Better Together: Leon and Sarah
Leon Hage, DSA Employment Consultant and Sarah a School Leavers Employment Support (SLES) client have been working together for just over a year. The two are focused on getting Sarah the skills she wants and needs for the workforce; they shared some highlights of their time working together with us recently.
SLES is a program designed to prepare young people for work, they are supported by DSA Employment Consultants to practice skills and communication, before being placed in a work experience role.
Sarah: I met Leon at DSA in March 2021. I was doing a Certificate 2 in Business at the time, but I didn’t really like it and just felt a bit blah, like I didn’t know what to do.
My first impressions of Leon was that he was nice and as I’ve gotten to know him, I like him even more because we share the same sense of humour. It’s been helpful to work with someone like him, that I feel comfortable with.
I’ve found working with DSA helpful in general, it’s good to have a support team. I’ve been dealing with some stuff recently and I have been able to talk to Leon and the other Employment Consultants about it. They’ve given me pointers and helped me through situations so I can stay on track. I’ve been with them for a while now doing courses, so I know them well.
Through DSA I got a job for a while last year and then decided this year to go back and study. Now I’m finishing a Certificate 2 in Community Services and am about to start a Certificate 3.
I really like the course I’m doing now. So many people have helped me over the years, the things I’m learning make me feel like I could give back and help other people. We learn about volunteering and working for places that support people who need it.
I like what I’m doing, but it isn’t easy! There is so much information to remember. Each week they send us PowerPoints and we have to read through things as a class. We also do so many role plays, which I really don’t like but I know isn’t forever.
I’m a really social person, I have made a lot of friends at Tafe. That’s one of the highlights of going there, seeing my Friends. I think I’ve become more confident and social since working with DSA. Leon always says I have more of a social life than he does!
Once I’m finished studying, I am going to work in a job that cares for people. I might start out working with my mum, she has her own business doing hospice care. Down the track I’d love to work with kids, teenagers, or young people in social services some how.
Leon: I remember when I first met Sarah, I met her at the group program she was at. As soon as I walked in a saw everyone crowded around her, talking to her, asking her things. Miss popular! I tease her about that now but it’s great to see how her confidence and independence has grown.
Our role is to work with clients to get them ready for Tafe and ultimately work. We liaise with the Tafe to help and prepare students for what that kind of learning environment will be like, so they succeed.
I’ve seen Sarah go from someone who didn’t really know what we required of someone in a workplace to someone who has a great work-ethic and is happy to do things on her own. I’m really happy about the progress she’s made. We also get along well, we have the same sense of humour, it’s a little dark and a little dry so that also makes it fun.
Once Sarah has finished studying, I would love to see her working as an advocate for people with disability or something like that. She would be excellent at that. I also think she would really flourish working in transport services. She would get a lot out of supporting people to get around the community.