As June comes to a close, so does our STEP into Work program for this financial year. It’s been a wild ride over the last 12 months, and we’ve learned a lot! But before we get into all that, let’s explain exactly what STEP into Work is.
What is STEP into Work?
Our STEP into Work Program was designed to facilitate the transition of vision-impaired teenagers and young adults from education to employment. The goal of this program was to help establish life-long skills, as well as encourage peer networking and mentorship.
The program ran over the school holidays in September, January, and April, as well as two final days in June. They focused on skills like CV writing, interviewing techniques, finding and applying for jobs, mobility and transportation, and self-advocacy. These sessions ranged from theory to hands-on, with excursions and guest speakers joining us throughout the year.
The meatiest part of our program was during the January holidays. We ran five jam-packed days of education and training, including a fantastic talk from Julie and Caitlin from Blind Sports WA. A big thank you to them, and all the guest speakers we’ve had throughout the program!
June Recap – Trip to Fremantle
Most recently, we ran a two-day course in June. Consisting of a theory-based day on the 21st, where we reinforced interviewing and CV writing skills, and an excursion to Fremantle on the 28th.
This excursion focused on trip planning, navigation with a vision impairment, and practical traversal skills to deal with crowded areas. While we travelled from our Vic Park office to Fremantle by train and via Perth, participants were tasked with navigating the public transport network independently, changing stations, and orienting themselves in unfamiliar environments.
After reaching Fremantle, the group journeyed around the area, setting their own itinerary and ensuring that all the group’s goals were achieved. This was a great opportunity for the team to practice task prioritisation, navigation, and awareness of other people’s accessibility needs.
After a long sunny (lucky us!) day in Fremantle, we navigated our way back to the VisAbility offices and said our farewells.
Keep an ear out for us
With that, our STEP into Work program for the year comes to an end, but we still have a lot of ideas we’d like to explore. Keep an ear to the ground for more STEP news in the future.
STEP into Work was a free program, made possible by the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services. Due to their contribution, we were able to offer this program without the need for participants to use their NDIS funding. We thank them for their support.