Learning

Your Employment Support Services - YESS/Transition to Work

We make sure we have the connections to inform you about your choices when moving from school into work. 90% of our participants have moved into employment and many have begun their journey into open employment.

What we have achieved:

We arranged for 20 participants to attend an exciting camp in Berri for skills development, fun and socialisation. This camp was fully funded by Afford staff fundraising efforts

28 participants graduated, 13 completed certificated courses

90% went into employment and of these, 40% went to open employment or Disability Employment Services. 10% went into community participation or further education

Two participants received white cards, one successfully achieved Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) accreditation and Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) training Three participants successfully received their driver’s license and two became learner drivers

Topics covered through the YESS - Transition to Work program include budgeting, travel training, money management, life skills and many more

We offer transition to work support in 10 locations across Sydney including Bankstown, Fairfield, Blacktown, Liverpool, Minchinbury, Ingleburn, Prestons, Marrickville, Penrith and Riverstone

Our Transition to Work (TTW) program has helped close 56 school leavers find their place in the workforce or explore further training and education.

Mikala’s Journey

Bright, enthusiastic and articulate, Mikala has her sights set on the sky for work and life happiness.

You would never know that Mikala is just 20 years old. She is one of Afford’s YESS program success stories with a drive to succeed and a positive attitude that will ensure she achieves her goals.

Mikala joined the YESS’ Transition to Work (TTW) program after completing work experience at Afford’s Blacktown site while still at school. She took part in various modules and training through the TTW program at Riverstone, such as travel training, preparing for work and WHS procedures.

With a supportive team to guide her through the training, Mikala says that her time in the TTW program truly helped her prepare for life in the workforce.

“I LEARNT A LOT THROUGHOUT THE TTW PROGRAM, AND WHENEVER I NEED HELP, SOMEONE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP ME.”

Mikala was headhunted to work in an administrative role at Afford HQ in Minchinbury which she thought was a great opportunity and a position she wasn’t expecting so soon after she had started. Showing enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, Mikala stands out from the crowd. In her administration and reception role at Minchinbury, Mikala completes various tasks with efficiency and effectiveness. She inputs data into spreadsheets, puts letters into envelopes and adapts to the variety of tasks required.

Mikala’s highlight achievement was being recognised for her hard work with an Afford Customer Service Award from Afford’s CEO, Steven Herald.

“I WAS SO SURPRISED TO RECEIVE A CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT I WORK HARD AND DO MY BEST TO DO MY TASKS.”

Now that she has finished her TTW training, Mikala is hoping to secure full time employment with Afford.

“I REALLY LIKE WORKING AT AFFORD. THERE ARE ALWAYS PEOPLE COMING AND GOING. IT’S NICE TO BE PART OF A TEAM.”