuel vouchers to help people get to work
“If an employer requires an employee to have a specific certificate, we can help them get it.
We know it’s not enough just to place someone in a job, so there’s ongoing support for 52 weeks to smooth out any issues that arise.
It wasn’t long before Evan had an interview with Steve McPhail, the owner of the green waste removal business, Tidy Bags Gladstone and was offered a job straight away!
“Evan’s going well. He’s a worker, he’s a goer and he understands what the business is about,” Steve said.
“He’s motivated, he’s employed for his muscle set, he’s a big man and he’s definitely earning his wages.”
Evan said he’s grateful for the support that has given him opportunities right out of school.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity they’ve given me to find work and the opportunity Steve has given me. It’s a really nice start into the workforce,” Evan said.
“Community Solutions has been excellent and provided me with work clothes at the start and a staff member took me to different shops to buy the things I needed, and they gave me $25 for petrol for the car, which was a big help.”
On the back of his experience, Evan is now calling on more employers to give people with autism and disability a chance.
“Be patient. Some of us can be a bit slow to start with but we will learn eventually, it just takes a bit longer,” he said.
Be kind and give people a chance to prove themselves.
Steve agreed, saying he’d learnt a lot about employing people with autism through seeking expert support in the past.
“Too many people with disability are stereotyped into a category where they’re deemed unemployable,” Steve said.
“It’s about providing an inclusive workplace for everyone.”
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