Before joining Jigsaw, Daz felt like his life lacked purpose. Depression had begun to creep in, and he was feeling isolated and helpless. That was until a friend recommended he join Jigsaw.
“I didn’t have any purpose at all. I was just depressed. Then I came to Jigsaw and loved it. I’ve met a lot of new people who I really like.”
Now, he’s found a new lease on life – with increased confidence, improved work skills, and his very own small business – all made possible with the right support.
Skills that count and support that cares
Jigsaw is a work-readiness program that combines hands-on work experience with a curriculum of transferable skills, aimed at providing people with disability the skills employers look for and that are crucial to long-term job success.
The main vehicle for this learning is digitisation work – but the teachings and support extend far beyond this, something Daz has experienced firsthand.
While Daz works towards his goal of mainstream employment, he has also been developing his own small business creating resin art pieces, including drink coasters and lazy Susans. The skills he has developed at Jigsaw have supported him in managing the day-to-day running of his business, with prioritisation and time management playing an important role in keeping his workflow organised and efficient.
Taking Jigsaw training into the real world
By learning how to structure his workday at the hub, Daz has been able to apply those same skills to the production demands of running a creative business.
As Daz explains, “Learning prioritisation has helped make me more focused and motivated. It helps me to set myself a goal – like creating big artworks. My time management has improved too, which is important because if I make a resin piece today, it takes a week to dry before I can deliver it to the customer.”
The skills Daz has developed at Jigsaw extend beyond planning and organisation. His digital literacy skills have also supported the running of his business, from marketing to administration.
With support from his trainers, Daz has progressed from basic computer tasks to practical business activities, learning how to photograph and edit his products, use staging techniques, and promote his work online.
The power of good mentorship
Central to much of this progress has been Daz’s Zone Manager, Laure Jane (LJ). Recognising his creative talent outside of the hub, LJ encouraged him to take the leap and scale his hobby into a commercial venture.
As Daz shares, “LJ is a great mentor. She’s taught me how to market my business, design my own business cards, and write up receipts for customers – plus she’s teaching me how to take and crop product photos on my phone. Working with her has really helped me focus my mind and feel more in control.”
LJ’s mentorship highlights what makes Jigsaw’s training model work: support to build core employment skills in a way that adapts to each individual. To help Daz manage stress while running his business, LJ created a custom memory game featuring resin artwork to inspire new ideas while also giving him a simple, engaging way to reset if he starts to feel overwhelmed. The game provides a quick “brain break” that helps reduce stress and refocus his attention before returning to the task at hand.
She also guided him through practical administration tasks, like creating budget spreadsheets, handling invoice books, and managing customer loyalty cards – all tools that will help Daz in any professional endeavour he takes on in the future.
Building skills for the job market
These aren’t just art-business skills – they are workplace competencies. Every time Daz tracks inventory, manages drying schedules, or edits photos, he is honing the data entry, time management, and digital literacy skills that mainstream employers look for.
His small business acts as a real-world testing ground for his Jigsaw training, building a solid track record of focus and independence.
Finding community and confidence
Beyond the job skills, Jigsaw has given Daz a sense of belonging. The hub is his “happy place” where he can unwind with friends, build his independence, and work toward personal milestones – like earning enough income to take his wife on a holiday.
Reflecting on how far he’s come, Daz’s outlook is positive: “I’m more confident in myself now,” he says. “I know I can do anything that I want, and I can achieve anything I want in life.”
As he continues working toward his goal of mainstream employment, Daz has a clear message for future employers looking to hire people with disability: “Stay positive, and give people a chance. Give them an honest chance, because everyone deserves a go.”
If you want to find out more about how Jigsaw can help you build workplace skills, or if you are a business who wants to hire more inclusively, head to our website.
About Jigsaw
Jigsaw is a social enterprise that provides an innovative pathway to mainstream employment for people with disability. By embedding a comprehensive skill-based training program within our commercial document and data management business, Jigsaw enables people with disability to achieve their employment goals at their own pace. Jigsaw’s holistic approach starts from the very basics of core work skills and supports trainees all the way through to transition to open employment with ongoing support and coaching once they have transitioned. Jigsaw is located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Canberra.