Stephen and APM Employment Services transcript

Stephen: I'm Stephen, I'm 31. I've got Asperger's. I was applying for jobs. Unfortunately, no one replied back that they wanted me to come in for an interview. The messages I got through Seek, which was the job search site I was using at the time, was “Yeah, it's not going to progress any further”. I feel a bit rejected because like I was wanting to work, just nothing was coming my way. Given the lack of support and things that were happening at a previous job search agency that I was with, Dad basically got me to transfer over here and things went smoother from here. APM was helpful. They walked me through what I needed to do for job search and that. They helped me polish up a resume, so it goes from what I say to at least looks more professional than what I've put, than words I've just thrown on a page. They have put me in touch with some interviews, some of which have been successful.

Adam: Stephen’s got Asperger's disorder. So, basically, Stephen can get quite fixated on things, and awareness type scenarios, he might get a bit uptight in and nervous. So it was really important to try and look for something where Stephen was comfortable.

Stephen: I effectively take 40 to 50 kilos worth of sheets, towels, pillowcases. Put it into what is effectively a blue post bag, then I push the green button on the thing, it goes up and over to the storage area. A new bag comes and I repeat the process.

Adam: Stephen has got some previous skills in kind of factory production type environments. So it was a bit of a no brainer. After having a relationship with Paul about marketing Stephen into this position, with those previous skills, and then working around Stephen's Asperger's and what would be the correct fit and I think we've we struck gold here with that, and he's really excelling and, yeah, we've just matched it up perfectly.

Paul: Stephen's got great punctuality, great attendance, always here way before the start of his shift. Stephen was extremely quiet, but once Stephen gets to know you, he’s very outspoken, and he has a good sense of humour and is easy to work with, and now, you know, he's got a really important task and role for us, which he does really quite well.

Adam: Once getting Stephen into employment he's just become a complete different person, you know, he's bubbly, jokey, loveable nature is just completely shining at the moment, and, yeah, it's fantastic to see.

Stephen: It’s great to know that they appreciate what I do. It means I've got a reason to actually get up and do something in the day. Honestly given how things are going at the moment, I feel like my future’s bright and looking up.