Sam has known he wanted to be a cabinet maker since he was fifteen, and this year, he was able to take the first step by using a tool you might not expect – Google Maps.
Sam is eighteen now and has lived in Kingston in the outer suburbs of Brisbane his whole life. He likes to play video games with friends, and recently finished High School. Being in the inclusive education stream, Sam was surrounded by the same, small group of peers from year seven onwards, so graduation presented a big change in Sam’s life.
‘It didn't really set in that I was leaving. It didn't really kick in. I don’t like meeting new people, it’s like, anxiety… feels awkward.’
“My teacher said to me to always take up opportunities.”
In Sam’s own words, he likes to fiddle with his hands and break stuff. In Year 10, he just knew he wanted to do something hands on, so his teacher found him a work experience opportunity with a cabinet maker. ‘I did one week of work experience, and I loved it.’
Sam had found his calling, but he was worried that he might not get an apprenticeship straight out of High School.
He got involved in the Inclusive Pathways to Employment (IPE) pilot program at yourtown as he was finishing school.
An opportunity came up to do a Certificate II in Retail, and even though it wasn’t directly aligned to his cabinet making goal, Sam pursued it because “my teacher said to me to always take up opportunities.”
Learning about yourself along the way
Sam didn’t like doing the Certificate II much, but he feels that it helped to build his confidence when meeting new people and made him more sociable. Sam prefers to be around the same people every day.
Given his social anxiety, Candy, the Inclusive Pathways to Employment Coordinator at yourtown, thought that he might benefit from some interview practice with someone at yourtown before looking for a job. The prospect made him so nervous that he didn’t turn up to the practice.
Sam also really doesn’t like driving. He has his Learner’s Permit and plans on buying a car eventually, but driving has always been a source of anxiety. He and Candy tried to think of other pathways into cabinet making, like general construction, but the driver’s licence was a recurring barrier.
‘We got to a point where we're like, look, everyone's asking for a licence we might not be able to do this until you sort of work on your licence’ - Candy.
Sam was passionate, and knew exactly what he wanted to do, but he would need to find some workarounds if he was to land his dream job.
A different approach
As they browsed job ads online, Sam and Candy checked how he could get to each employer by bus or walking and didn’t have much luck.
Candy suggested they try a customised approach. They searched for cabinet making businesses on Google Maps in areas Sam could get to without a car.
Sam has learnt about how to introduce himself by email and write cover letters in workshops at yourtown. He used that skill, with Candy’s support, and sent emails to those businesses introducing himself.
He heard back from a local business that’s a twenty-minute walk away – they had a labouring job available that they hadn’t even advertised yet!
They invited Sam for an interview, but it wasn’t the rigid formal experience that filled Sam with dread.
‘It wasn’t like an interview, it was easy, it was like a walk around. I was nervous though. It was interesting. I kind of wanted to know what all the machines did.’ - Sam
‘Sam went into the interview on his own and I introduced myself to the employer afterwards. I didn’t disclose Sam’s disability, but I did say “you might need to explain things differently.”’ – Candy
It turned out that what the employer wanted was someone who was passionate and willing to learn the job. The employers noticed straight away that Sam was interested, and later told Candy that he saw a glint in Sam’s eye.
Sam says he feels more confident. His colleagues teach him new tasks around the workshop.
‘At the moment I’m doing the edge bander, it puts like a plastic thing on the chipboard edges. It’s my favourite one to do because it’s a bit easier.’ - Sam
His boss can't stop raving about him and said that he's doing great.
“He calls me up and is like, this guy is great, I want a hundred more of him!” - Candy
Sam accesses other supports through NDIS funding to keep him comfortable and safe at work.
“I just don't like long sleeves and long pants, or the feeling of earmuffs.” He’s working with his occupational therapist on finding work clothes and earmuffs that he likes the feel of, and he works with a psychologist to find strategies to calm his anxiety. Deep breathing exercises work well for him.
On the road to an apprenticeship
Sam is saving for a car, but he’s not fussy about what kind, ‘just one that drives.’ He is three months into working in a labouring job at the cabinet making business and is looking forward to starting an apprenticeship there in a few months’ time.
Anyone who wants to work, can work – as long as you find the conditions they need for success.
Sam’s career journey started at school. He needed a small workplace, with a more laid-back environment, that he didn’t need to drive to, and he found it around the corner. The barrier to a young person with disability getting a job can be overcome with solutions that tackle the problems, not change the person.
