As their final school days approach, year 12 students with a disability were given a glimpse of the many possibilities ahead of them on Wednesday.
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Disability, community and employment services were on show at Macintyre High School’s first mini disability expo.
“Our goal is that the students are as prepared as they can be, so that when they leave school they have something to move onto,” Department of Education transition support teacher Danielle Northey said. Ms Northey has hosted several similar expos in the region to introduce students to post-school support services.
She said one focus was helping youth continue to work towards and develop their goals.
“Their learning doesn’t finish when they finish school. In some ways their learning broadens considerably when they leave school,” she said.
Open to the public, it was a chance for the whole community to see the wealth of local services available in the disability sector, and for the services to network with each other. New to the region, employment agency Aimbig and community service Candice Care Inc valued the opportunity to meet with more established local providers.
Ms Northey felt strengthening service networks was essential, and that those in the sector should have the philosophy “if we can’t help you, let’s help you find who can”.
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“The more knowledge they have, the more effective and supportive they can be. Because at the end of the day, it’s about individuals, and it’s about helping them to reach their goals, work towards their potential and problem solve and to support them to be able to function as best as they can and as independently as they can,” she said.
Ms Northey said the success of the day was due to the commitment of providers and “extraordinary organisation and work” from Macintyre High school.
“This can’t happen without their support and they’ve done an exceptional job,” she said.