For Jason, working as a horticulturalist at the Noosa Botanical Gardens is a dream job.
Working in the beautiful outdoors, in one of Australia’s top tourist destinations, Jason knows when he’s on a winner. Recently, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council officially recognised Jason’s 10 years of service, as a loyal, trusted and well-performed employee.
With the assistance of STEPS, Jason who has Down Syndrome, secured a permanent part-time position at the gardens 10 years ago, following two years of work experience. Jason, 30, works four hours every Thursday at the botanical gardens with some support from the STEPS team in Noosa, who currently assist more than 70 clients within the region. “I really enjoy my job,” Mr Ward said. “My role includes general maintenance of the gardens, mowing, planting, mulching, trimming, blowing leaves with the blower, whipper-snippering and even painting seats.”
Mr Ward’s mother and carer Kim says Jason’s position with council has been so rewarding. To celebrate his 10 years of employment, the Council presented him with a certificate and gift voucher in front of his colleagues at a ceremony held in the garden’s amphitheatre. “It was a happy day for all of us,” said Kim. “Jason has an extra chromosome, which means he is intellectually impaired,” she said. “Everyday things that we do and take for granted are tasks for him. His fine and gross motor skills are affected and speech is limited, he is however very healthy and happy. “Jason’s favourite role is mowing and whipper snippering, he has a passion for loud noise.”
The site manager at STEPS’s Noosa Heads office, Darren, said Jason’s success at the botanical gardens was aided through STEPS’ person centred planning and mentoring program. “Jason has been a STEPS participant for 12 years now,” Darren said. “STEPS helped Jason gain his job with the council, and for four hours every Thursday morning he receives on-the-job support from a dedicated Employment Pathway Mentor. “STEPS Noosa assists Jason with filling in his timesheet, maintaining the lawn mower, mowing lawns, using the whipper-snipper, using the motorised leaf blower and other general duties as required by the staff at the Noosa Botanical Gardens,” he said. “STEPS also assists Jason to access suitable equipment to perform his duties and negotiate issues with his employer.”
For people with disabilities who are keen to find a job or contribute to the community, the support STEPS offers can be invaluable in making that difficult first big step into employment. For Jason, that first step has led him down a path of 10 years of continuous employment in a job he loves.
