School Leavers Get Taste Of NFP Careers

A Queensland disability provider has created what it’s calling an “Australian first” in educating Year 11 and 12 students on the diversity of roles in Not for Profit organisations in the disability sector.

Horizon Foundation’s WIDE Horizons program will feature guest speakers from the Not for Profit’s suite of services from early intervention to employment, incorporate a day of work experience for students and feature a graduation celebration.

Horizon Foundation Clear Horizon Service Manager and program facilitator Hilary Maloney said she felt it was important to teach school leavers in Year 11 and 12 that there were many career pathways in disability services.  

“This is an industry forecast to boom as a result of the National Disability Insurance Scheme to be rolled out in Queensland in 2016 with around 13,000 additional jobs created in the disability sector as a result,” she said.

“There are many different jobs within the industry sector such as disability support workers, marketing, administration, finance, information technology, speech pathology, occupational therapy and counselling.

“We want to give students the opportunity to explore our organisation to help them decide if this is the career path for them.

“The health and community services sector is a really rewarding field for people who have a genuine desire to help people.

“Horizon Foundation is a multi-faceted workplace with different departments and has a wide scope for development and training opportunities.”  

Each service manager will nurture one of 12 senior high school students and provide insights into their job roles and responsibilities through an interview process. Students will then present back their findings to staff, school principals and government dignitaries.  

Horizon Foundations Clear Horizon service disability support professional Declaan Banks left high school last year. He embarked on his employment journey, permanent part-time, this year.

His journey in the disability sector began five years ago when he embarked on a school-based traineeship in Year 11 with a disability service completing a Certificate III Disability Services.

“It is rewarding field to work in because there is something new each day to challenge me and there are many great personalities within our organisation,” he said.

“I know when I support the clients and teach them to do something they learn to do it themselves and acquire that independence.

“This industry is all about people, it promotes personal growth, the job is enjoyable and I look forward to going to work because I feel good about what I am doing.”

The students will complete a workbook during the program, create a careers board and receive a certificate on course completion.

An afternoon tea will be held on Wednesday April 2 at 2.30pm and catered to by Clear Horizons Wednesdays 21 comprising a group of people with a disability.

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