Host Employers

Aspergers Victoria (AV) is seeking your support with an incredibly important program. 

Autistic students are missing out on the essential career foundation of work experience. Our Teens Work KnowHow Program was co-designed to change this. It involves four work readiness workshops, and culminates in a work experience placement while having coaching and support throughout the program. We’re seeking to expand our host employer network. Being a host employer involves a four day work experience placement once or twice a year. This is all supported by existing resources and managed by us.

Our work experience placement program is an incredibly important and impactful program. At AV we realised our autistic students are missing out on the essential career foundation of work experience. This is due to the school's inability to support students’ needs or employers being unwilling to host them unsupported. The autistic unemployment and underemployment rate is staggering and studies show a positive experience of work during high school years can make a substantial difference. 

Our Teens Work KnowHow Program was co-designed through an ILC DSS grant to change this. It involves four work readiness workshops, employer education and support, and culminates in a work experience placement with other teens, while having coaching and support throughout the program.  It has been successful in many ways. Our student participants have improved work readiness, better self-understanding and confidence, a resume ready for part-time work and practised and developed their interview skills. Additionally, this program improves employer understanding and manager capability and capacity to support autistic people, and creates an aptitude to employ neurodivergent people. We are focused on an empowering and strengths based approach.

We have two cohorts of students planned for 2023 and we're seeking to expand our host employer network. 

Being a host employer involves a four day work experience placement once or twice a year (Round 1 and/or Round 2). 

For more information about the content of the program, including proposed dates for intake, sessions, and placement, please browse our 2023 Teens Work KnowHow Program Overview.

This is all supported by existing resources and managed by the Employment Project Manager.

Please email Charmain at programs@aspergersvic.org.au