Maddy's Story

Maddy knows about overcoming life's challenges.

Growing up with cerebral palsy, an intellectual disability and epilepsy wasn’t easy.

At school it took the right classrooms and teachers to help Maddy become a strong, positive young adult with a dedicated work ethic.

But when it came to finding a job Maddy and her parents thought they wouldn’t find many opportunities.

Then Maddy joined APM…

Read a full transcript of this video.

"APM was a big help in achieving my goals"

Opening doors

Joining the Disability Employment Services program, Maddy had a clear goal when she walked into APM – to find a job she could perform well and with a smile on her face.

As part of her program, Maddy worked with a dedicated APM employment consultant, Ali, to form her personal job plan.

As soon as they met, Ali knew Maddy had plenty to offer employers.

“She was really dedicated, participated in all the activities APM provided and it was clear she was a people person,” Ali said.

Maddy worked with Ali to build her confidence and explore her career options. Including looking at work that interested her, such as teaching and working with children.

“You can see the best in Maddy when she’s around kids and APM supported her with getting her Working with Children check,” Ali added.

Unlocking potential

To find a suitable job, Maddy and Ali looked at potential employers nearby. By taking the time to get to know Maddy, Ali knew she had previously been to a swim school and approached them about any job opportunities.

With her positive attitude to meeting people and overcoming her barriers to employment, Maddy was offered a valuable work experience placement at the Marlin Swim School.

With her dedication, enthusiasm and positive attitude to learning new skills, it didn’t take long for Marlin Swim School to offer Maddy a job.

Maddy in a pool teaching a child to swim

"A job to me is that I know that I can stand on my own two feet"

Key support

With her personal job plan and dedicated APM consultant, Maddy has continued to go from strength to strength.

Maddy and her family continued to get support from APM after she started paid employment.

Ali maintains regular contact including fortnightly visits to the swim school when she started in the role. As well as seeing how well Maddy was performing, Ali was able to speak to her employer and help with any issues that came up.

“When we saw her working and how happy she is in the water teaching kids, it was really rewarding,” Ali said.

More than just a job

Maddy’s parents also share her success as they had regular updates about her progress. Maddy’s mum Sharon praised the support they received.

“It feels fantastic to know that Maddy, for the future, has not just a job but a career,” she said.

“She’s actually going to be a qualified swim instructor which is something we didn’t ever expect.”

Maddy’s motivation

Maddy knows her strengths, her weaknesses and the goals she wants to achieve.

“A job to me is that I know that I can stand on my own two feet eventually,” she said.

“APM was a big help in achieving my goals to be a teacher.”

Achieve your goals

We open doors to employment for thousands of people like Maddy every year.

If you have an injury, illness or disability, speak to us today about how we can help you find the job that works for you.

Are you eligible for Disability Employment Services?

You may be eligible for our Disability Employment Services program if you:

Have a diagnosed injury, illness or disability
Are aged from at least 14 to pension age
Are at or above the minimum legal working age in your state or territory
Are able to work at least eight hours per week (with support when required)
Are an Australian resident
Are not studying full time (unless you’re an eligible school leaver)
Are not working at or above your assessed employment capacity

You can access APM Disability Employment Services through a referral by Centrelink or by registering with us directly.

When you visit Centrelink, they carry out an employment assessment and if you are eligible, they will recommend you to a Disability Employment Services provider. Remember to ask to join APM so you get the best service when searching for employment.

If you’re with another Disability Employment Services provider, but would like to change to APM, contact us and our teams will be happy to speak to you.

Frequently asked questions

Who is APM?

APM is the largest provider of Disability Employment Services in Australia.

With more than 500 locations across the country we help more people into work than anyone else.

We know how hard it is to find work when you’re facing other challenges. We don’t just want you to find a job, we want to help you change your life for the better.

When you come to APM we get to know you so we can help you get the support that’s right for you.

We help you set realistic goals and keep you focused on finding a job that works for you.

There’s a job out there for you.

Let’s go find it.

How does Disability Employment Services work?

Disability Employment Services (DES) is an initiative by the Australian Government to help people with an injury, illness or disability find and keep a job.

This can include helping people to:

manage health issues that may be making it hard to get work
identifying their strengths and work capabilities
developing skills for jobs and being part of a workplace
succeed when they start a new job with further information and support

APM is Australia’s largest contracted provider of Disability Employment Services and we deliver support programs to eligible people across the country.

Who qualifies for Disability Employment Services?

You can join APM for Disability Employment Services through Centrelink.

When you visit Centrelink, they carry out an employment assessment and if you're eligible, they will recommend you to a Disability Employment Services provider. Remember to ask to join APM so you get the best service when searching for employment.

To be eligible for Disability Employment Services, you must be:

An Australian resident aged from at least 14 to pension age
Receiving an income support payment, disability support pension, an NDIS participant or an eligible school leaver
Able to work between eight to 30 hours per week (with support when required)
Not studying full time (unless you’re an eligible school leaver)
Not already working at or above your assessed work capacity

If you're already receiving an income support payment, you can also register with us directly.

If you’re with another provider, but would like to change to APM, contact us and our teams will be happy to speak to you.

What to expect

When you register with APM for Disability Employment Services, we will contact you to confirm your eligibility and invite you for your first appointment.

You will get a local employment consultant who knows the employers, businesses and job opportunities near you.

They will listen to you and build a plan that takes into account your health, personal circumstances, interests and any skills or experience you may have.

Your plan will be unique to you and include steps to help with:

building your confidence
writing your resume and job applications
searching for suitable jobs with potential employers
preparing for interviews
access to services to manage health issues or barriers to work

With APM, you get the support, you get the skills and you get the rewards of having a valuable job.

Already with another provider?

Don’t miss out on a program made just for you, by one of Australia’s best-rated providers.

APM has some of the highest job placement rates in the country.

You can transfer to your nearest APM team in three easy steps:

Call the National Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260
Ask to transfer to APM
Accept our invite to your first meeting

Join the thousands of APM job seekers who change their lives every year by finding valuable employment.

Find your nearest APM location

APM is Australia's largest provider of Disability Employment Services and we have more than 500 locations nationwide.

You can find your nearest APM team on our Find Us page.

Take your first step to a new job