Toowoomba: Imagining, Discovering and Finding Work

Join us for an interactive and participatory full day workshop that aims to bring families together to connect and increase confidence to seek out meaningful, paid employment for their secondary school student with disability.

This workshop will enable participants to get actively started in a range of processes so they leave with some concrete plans and strategies to find work for their secondary student with a disability.

Participants will hear stories and experiences from people with a disability and their family members about practical tips and strategies when planning for and finding real and meaningful work.

Topics covered will include:

• Uncovering and identifying student strengths and interests and using them as a guide for creating potential work roles.
• Identifying the conditions that help set up a student for success in work.
• Identifying community connections and contacts to approach for work.
• Practical strategies and tips on working collaboratively with other professionals or services.
• Developing a positive pitch to get the job.
• Exploring what good employment support looks like and how to find the right people to support to support your student.
  

Gina Barwell-Pickup started at CRU in August 2020 as a consultant in the ‘School to Work’ project. Since studying business at university, Gina has held a broad range of roles in a variety of industries including hotels, education and in State government and small business. Additional experience in recruitment will equip her well to assist students to get ready for work. Gina is passionate about the value of employment for people with disability and is currently supporting her own teenager on this journey.

Jen Mouritz joined CRU in July 2015 as part of the team working on the NDIS Participant readiness project. Since 2018 Jen has worked at CRU as a general consultant. Last year she was involved in the Families for Inclusive Education project. Jen’s introduction to this work started about 15 years ago. Since then she has worked directly with people with a disability and their families using self-directed approaches to support. This has included providing support for people in the workplace.  Jen has also worked as a teacher in mainstream and special school settings in learning support and as a secondary school art teacher.

For over 30 years, Community Resource Unit has been working across Queensland to help people with disability take control of their lives and take their place in their community.

CRU (QLD), Resourcing Inclusive Communities, an initiative of Family Advocacy (NSW) and Imagine More (ACT) will work together on a new three year project called ‘School to Work’.

The project is being provided as part of the Community Inclusion Capacity Development program through The Department of Social Services.