Month:

WorkReady Explore Sydney Zoo

  • August 1

In late March, WorkReady participants from our Seven Hills, Parramatta, Hornsby, and Penrith sites, had the opportunity to attend Sydney Zoo for an industry day and tour. Their host began the day by talking about employment opportunities at the zoo. The participants were excited to see their favourite animals and learn about the different types of jobs available. Participants first met with Kayla from the... CONTINUE READING

Alex Drives Towards Independence

  • August 1

Alex is an Ability Options participant, who uses the WorkReady service at our Hornsby office. Recently, Alex has achieved one of his biggest life goals, getting his provisional P1 driver’s licence. Alex has been wanting to get his P1 licence for a long time and will now be able to drive on his own, meaning he can get around without relying on his family, giving him extra independence. Since he began lea... CONTINUE READING

NAIDOC Week: An Avenue for Change

  • July 3

The importance of NAIDOC Week to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is nothing short of crucial. It’s an opportunity for all Australians to come together and share in the collective knowledge and experiences of First Nations peoples.... CONTINUE READING

World MS Day: Talking about MS with Matt

  • May 29

Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS, is a chronic disease where the immune system attacks the Central Nervous System (including the brain, spine, and optic nerves), often causing inflammation and damage to the nerves, making it hard for the brain to send signals to the rest of the body. People with MS often experience symptoms, such as fatigue, chronic pain, and difficulty walking. Matt is an Ability Options participant from Western Sydney, who has been living with MS for 19 years and curren... CONTINUE READING

Phoebe Trains Her Way to Success

  • May 25

Phoebe’s dream is to work with dogs. Recently, she was given an exciting role as a volunteer dog handler at Nepean Therapy Dogs in Penrith, as she was looking to gain some practical experience since completing her Animal Studies course at TAFE last year. Phoebe, who was already managing a busy schedule, combining part-time work with her studies, was determined to take the next step in achieving her goal. With the support and encouragement of her WorkReady Consultant, Sharron, Phoebe did not... CONTINUE READING

Nicholas Serves Up a Storm

  • May 25

Nicholas has always been interested in working in the hospitality industry. Late last year, Nicholas started doing work experience as a barista and waiter at Café at Lewers, a local café and restaurant in the Penrith and Blue Mountains area. Under the supervision of his manager, Steve, Nicholas has been doing a wide range of different jobs, including serving food, hosting customers, and taking orders. Steve, the owner and manager of Café at Lewers, recently began providing work experience... CONTINUE READING

From WorkReady to DES: Michael’s transition to employment

  • May 17

Two years ago, Michael joined Ability Options’ WorkReady service. His goal was to develop the skills to prepare for the workforce. Two years on, he is now employed by V.I.P. Home Services, and is enjoying contributing to his community. This is the story of his journey. 1.  Michael joins Ability Options’ WorkReady service.... CONTINUE READING

Matt’s Story – How Karen helped me in my Support Coordination plan

  • April 28

I have been an NDIS Participant since July 2017 and have been living with the challenges of Multiple Sclerosis since I was diagnosed in 2003. Originally, I did not have Support Coordination in my initial NDIS Plan, but I wish I had! After a debacle with my first Plan (with another provider), I then engaged with Karen Cupitt (featured above) of Ability Options as my Support Coordinator. This was a masterstrok... CONTINUE READING

A career built on helping others in their employment journey

  • February 25

It was hard to miss Jessica when you walked into Ability Options’ office at Mount Druitt. She was always there to greet you and her energy is infectious. Now working on a project to support participants to maintain employment, Jessica started her journey at Ability Options as an employment consultant, supporting people in finding and keeping meaningful employment. Throughout her time at Ability Options, Jessica has built great relationships with the many participants she has helped. One... CONTINUE READING