From School to Work: Spencer’s Employment Journey

Thinking about the move from school to work? Spencer’s story shows how work experience, preparation and the right support can help.

Spencer Whitley knew he wanted to work, and he wasted no time making it happen.

After finishing school in November 2023, Spencer landed a job the following month at Endeavour Foundation’sWacol Business Solutions site in Brisbane.

In his role, he is responsible for labelling and packing a wide variety of products a job that puts his attention to detail to good use.

Spencer has also completed the training necessary to operate a pallet jack, helping him build his skills and take on more responsibility at work.

But Spencer’s transition into employment began well before he graduated, with work experience helping him prepare for the workforce while he was still at school.

Preparing for Work While Still at School

He regularly did work experience alongside his classmates from Ipswich West State Special School.

This helped him to feel confident about transitioning to full-time employment after graduating from high school.

It also gave Spencer the chance to see a real workplace, try different tasks and become familiar with what working life could look like before his final day at school.

For Spencer, that preparation paid off. Just one month after graduating, he was ready to take the next step into employment.

Finding Friendship and Belonging at Work

One of the things Spencer values most about his time at Wacol Business Solutions is the genuine sense of acceptance he has found within the team.

From day one, he was welcomed by his coworkers and felt he could truly be himself.

This supportive environment has allowed Spencer to build real friendships that he had not experienced much before joining Endeavour Foundation.

For Spencer, these connections have transformed his work life into something special, making the support he now enjoys even more significant.

Building New Skills at Wacol

Spencer is one of more than 100 employees at Wacol.

Wacol offers a range of work opportunities that can differ from day to day, including food packaging, box labelling, heat sealing and administration, as well as opportunities to develop skills such as forklift driving.

This gives employees the chance to gain experience across different tasks and continue developing their workplace skills over time.

Across these sites, people with an intellectual disability can earn an income, develop new skills and be part of a workplace team.

What Can School Leavers Learn from Spencer's Story?

Spencer’s experience shows the value of starting to think about employment before school finishes.

Work experience gave him the opportunity to become familiar with a workplace, build his confidence and discover what employment could look like for him.

By the time he graduated, taking the next step into work did not mean starting from scratch.

For students with disability and their families, exploring employment options early can make the transition from school feel more manageable.

It can also give young people more time to discover the type of work they enjoy, the skills they want to develop and the support they may need along the way.

Explore Employment Options After School

Endeavour Foundation’s Supported Employment pathway can help people with disability build skills, earn an income and be part of a workplace team.

We are one of Australia’s largest employers of people with disability, with employment opportunities available across a range of commercial environments.

If you are aged 16 or older, you may be eligible to work under the guidance and mentorship of Employment Coaches and Production Team Leaders while developing new skills and gaining practical workplace experience.

If you or someone you support is starting to think about employment after school, you can explore your options with us.

Enquire below to get started.