From his kindergarten years, Lloyd faced the challenges of living with autism, struggling with being non-verbal both in public and at home. Loud noises and flickering lights caused him great distress, making everyday life a constant battle. However, as he grew older, Lloyd refused to let his condition define him, and he worked tirelessly to overcome these obstacles.
As a young adult, Lloyd made significant progress in managing his difficulties. But he soon realised that many people lacked an understanding of what autism truly meant. Determined to change that, Lloyd took it upon himself to educate his peers and anyone else willing to listen. His mission was to spread awareness and promote acceptance for individuals like him who lived with autism.
Before landing his first paid job, Lloyd engaged in various work experiences. He explored different roles, working as a locksmith in Maroubra and even trying his hand at an IT job in Mascot. Additionally, he devoted his time to volunteering at the Friendship Bakery in Vaucluse. Although these experiences were valuable, Lloyd knew that he needed a stable source of income to support himself and actively sought paid employment.
Despite the challenges he faced while navigating the job market, everything changed for Lloyd when he enrolled in Asuria's Disability Employment Services (DES) program in March 2022 at Asuria's Bondi Junction office. It was there that he met his Mentor, Karina. As Lloyd shared his story and discussed his ambitions, Karina listened attentively, determined to help him overcome any barriers.
Karina recognised Lloyd's interest in the hospitality industry, despite his lack of direct experience in the field. Eager to support his dreams, Karina arranged for Lloyd to enrol in a Barista Course to enhance his coffee-making skills. The course proved to be immensely beneficial for Lloyd, boosting his confidence and equipping him with new abilities.
Empowered by his improved skills and knowledge, Lloyd set his sights on finding the perfect job opportunity. Karina became Lloyd's guiding light, acting as a matchmaker between him and his current employer, Burger Centre, a premier well-being day centre for individuals over 65. Notably, Burger Centre embraced an inclusive hiring practice, actively seeking to recruit and support individuals with who are on the spectrum.
In facilitating Lloyd's placement at Burger Centre, Asuria partnered with JewishCare, the largest provider of aged and community services for the Jewish community in Victoria. JewishCare's J-Jobs Program had a proven track record of helping neurodiverse jobseekers secure meaningful employment through their customised and proactive hiring strategies. Through this partnership, Asuria has successfully placed over 57 people with autism in roles across the country in the past five years.
December 2022 marked a turning point in Lloyd's life as he embarked on his first paid role as a kitchenhand at Burger Centre in Randwick. In this position, he took on responsibilities such as food preparation, adhering to kosher procedures, ordering supplies, interacting with centre members, serving meals and refreshments, and maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen. Despite the initial challenges that come with starting a new job, Lloyd quickly settled in, demonstrating his dedication and resilience.
Throughout Lloyd's employment journey, Karina and Glenn, Asuria's Disability Employment Services Eastern Suburbs Area Manager, maintained continuous communication with JewishCare. They ensured a seamless onboarding process for Lloyd, ensuring that he faced no difficulties in fulfilling his roles at Burger Centre. Karina regularly visited Lloyd's workplace to check in with him, touch base with his supervisor, and chat with his colleagues. Lloyd felt supported and valued, knowing that his team at Asuria genuinely cared about his well-being and success.
Glenn who works closely with JewishCare and J-Jobs, says, “It has been an absolute delight working with J-Jobs and helping change the lives of people like Lloyd. Finding workplaces that can adapt to, but also harness the strengths of, people with autism can be challenging. With programs like J-Jobs combined with the passion and drive of our Asuria Mentors, I feel like we are making some positive change in this area.”
Now, about seven months into his role, Lloyd feels empowered, and his level of confidence has increased significantly particularly since starting his new role. Grateful for the opportunity given by Asuria and J-Jobs, he hopes for employers and managers to be educated about autism so they can create an inclusive, diverse workplace when hiring an employee who is on the spectrum.
Speaking fondly of Lloyd, Christina, Manager at Randwick Burger Centre says, “He is a lovely man; he tries his very hardest and deserves the opportunity to contribute to the community in a meaningful way. It is also a good opportunity for the team to practice inclusion and tolerance, and to understand that we all think differently. Lloyd is a valuable addition to our team because he brings initiative and creativity, and new ideas to improve services.”
If you have a disability, injury, or health condition and would like assistance in preparing, finding and keeping a job, please check out our Disability Employment Services here to find out more!
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