Brendan - Great attitude and hard worker Brendan was only part way through his second year at Bankstown NOVA Transition when he was offered a job at the Bankstown Sports Club. His employer, Mark, says that Brendan is a valuable team member who is very focused at work.Mark says he is proud to have chosen NOVA Employment, and describes both Brendan and another NOVA Transition graduate as great assets to his team: they are both hardworking, take…
Cody - Work helps develop confidence If you head to Katoomba RSL you’re likely to be greeted by Cody. He’s almost part of the furniture, having worked as a doorman since 2011. His jobs include greeting people on arrival, helping them sign in and generally answering any questions patrons might have. It took about a year before Cody became completely comfortable with this role but now he revels in it.Cody enjoys the company of his…
Kamran - Work experience turns into paid employment When Kamran learnt that his work experience had turned into paid employment, he was relieved and happy, in fact he was over the moon! Over the past few months, he’s been learning many different aspects of the business at Punchys Gym, including administration, personal training and customer service. He enjoys being sporty and getting sweaty, so this is the perfect role for Kamran.During Hurstville’s NOVA Transition program, Kamran learned many…
Kayla - Life’s just fine when you’ve got your dream job When she first started at NOVA Transition in Campbelltown, Kayla remembers telling her job coach that she wanted to work on the Manly Ferries. NOVA job coaches have to be both optimistic and realistic, ensuring that they help the trainees aim high with their employment goals while at the same focusing on available work. But still, they weren’t sure that Kayla could pull this one off!So everyone…
Daniel - Reliability number one asset How did Daniel get a Retail Traineeship?According to Daniel, 'I just did the work experience and they liked me so much they actually offered me a job.'It was a little more complicated than that. Daniel attended NOVA’ s Transition program designed to prepare school leavers with a disability for employment. It's normally, a two-year program full of work experience, industry visits, and training about employer expectations, but Daniel found work…
Chris - Managers’ Right-hand Man While he was at NOVA Transition Richmond, Chris was known as ‘everyone’s friend’. He was the guy that would settle disputes in the training room and the guy whose family made cakes for special events so Chris could proudly hand them around.And now he is the guy – in fact, the right-hand man for the manager at his local Coles supermarket. Employed in April 2016 as a service assistant Chris currently works 15…
Kallina - From quiet to working in communication! As part of NOVA Transition St Marys, Kallina completed work-experience placements in retail, computers and administration. She enjoyed being part of a team but these roles didn’t quite suit her.When Kallina first started with NOVA in 2015, she was very shy and didn’t speak in public. However, by her second year in the program, her confidence and communication had improved so much that she started looking for work…
Alex - Growing confident and independent At school, Alex did work experience at an Australian Disability Enterprise. But her Grandmother, Rosa, felt that Alex could work in open employment. She brought Alex to meet Penrith NOVA Transition and, two years on, Alex has a job with Folklore Patchwork.As a retail assistant, Alex helps with cleaning, folding fabrics, and sorting them into colour groups. She also helps customers attending sewing classes to find the right material or thread.Being…
Jouvah - Determination and hard work pays off Jouvah was keen to find a paid job when he started at St Marys NOVA Transition. Although he was very quiet – he describes himself as shy, and used to sweat when interacting with others – he dreamed of working in retail.Jouvah faced a big hurdle: he struggled with time management and was routinely late to Transition and work experience placements. Being on time is essential in retail work. So,…
Belinda - She's a keeper Belinda’s favourite part of her job at Kid About in St Marys is cooking, but she gets to do all sorts of roles, including cleaning, sweeping, washing up, wiping up, storing things away and sorting books on the shelf. She also enjoys having more money and likes working with the other staff.One of Belinda’s work experience placements during her training At NOVA Transition St Marys was at a local children’s play centre. Many trainees get jobs…
Alysha - Dreaming of this job since she was ten years old … For Alysha, the best part of working at a childcare centre is playing with the kids. ‘Their excitement rubs off on you. They all love the sandpit. I especially love teaching the kids how to ride bikes, and art. They can really express themselves through art,’ she says.You’d have to say that working at ACDMA is Alysha’s dream job. Ever since she was in…
Katrina - Growing up through work Katrina graduated from Windsor NOVA Transition at the end of 2015 and started work in the kitchen and dining room at a local nursing home. On a supported wage, Katrina works from 8am to 3.30pm on Thursday and Friday.Already, her NOVA Job Coach has reduced her workplace support from 100% to 80%. Some of the improvements Katrina has made are remembering residents names, knowing which rooms need water jugs, and faster setting of…
Jordan - Choose something you like Jordan really struggled at school and wasn’t too interested in NOVA Transition, where she started after she finished year 12. According to NOVA staff, in her first year of training at Ingleburn NOVA Transition, Jordan would turn up late in clothes unsuitable for a workplace, and swearing.Thanks to her mother, Raelene’s, encouragement and NOVA’s commitment to finding award-wage work for every trainee that comes through their doors, Jordan’s behaviour started to…
Michaela - Proud worker, proud Mum During her second year at Ingleburn NOVA Transition, Michaela started working three days a week in a traineeship, through which she'll gain her Certificate III in Childcare. It was a busy time and hard work, but now she and her mother, Maria, couldn’t be more proud.When Michaela first got the job, Maria burst into tears. ‘She’d been struggling to find a job and was being knocked back job after job. Negativity all…
NOVA is a supported employment program that offers specialist job-seeking assistance and post-placement support. We find jobs in the general community at award wage.
NOVA works exclusively with people who have a disability or significant barriers to work. We have an excellent record of success and meaningful career development. Staff from our Campbelltown office also support people who are deaf or hearing impaired. NOVA is not a sheltered workshop or ‘business service’.
