Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) has been awarded $300,000 in funding from the Greater Charitable Foundation to provide specialised autism-specific support for high school students looking to transition from school to employment in the Hunter, NSW region.
Aspect Hunter School will establish a Work Education and Employment Skills Program to provide pre-employment assessment and employability skills development training to prepare students for life beyond their school years.
The program will be conducted at the main campus in Thornton and various satellite classes throughout the Hunter region. A dedicated work education teacher will coordinate and manage all related activities, such as interview skill training, job searches, work experience days, visiting career expos and completing certified courses that meet the strengths and interests of the students.
The program will also include social interaction and communication, teamwork, preparing a strong resumé and job application, budgeting, presentation skills, as well as traveling to an interview and coping with unfamiliar environments or unpredictable situations.
According to Aspect We Belong Too research, 62 per cent of parents with a child on the spectrum said having a job is very important to their son or daughter and 55 per cent of adolescents on the spectrum expect to need support when finding a job.