Julia, a Disability Employment Services (DES) participant, has made remarkable strides in her professional and personal life, with support from Ability Options. Living with an intellectual disability and facing many barriers to achieving her goals, Julia’s journey to sustainable employment has been both challenging and inspiring.
Before joining the DES program in 2018, Julia struggled with maintaining consistent employment due to low confidence, transport barriers and other challenges.
“I often doubted myself and resigned from jobs, thinking I wasn’t meeting expectations,” Julia says.
However, with the help of Ability Options, she began to turn things around.
Through the DES program delivered by Ability Options in partnership with CoAct, Julia gained valuable skills and completed a Certificate III in Disability Support and a First Aid course.
These qualifications enabled her to become a Support Worker elsewhere in the sector, where she now assists clients with daily tasks, appointments, meal preparation, cleaning, and personal care.
Julia’s role often requires her to transport clients, a task she can now confidently perform thanks to earning her driver’s license and purchasing her first car.
“Getting my license and buying my car was a huge milestone,” Julia says.
“It gave me the independence I needed to succeed in my job and feel confident in my abilities.”
Julia’s employment has also positively impacted on her self-confidence, providing her with stability and a sense of purpose.
“My mental health has improved since I started working. I feel more independent and happier,” she says.
“I felt very supported throughout my time with Ability Options. They helped me with travel training, employability skills, and even helped me feel more confident and fulfilled.”
Her dedication and hard work have paid off, as she has now maintained sustainable employment for over a year.
Looking ahead, Julia’s goals remain ambitious. She is saving to buy her own home, a dream she is determined to achieve.
“Reaching my goals feels awesome and makes me feel truly independent,” she says.
“The feeling of making a difference in my clients’ lives and seeing them smile is incredibly rewarding.”
If you would like to learn more about how we can support you through our Employment Services, click here.
Ability Options delivers DES in partnership with CoAct.
