28/08/2026
🎓 NEW SCHOOL LEAVER PROGRAM – EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST 🎓
My Mates Place is currently developing a new School Leaver Program to support young people with disability as they transition from school into adult life.
Leaving school can be an exciting time, but it can also create uncertainty for young people and their families. Our aim is to provide a practical, supportive and enjoyable program that helps participants discover their strengths, develop greater independence and build meaningful pathways into adulthood.
This will not be about sitting in a classroom all day. Participants will learn through real experiences in the community, practical activities, workplace visits and opportunities to make their own decisions.
OUR MAIN PURPOSE
The program will focus on helping participants develop skills in areas such as:
✅ Employment and volunteering readiness
✅ Preparing resumes and practising interview skills
✅ Identifying personal strengths, interests and abilities
✅ Independent travel and public transport
✅ Money handling, budgeting and making purchases
✅ Understanding and using the Companion Card
✅ Cooking, shopping and practical living skills
✅ Communication and appropriate workplace behaviour
✅ Community participation
✅ Confidence, independence and decision-making
✅ Building genuine friendships and social connections
WHAT COULD THE STARTING PROGRAM LOOK LIKE?
Our proposed starting model is:
📅 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
⏰ Approximately 9:00 am–3:00 pm
👥 A small group of carefully matched participants
🤝 Generally operating at a 1:3 support ratio
📍 A combination of activities at My Mates Place and out in the community
We are considering beginning with approximately four to six participants so we can provide individual attention while also creating the friendships and shared experiences that are central to My Mates Place.
The final structure will depend on the interests, goals, abilities and support needs of the young people involved.
POSSIBLE WEEKLY STRUCTURE
💼 Tuesday – Employment and Personal Development
Participants may work on:
* Recognising their interests, strengths and abilities
* Preparing a resume
* Practising interviews and workplace conversations
* Learning about workplace expectations and routines
* Visiting local businesses and exploring different industries
* Investigating employment, volunteering and training opportunities
🏠 Wednesday – Independent Living Skills
Activities may include:
* Budgeting and understanding everyday expenses
* Handling money and making purchases
* Planning meals, shopping and cooking
* Personal presentation, hygiene and daily routines
* Using calendars, phones and reminders
* Understanding community services and the Companion Card
* Developing organisation and problem-solving skills
🚌 Thursday – Community and Travel Skills
Participants may practise:
* Planning and completing public-transport journeys
* Reading timetables and recognising landmarks
* Visiting community locations such as libraries, the zoo, Parliament House, cafés and recreational facilities
* Ordering food and communicating with community members
* Making choices and solving unexpected problems
* Completing activities with gradually reduced prompting
* Building friendships, teamwork and confidence
While each day may have a general theme, the program will remain flexible and participant-led. Activities will be connected to each person’s individual NDIS goals wherever appropriate.
INITIAL CAPACITY ASSESSMENT
Before beginning the program, we would complete a practical capacity assessment with each participant.
This may consider areas such as:
* Communication skills
* Reading, writing and basic numeracy
* Money handling
* Public-transport knowledge
* Personal care and presentation
* Following instructions and completing routines
* Decision-making and problem-solving
* Social interaction
* Workplace readiness
* Personal interests and employment aspirations
* Current levels of independence, prompting and supervision
This will help us understand each participant as an individual, plan appropriate supports and establish a starting point from which meaningful progress can be measured.
HOW WOULD WE MEASURE OUTCOMES?
We want this program to create genuine and measurable outcomes—not simply provide somewhere for participants to attend during the week.
Depending on individual goals, progress may include:
⭐ Developing or updating a resume
⭐ Identifying realistic employment or volunteering interests
⭐ Improving interview and workplace communication skills
⭐ Contacting employers, training providers or volunteer organisations
⭐ Participating in workplace visits or work-experience opportunities
⭐ Planning and completing public-transport journeys
⭐ Improving budgeting and purchasing skills
⭐ Preparing meals with greater independence
⭐ Making more confident decisions
⭐ Requiring less prompting to complete everyday tasks
⭐ Improving attendance, organisation and reliability
⭐ Developing friendships and community connections
⭐ Increasing confidence and independence
Progress would be documented and regularly reviewed with participants and their representatives.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
This program is currently in the planning and development stage, and we would love to hear from:
* Young people preparing to leave school
* Recent school leavers
* Parents and representatives
* Support coordinators
* Schools and School Support Officers
* Employers and community organisations interested in offering workplace visits, volunteering or learning opportunities
If this sounds like something you or someone you support may be interested in, please send My Mates Place a private message.
Expressions of interest will help us understand the level of demand, the goals of potential participants and the best way to structure the program.
We’re excited about the opportunity to help young people take their next steps into adult life with practical skills, greater confidence, genuine friendships and a clearer sense of direction.
My Mates Place – building confidence, independence, friendships and meaningful opportunities in the community. 💙
