Employment and Transition Services

Support for gaining employment or to transition from school into work and general life.

Ministry of Social Development funding now allows Autism New Zealand to offer a range of employment support and transition services in its Auckland and Wellington branches.

Employment Support Programme

(Auckland and Wellington)

Aims of the Service

Managed by experienced staff who understand the challenges and opportunities autism can present. The service focuses on pre-employment coaching and in-work support for the employee and the employer. It is specifically designed to provide the support required to find employment that is suitable, meaningful and sustainable, while allowing opportunities for further development.

The employment service includes:

  • Identification of realistic career options
  • Creation of a step-by-step plan to gain employment
  • Creation of a targeted CV and cover letters
  • Practical job search skills
  • Assistance in making the first approach to employers
  • Interview practice and interview support
  • Job-coaching
  • Autism awareness training for employers of participants in the service
  • In work support for those already in the workplace who may be having difficulties in their job.

Goals and Outcomes of the Service

  • Preparation for employment
  • Employment placement
  • Continuous employment support for up to 12 months
  • In-work support after 12 months, if required

Target Group and Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this service, job seekers should:

  • Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
  • Be aged between 16-64
  • Be willing to work a minimum of 5 hours per week in a mainstream workplace.

Exceptions to the eligibility criteria 

  • They are enrolled with another supported employment provider
  • They qualify for vocational rehabilitation from ACC
  • They are still enrolled at school

To Apply

People can self-refer to the service. The service is currently running in Auckland and Wellington.

Please note: Due to the high demand we have been experiencing, our Employment Service is currently working at full capacity and our waiting list is also closed. We will be reviewing our status at the end of April and will update our availability to take on more job seekers then. Thank you for your patience.

Further Information

Auckland Employment Support: 
Email. employment@autismnz.org.nz
Phone. 021 190 8091

Wellington Employment Support:
Email. employment.wellington@autismnz.org.nz 
Phone. 021 198 3320

Transition from School Service

(Auckland)

Aims of the Service

To contribute towards autistic people having a good life, in everyday places, as others do at similar stages of life.  

This will be achieved by:

  1. Enabling the uninterrupted movement of students in their last year of school into post-school education, employment and/or community services and activities and
  2. Ensuring that there is a co-ordinated plan implemented to assist the student with achieving their transitional goals.

The Service will also play a role in helping to build:

  • Inclusive and welcoming communities and mainstream services
  • Employer’s confidence in employing autistic people

 Goals and Outcomes of the Service

  • To promote autistic people having a choice and control over their support/services
  • Giving autistic people and their families greater choice and control over their supports and lives
  • To assist autistic people into paid or self-employment on an equal basis with others
  • Observing the rights of autistic people to live independently and be included in the community

Target Group and Eligibility Criteria

People eligible to participate in the Service will:

  • Be currently living in New Zealand
  • Be a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident
  • Be aged between 16 and 21 years inclusive
  • Be funded by the On-going Resource Scheme (ORS)
  • Be in their final year of school
  • Have a diagnosis of autism that presents a barrier to participation and inclusion.

Exceptions to the eligibility criteria 

When a person qualifies for support to transition from school (vocational or social rehabilitation) that is funded by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)

To apply

Students will self-refer to the service. The service is currently running in Auckland, with expressions of interest being taken for Wellington.

Further Information​

Email. schooltransition@autismnz.org.nz

Phone. 021 225 9086

Employment Service in Schools

(Auckland)

Aims of the Service

The Employment Service in Schools (the Service) is for young people who are on the autism spectrum.

The aims of the Service are to work with these young people in their final two years of school to:

  • Promote employment or employment related training as their best options when they leave school
  • Develop employment focused transition planning
  • Develop work confidence through work experience and paid part time work outside school hours
  • Support autistic students to gain sustainable, paid employment or seek training that will help them achieve their employment related goals.
  • Support employers to overcome barriers to employing autistic people 

This will be achieved through the provision of:

  • Employment-related skills
  • Acknowledgment of different pathways post-secondary school
  • Placement into open and inclusive employment
  • Providing any required pre and postplacement support aligned with the student’s transition and employment plan.
  • Providing students with In-Work Support to assist with transition challenges, career development, and work-place issues
Goals and Outcomes of the Services

The goals of the Service are to support autistic people to achieve their employment goals as they progress out of compulsory schooling by providing:

  • Career/employment pathway support
  • Preparation for employment
  • Employment placements, including work experience and out of school jobs
  • Employment support for up to 12 months whilst the student remains in school

Target Group and Eligibility Criteria

People eligible to participate in the Service will: 

  • be currently living in New Zealand; and
  • be a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident; and
  • be aged between 14 and 21 years inclusive (on enrolment); and
  • have a diagnosis of Autism that presents a barrier to employment; and
  • be enrolled in a Secondary School in New Zealand and be planning to leave school within two years of engaging with the service. 

Exceptions to the eligibility criteria 

A person will not be eligible for the Service:

  • If they qualify for support to transition from school that is funded by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
  • If they are currently accessing Ministry of Social Development (MSD) funded Transition Services.

To apply

Students will self-refer to the Service. Please note this is a pilot programme in Auckland and there are only 6 schools that have been selected that we can work with.

Further Information​

Email: employment.schools@autismnz.org.nz 

Phone. 021 225 9086

Any further employment enquiries, including training for organisations, can be directed to Megan.McNiece@autismnz.org.nz 

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