Melissa kicks work experience goals

Dec 3, 2020

melissa

This year has had a big impact on the way we live, work and access the community due to COVID-19, but for 19-year-old Melissa Tredoux, it sure hasn’t stopped her working toward her goal of meaningful employment!

Since graduating from Belridge High School in 2019, Melissa, who has Down syndrome, became an active participant in Rocky Bay’s Stages Toward Employment Pathways (S.T.E.P) program in January this year.

Melissa has since been steadily building her confidence and communication skills with the support of her Rocky Bay S.T.E.P Program mentors.

She used the COVID-19 period to complete various online numeracy and literacy games and training with the support of her Rocky Bay S.T.E.P mentors, successfully completed online training courses including hand hygiene, and has even been getting out and about in the community using public transport.

Rocky Bay also supported Melissa to develop positive work relationships and prepare her for the expectations of the workplace, including updating her resume, and assisted her to discover different types of work that match with her passions and skills.

Melissa currently volunteers twice weekly at a Save the Children op-shop, and through this placement has demonstrated her enthusiasm to learn and is gradually increasing her work tasks each week.

Throughout her volunteering experience, Melissa has worked hard to increase her independence and productivity, and as a result, the support she received from Rocky Bay whilst at work was able to be slowly faded out.

Melissa also secured work experience one day per week at Ocean Keys Fresh in Clarkson.

“Over the past four weeks we have been privileged to watch Melissa grow and integrate into the workplace with ease,” Rocky Bay Community Team Leader S.T.E.P, Penny Bickford, said.

“With the help of her mentor and the super supportive management team at Ocean Keys Fresh, Melissa worked a two-hour shift, completing tasks such as rotating vegetables to keep them fresh, stocking shelves and weighing pre-packed vegies.

“Melissa even received a compliment from a customer in the store about her exceptional customer service and politeness.”

The S.T.E.P program is designed to support customers to find tailored, sustainable experiences and employment matched to their personal goals, abilities, passions and skills.

Rocky Bay’s S.T.E.P mentors within the Community Team work with external organisations to develop opportunities perfectly suited to an individual’s abilities. The team spend time getting to know each individual and help them identify their niche in the workplace.

To find out more about how the S.T.E.P program can assist you, call our friendly Customer Engagement team on 6282 1900, or click here.

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