NDIS Employment Assistance, also known as WorkReady, is a service offered by Ability Options that supports people with disability prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce with confidence. Delivered by our team of passionate WorkReady Consultants, participants work on building the skills and experience needed to be work ready.
Emma, an Ability Options employee, is our WorkReady manager who oversees the overall delivery and performance of the program. Having first joined Ability Options as an intern while completing her Bachelor of Social Work, Emma commenced her role as a WorkReady Consultant shortly after finishing her degree. Her passion for helping people has seen Emma climb her way up to become the program’s manager.
“I find WorkReady to be such a rewarding role. In my role, I get to work with people from all walks of life and love watching the program grow and reach more people,” Emma said.
Every day, the WorkReady team provides a range of services to help people reach their goals. Because each person’s story is different, Emma’s job is to make sure WorkReady’s services meet participants’ needs and that her team provide them in a safe, supportive environment.
“WorkReady uses a person-centred approach to ensure our services are tailored to every person. We work with participants in a 1:1 capacity and support them in a way that suits their learning style and needs,” Emma said.
Emma’s favourite part of her role is community engagement, where she gets to visit the community to promote WorkReady’s services.
“I love getting out into the community to speak all things WorkReady and work collaboratively with other organisations to provide positive opportunities and outcomes for participants,” Emma said.
Being a manager of an employment program is a huge responsibility and there are many challenges that come with the role. While keeping up with growing demand has not been easy, Emma’s experience at Ability Options has allowed her to be resilient in navigating policy changes and provide enhanced training to her team, so they can continue to support participants.
Emma’s contributions have led to great outcomes for WorkReady. Her biggest achievement is leading the program’s growth, which has seen an increase in the number of participants and staff. Emma is proud of how far the program has come and hopes her work will continue to empower people to realise their potential and work towards their goals.
“WorkReady’s motto is we don’t say no to anyone. We believe that every individual no matter their barrier, deserves the chance to build their own pathway to independence. With the right support, participants can move successfully into employment and contribute to the community,” Emma said.
