The Totally Employed Program
This program is run by the Special Education Department at Redbank Plains State High School and is in response to current data which shows that students with a disability do not generally sustain jobs post school, and that the unemployment rate for people with a disability is around 48%.
The Totally Employed program aims to:
- place students with a disability in full time or part time employment upon finishing school
- ensure the employment is sustainable
- and has become a part of the lifestyle of the student and their family
To enable this to happen, students are introduced to the concept of employment at an early age (Year 9) and for longer periods of time. This is to familiarise students with the language of industry, workplace health and safety, industry-specific skills, and employer expectations. The students need repeated, frequent, small work experiences in order to gain confidence through a history of success that enables them to see themselves as potential employees.
Students in Year 9 are introduced to the Inspiring Connections Programme, in which students are given backstage passes to industries that give them insight into the world of work and expose them to the many different jobs available.
The Totally Employed Program focuses on three industry areas that are local to our school and that are known to willingly employ our students: warehousing, retail, and aged care. Through the Inspiring Connections programme, we have developed strong industry partnerships with Cotton On DC (warehousing), Bunnings (retail), and RSL Aged Care Milford Grange.
By Year 10, students participate in one of the three mentoring programs run by one of the above companies. In these programs, the basic skills of an employee are reinforced through an explicitly taught program. Upon completion of the mentoring program, students can continue a pathway in these areas and enrol in a TAFE course in Year 11. If the student still wishes to continue on this pathway, Totally Employed can canvas businesses in the Ipswich region to take on the student for a school based traineeship or apprenticeship.
To further enable the success of the student in the workplace, we are able to link the student with Comepass Disability Employment Services, who can support the student in the workplace, as well as cover any financial costs that are needed to meet the requirements of the job, e.g., safety boots, White Construction Card, RSG & RSA courses.
Recently, 8 of our 16 students graduated with a Cert III in Warehousing, one student with a Cert II in Retail, and one with a Cert II in Horticulture. They will begin full-time work in these areas. Three more students have been offered placements with supported industries: Endeavour, HELP Enterprises, and Multicap.
The Totally Employed program continues to be a strong conduit to employment for our students with disabilities at this school.