Pathfinder:
Introduction to employment skills for high school students with disability.
We want to inspire and motivate young adults to target employment and believe they belong in the workplace.
At Jigsaw, we train and transition people with disability into mainstream employment. Our innovative post-school pathway focuses on core, transferable work skills, which trainees put into practice with work experience in Jigsaw’s social enterprise. See our full model here.
Entrenched barriers to employment for people with disability begin at school. When we first designed our Pathfinder Program for high school students, we spoke to young people with disability who were excluded from the school work experience programs they watched their peers take part in. The experience reinforced in their minds that they were not destined for the workplace. However, with the right support, many of these same students have successfully pursued an employment pathway.
The evidence is that early work experience works. In fact, it increases the probability of being employed two years later by 17 percentage points (Mamun et al, 2017). And, young people with disability who participate in work experience are more likely to be employed, earn higher wages and less likely to have had contact with the justice system compared with those who haven’t participated in work experience (Fraker et al, 2018).
So, Jigsaw created Pathfinder – an introduction to employment skills program to combat the lack of availability and access to supported work experience for people with disability in the last two years of school. We can also offer it t young adults exploring work opportunities post-school.
“The program at Jigsaw has been paramount in taking my students to the next level with their employment skills. The students have loved participating each week and have shown maturity in their ability to plan goals and reflect on their personal development. Thank you for empowering my students!”
What will the participants achieve?
- Unlike conventional work experience, we provide a combination of work experience and group training to support students in developing core, transferable employment skills such as communication, teamwork and prioritisation.
- Participants explore careers, practice interview skills and learn the importance of goal setting.
How does it work?
- Participants attend the Jigsaw hub one day a week for 6 six weeks, from 9.15am – 2.30pm.
- Jigsaw offers a place for up to 5 participants per day.
- Participants work at their own pace and are supported by our skilled trainers at a group ratio of 1:3.
- Every week, Jigsaw will update the parents/carers and the school (if relevant) on activities completed and progress made by each participant. They can also join us for a celebration in the hub at the end!
Who will benefit from the program?
- People with disability in year 12, or equivalent. Year 11 students may be considered in some circumstances; please discuss with your local hub.
- People who have a goal of mainstream employment or who have the potential to gain a mainstream job (but may not yet have articulated that goal)
- Ideally, people will have NDIS funding or be eligible for NDIS funding
- Those with basic computer and literacy skills
How is the program funded?
- Participants use their NDIS funding to pay $600 for the 6-week program. If the student is not yet on the NDIS, the program can be funded privately or by the school.
- Your local Jigsaw hub can provide a quote for the participant to share with their NDIS plan manager or support coordinator. We find that most participants have funds available in their Core budget. Thinking ahead to the post-school transition, using this funding for Pathfinder is a great way to show the NDIS that they have a need for employment-related funding at their next review.
If your school would benefit from partnering with JIgsaw, enquire today!
Together, let’s build an Australia in which people with disability are fully included in the workforce.
Working together, we can ensure students with disability have access to the skills, resources and inspiration to achieve their employment goals post school.
If you would like to learn more about how we work with schools, contact us below.
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FAQs
Where are your hubs located?
We have hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra.
Is there a limited number of places?
Yes, there is a maximum of five students per day in the terms that the program is running. Please contact your local hub for more information.
Which terms is this program available?
Hubs usually offer school programs terms 2 and 3. Discuss additional requirements with your local hub.
If the student doesn’t have NDIS funding, can it be paid for privately?
Yes, it can be privately funded by the school or the family attending. If you are unsure about funding, please reach out for a chat with your local hub.
Which NDIS funding categories can be used?
- Category 4: Core: Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation
- Category 9: Capacity Building Social, Economic and Community Participation
- Category 10 Capacity Building Employment (SLES)
- Category 15 Capacity Building Improved Daily
Do schools need to provide a teacher to supervise the students?
No. This is welcomed, but not mandatory. Whilst teachers and/or SSOs are welcome to attend and support the students in the initial day/s of their program, we typically seeidentify that students excel and advance their independence when they are fully immersed in the Jigsaw work environment, without their usual school educator’s direct supervision.
Does Jigsaw provide transportation to the hub?
Whilst Jigsaw doesn’t directly provide transport, we can work with you to explore possible transport options. Contact your local hub for more information.
Do students have to be in year 12?
No, we recommend that students are in their last year of schooling. For example, this could include a student in year 10, if they will not be continuing into the final two years of school.
Our current locations
Jigsaw is currently operating in Frenchs Forest, Sydney and Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, Abbotsford, Melbourne, Adelaide CBD and Canberra.
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