People with disability are not currently given the same opportunities for meaningful work as others. Did you know, that only 48% of working age people with disability are employed, compared to 79% of people without disability? That’s why we developed our career coaching program, to support people with disability to work towards their career goals and achieve greater independence.
What is career coaching?
Our career coaching program supports people with disability to reach their full potential and secure meaningful employment. The program involves carrying out tailored coaching – either one-on-one or in small groups – to support you to expand your horizons and discover how your strengths and interests can be matched with different careers. Career coaches work with you while you explore job options, build networks, and develop necessary skills.
Activ created the program after researching the current situation for people with intellectual disability looking for employment in Western Australia. We discovered that young people with disability are often conditioned to not aspire for more from their employment, and often remained in supported employment for many years, without a sustainable, tailored and appropriate opportunity to achieve further employment goals. So, we figured out the missing piece of the puzzle: a tailored program that supports you to understand your employment options and gives you the information you need to make decisions about your career.
What are the benefits of career coaching?
The impact of Activ’s career coaching program has been incredibly positive, with several of our customers having already secured paid employment.
Our program uses an evidence-based approach to supporting you on your career journey, and is designed to meet your specific needs. Career coaching has three main outcomes, all benefitting you:
- Raising aspirations – this encourages you to think about what you want for your career, and helps you think big.
- Making informed choices – once you learn what kind of work suits you, you can make smart decisions based on this information.
- Increasing skills for work – coaches help you to build relevant skills, to make sure you can succeed at the types of work you’re wanting to explore.
Our career coaching is also low-pressure:
- You control how often you meet with your career coach.
- You can choose to have the sessions at work, at home, or in the community.
- There is no set time frame for completing career coaching, so you can work at a pace that suits you.
Our approach is unique and is part of what makes the program successful!
Customer story: How Chloe’s career coaching supported her on her independence journey
One of our career coaching success stories is Activ customer Chloe, whose career prospects expanded by taking part in the program. Starting out as a supported employee at Activ Employment Services Bentley, Chloe felt she was ready to take the next step in her employment journey, so she started accessing Activ’s career coaching services. With goals to work in administration in the non-profit, health or community sector, Chloe worked with her career coach Amanda to complete a work placement at the City of Stirling, and is now completing a Cert II in Business at TAFE. As part of her qualification, Chloe’s finishing up another work placement at Telethon Speech and Hearing! Through this work, and one-on-one support from Amanda, Chloe’s built the interpersonal and problem-solving skills to confidently work in an office environment and achieve her goals.
Activ’s career coaching services
If you’re a person with disability who likes the sound of pursuing a career you’re passionate about, then we can support you to achieve your goals! For 70 years, we’ve supported people with intellectual disability to reach their full potential and live independent, fulfilling lives. Contact our friendly team to find out how you can get involved in our career coaching program.