Meet Michael, a student at Greenwood College originally from Vietnam. With a passion for cinematography inspired by his film director brother, Michael dreams of making his mark in the world of cameras and film. As part of his Emploment Buddy Program placement, Michael has gained invaluable experiences, from creating websites at ES2 to interviewing fellow students about their work placements. Michael also helped write this story, learning how to tell compelling stories as part of the Rise Marketing team!

Michael joined Jasmine from Rise and Lukas from Essential Personnel at Rebel Sport in Whitfords to catch up with two friends, Gabs and Jahdyn, who were on their own work placements. Armed with a camera and notepad, Michael helped capture the essence of their stories and ambitions.

Gabs, a budding animator with a love for radio and film, talked about his earlier work placement at Sonshine FM, where he gained confidence and enjoyed chatting with coworkers about his animation ideas. “I felt like an adult, discussing my ideas with everyone,” he said with a smile.

Jahdyn, dressed in his sportiest basketball gear, dreams of starting his own production studio. Inspired by musicians like Ice Cube and Kid Cudi, he’s passionate about making music and creating podcasts. His previous placement at IGA Innaloo saw him stocking shelves and organising first aid kits, always ready to lend a hand. Jahdyn is also an enthusiastic hip hop dancer. Taking classes and performing in his free time. He was thrilled to share that his year 12 classmates were excited to watch his next performance.

The boys’ day at Rebel Sport began with a tour of the store and warehouse, learning about logistics, customer service, and safety procedures. They even conducted a risk assessment, identifying potential hazards and taking steps to ensure a safer environment. After restocking all the soccer balls, they placed rubber caps on the ends of all shelves to reduce risks to small children… and the unobservant.

Over nine weeks leading up to their work placements, Michael, Gabs, and Jahdyn learned about workplace behaviours, occupational health and safety, resume writing, and interview skills. The Employment Buddy Program equipped them with the tools they needed to succeed.

“The Employment Buddy Program was great,” Michael shared. “We talked about jobs, job experience, how to make a resume, and where to apply for jobs. We practiced job interviews and talked about what we enjoy and what we had been learning. Then we got actual work experience!”

Michael’s experience with the EBP shows just how much opportunity and support can make a difference. With newfound skills and confidence, he’s excited to pursue his passion for cinematography.

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Want to learn more about the Employment Buddy Program?

If you know of any employer who may be interested in learning more about this initiative, or any young people with disability aged 15-24 who may benefit from the program, don't hesitate to reach out.

Prospective organisations: Katie Williams, on 0418 363 483 or katie.williams@risenetwork.com.au
Prospective candidates: Lukas Murphy, on 0460 022 058 or lukas@essentialpersonnel.org.au

Find out more about the Employment Buddy Program on our website here.