“To be able to work, you’ve got to get accepted first and that’s the biggest barrier.”

Tayla’s openness and determination are just two of the qualities she brought to her successful journey to employment with APM Employment Services.

Living with cerebral palsy finding a good job in a workplace where she was accepted as a member of the team wasn’t easy.

After several poor experiences in workplaces and being rejected by other potential employers, Tayla, like many job seekers, also faced challenges to her mental health and self-confidence.

When she approached APM Employment Services for support, the 24-year-old was feeling down about her chances of finding a good job.

“After a couple of years of being in a state of depression, from that, and not feeling as though I was able or wanted as a worker,” Tayla says.

“In the last few months of last year I decided that I was just going to give it a go.”

Her self-proclaimed stubbornness was what she says motivated her to try again.

“Being stubborn and saying ‘you know what I can get my own job, I can do this’, that’s the point I was at,” Tayla says.

“I decided when I applied at Respect that I didn’t want to be burned again so I wanted help.”

Determined and dedicated

When she approached APM Employment Services in Wangaratta, Tayla was determined to succeed.

“My first impressions of Tayla were that she's a really, really down to earth person and she was really, really keen to get into her job,” says Emily, Tayla’s dedicated employment consultant.

“She's very articulate in the way she spoke - very, very intelligent woman.”

Working together, Emily helped Tayla with her job searching strategy, looking at a range of roles in different industries and tailoring her applications.

Eligible for support through the Disability Employment Services program, Tayla had a personalised job plan to boost her confidence and search for jobs suitable for her capacity to work.

She soon applied for jobs herself and identified a role with St. John’s Respect aged care centre as an ideal opportunity.

After her application for a laundry assistant led her to an interview, Tayla’s approach and attitude helped her successfully land the job.

“With nursing we’re always taught to see the person, not the disability or the disease - so I just saw Tayla as a young lady that was looking for a position,” Tayla’s employer Margaret says.

In her role, Tayla delivers and organises laundry for each other residents each day, conscientiously straightening their wardrobes as she goes.

She has found the level of social interaction and solo autonomous work is an ideal balance for her.

Although the muscle stiffness from cerebral palsy does affect her movement and balance, she finds she can pace herself well enough.

“I may take a little more time or I might not be able to do certain things, but the everything else that I do, I do with self-respect for what I would like done with my things,” Tayla said.

An asset to her workplace

As she started her new job, Tayla’s support from APM continued and Emily was there to offer guidance.

“I was calling her quite often before she got started” Emily says.

“I'd call her before a shift just to make sure she was okay."

“She's progressed so far in this employment. We speak to each other every now and again to check in - she's doing really well,” Emily adds.

And it didn’t take long for Tayla’s colleagues, and residents at the centre to warm to her.

“She's a real asset and a delight to work with,” Margaret says.

“You see very much her ability rather than her disability.”

Tayla’s role has seen her progress swiftly along the road to further independence – moving into her own unit, along with saving for a new car.

Now and in the future, she knows she has a great support network for whatever she needs on her path to success.