A visit from The ORCA Project
The ORCA Project is a post-school program for young people with disability. It is an initiative of Wesley Mission Queensland. The program includes training and work experience, with the aim of providing a pathway to employment. One element of the program is workplace visits.
In May, the Albany Creek Leisure Centre & Health Club was pleased to welcome participants from the project. Four young people visited the centre in Brisbane’s northern suburbs. They were joined by two ORCA Project volunteers and an employment coach.
Participants learnt about day-to-day activities in a leisure centre, and undertook a range of tasks in the gym, café and reception area. The centre’s Inclusion Coordinator, Chloe Crust, created a booklet for each participant with information about different activities. Participants chose things they would like to try, and the group processed transactions, counted money, helped with stock taking, and gave a tour of the gym.
Chloe says the visit ‘was amazing’ and it involved ‘new opportunities, learning experiences and laughter’. She is already planning the next visit, which will involve twelve ORCA Project participants.
Chloe recommends getting in touch with organisations like Wesley Mission Queensland to explore opportunities to collaborate, and to create community relationships. She says ‘Everything starts somewhere so I say go for it! Start small and work your way up’. She also urges recreation centres to review what they are already doing to promote inclusion, and to ensure they are sharing that information with the local community. This will help initiatives to reach their full potential.
Belgravia Foundation commends The ORCA Project’s aim of connecting young people with meaningful employment, and of exploring their individual interests. Incorrect assumptions about the abilities and employment goals of people with disability can limit their opportunities. It is important to see people with disability as individuals with a diverse range of skills and interests, just like anybody else in our community.
We are particularly pleased that the program is providing participants with an insight into employment in the leisure and recreation industry. To ensure employment pathways exist for young people with disability, we also urge employers in this industry to review their recruitment practices and address barriers to participation.
You can find out more about The ORCA Project on the Wesley Mission Queensland website.