From placement to employment: Growing careers in disability support at Gateways

At Gateways, student placements are more than a course requirement. They're an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, build meaningful relationships, and discover a rewarding career supporting people with disability. 

For Jessica, Kathy, Debra and Amanda, their placement and volunteering experiences became the first step in an exciting journey with Gateways. 

Studying Certificate III in Individual Support through education, each entered Gateways with a passion for supporting others and a willingness to learn. Today, all four have secured employment with Gateways, demonstrating the important role placements play in developing the future disability workforce. 

Finding a career with purpose 

For Jessica, a career in disability support started with a desire to work in the community services sector. 

After previously studying Community Services and struggling to find a pathway into the industry, a conversation at a local jobs expo inspired her to enrol in Certificate III Individual Support. 

Through her placement with the Alkira team, Jessica discovered how much she enjoyed supporting people to achieve their goals, building meaningful relationships, and advocating for the people she supports. 

"My placement at Gateways was a really positive experience. I felt welcomed by the team and enjoyed having the opportunity to put my skills and knowledge into practice," she said. 

Jessica joined Gateways as a casual Residential Support Worker in June and has since accepted a part-time role at Alkira, where she continues to support clients she connected with during placement. 

Inspired by personal experience 

For Kathy, the decision to study Individual Support was shaped by her family's lived experience. 

"I wanted a career change and had seen the positive impact the NDIS had on my son's life. His experience inspired me to work in the disability sector and help others." 

Kathy completed her placement at Marshalltown, where she built her confidence while supporting a diverse range of participants. 

"My placement at Gateways was very positive. Working with a range of participants gave me valuable experience and helped me build my skills and confidence." 

The welcoming environment also left a lasting impression. 

"The team was very welcoming and supportive. I felt comfortable asking questions, and everyone was happy to help me learn and complete my tasks." 

Following her placement, Kathy joined Gateways as a casual Residential Support Worker and has recently accepted a part-time position at Marshalltown. 

Her colleagues describe her as someone who builds strong relationships with participants, is eager to learn, and consistently goes above and beyond to provide quality support. 

Turning placement into employment 

Debra’s pathway followed a similar journey. 

After completing placement at Smith Street, Deb recently accepted a part-time Residential Support Worker role with the same team. 

Her placement allowed her to gain practical experience while becoming familiar with the participants, routines and team culture. 

The transition from student to employee highlights the value of placements in helping students build confidence while enabling teams to identify emerging talent. Team members have described Deb as someone who will be a valued addition to the Smith Street team, and her employment at the service where she completed placement is a reflection of the connections she built along the way. 

Discovering a passion through volunteering 

Amanda’s journey into disability support began after relocating back to Victoria and helping her grandmother navigate changes to her mobility and independence. 

Motivated by that experience, Amanda enrolled in a dual Certificate III in Aged Care and Disability. Alongside her studies, she volunteered with Gateways' school holiday programs and social connect program, experiences that helped shape her career aspirations. 

"Once the opportunity arose to volunteer with the Social Connect team, I knew I had found my people," Amanda said. 

Watching clients work towards their goals and achieve meaningful outcomes reinforced her desire to build a career in disability support. She has since joined Gateways as an Inclusion Support Additional Assistant within the Kindergarten Inclusion Support team and will undertake her placement later this year. 

"Amanda is a keen learner who has a willingness to work alongside any client and team member," one colleague shared. 

Creating pathways into meaningful careers 

These stories demonstrate the value of partnerships between training providers and organisations like Gateways. 

By providing students and volunteers with practical experience, supportive mentors and opportunities to build confidence, Gateways helps create pathways into meaningful and rewarding careers. 

For Jessica, Kathy, Debra and Amanda, their journey started with learning. Today, they're helping make a difference in the lives of others while building careers filled with purpose, connection and opportunity. 

Looking for a volunteer opportunity, or Student Placement pathway. Visit our Get Involved page to find out more.