support options for school leavers with a disability
Let OC Connections help navigate your transition from school with our range of support options for young adults with a disability.
what do you want to do after school?
Depending on whether you want to develop life or work skills, pursue hobbies, make friends, trial employment options, get a job, build independence or explore living options, OC Connections provide supports for school leavers with disability designed to deliver the following outcomes:
- Increased independence
- Capacity and skills building
- Increased social and community participation
- Confidence building
- Support of lifelong learning and growth
Explore our School Leaver options below to find out more.
HOW CAN OC CONNECTIONS HELP YOU TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL?
OC Connections has a range of support options for school leavers with disability to assist with the transition from school life to the adult world. The type of supports you choose will depend on your goals, interests, support needs and funding. We have identified the general goals of most school leavers below to help you explore the supports available at OC Connections. Your goals might reflect one, two, or all three of these and you may then choose to use a range of our supports to help you meet your goals. Explore each one to see what is on offer for you after school.
LEARN LIFE SKILLS, PURSUE HOBBIES AND MAKE FRIENDS
At OC Connections, we can support you to:
- Explore creative pursuits while working on motor skills, decision making, communication, making friends and engaging with staff and volunteers.
- Develop new skills such as teamwork, organisational skills, leadership, literacy and independence through community interaction, volunteering, working as a team, exploring Melbourne and its surrounds.
- Focus on your health and fitness while having fun with friends.
- Make connections and meet new people in group activities.
If these are similar to your goals, you may want to explore My Days activities and supports.
develop work skills, trial employment options, get a job
If getting a job is important to you, OCC Enterprises can assist you to:
- Explore employment options
- Development employment plans
- Identify goals, support needs and learning requirements
- Provide on-the-job training
- Develop your job ready skills
- Place you in supported employment
If you are ready for work, you can explore our Supported Employment options
Need the skills and confidence to find and keep a job? Explore our Towards Employment – School Leavers Employment Supports (SLES) pathway.
build independence, explore living options
If you aspire to live independently, there are a variety of supported community living options on offer from OC Connections for people with disability.
If you would like to work towards building your independent living skills so you may one day move into a home of your own, you may wish to explore our Short Term Accommodation (or respite care). As well as “time-out”, Short Term Accommodation (STA) provides a chance for you to foster friendships, learn new living skills, independence and participate in community based activities.
Our In home support options can also help you develop your personal and independent skills by providing assistance in your day-to-day living tasks in your family home or other accommodation, so you can choose how to live the life you want.
Looking to transition into disability accommodation after you have finished school?
You may want to explore our Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and Specialist Independent Living options.
HOW DO I DECIDE ON WHAT TO DO AFTER SCHOOL?
This can be an overwhelming process, but if you take the time to review your goals, explore your options and talk to a range of providers, you will be empowered to find a path to suit your needs
EXPLORE
- Attend your school career expos, where providers and services in your area will be available to talk to you about the services available after you leave school.
- Speak to your planner or Support Coordinator about options available to you. Don’t have a Support Coordinator? Speak to our Support Coordinators today.
- Find out the disability service providers in your area and who offer support services to suit your needs. You can explore a list of registered NDIS Providers on the NDIS site.
- Attend Disability Expos, like Care Expo or Melbourne Disability Expo, where you can talk to a range of support services to assist you in your decision making.
REVIEW YOUR GOALS
- Ask yourself: What are my interests?; What support do I need?
- Does your current plan work with these goals or do you need a review to incorporate new funded supports?
- You might need a plan review to check if your supports are working for you and they are helping you work towards your goals. Find out more about NDIS Plan Reviews
SPEAK TO US
Talk to an OC Connections staff member today about your options, your funding requirements and other considerations to help you take the next step with confidence.
MEET OCC PARTICIPANTS WHO TRANSITIONED FROM SCHOOL
Will
Will wants to work on a Highland Cow farm and is developing his employment skills through work experience and other activities as part of the School Leavers Employment Supports (SLES) pathway, Towards Employment. Will commenced our SLES pathway immediately after finishing school and has been working on his communication skills, travel training and exploring a range of employment options. If you are like Will and want to develop your employment skills, visit our Towards Employment information page.
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Matthew
Matthew has attended OC Connections since he left school in 2018. He has undertaken both centre and community based activities at OC Connections. Matthew enjoys activities that get him out and about, allow him to socialise with his peers and build independence. He currently takes part in activities such as Explore Melbourne, Travel Training, Bake and Taste and visiting the Queen Victoria Market. If you are like Matthew and would like to explore your hobbies, socialise with friends and develop your life skills, visit our My Days information page.
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Georgie
Georgie is working on her independent skills, learning to shop, prepare meals and catching up with friends when she stays at our Short Term Accommodation venue. If you would like to work on your independent skills in a safe environment with friends you can explore our My home page.
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