Impact program participants and the Australian Open are the perfect match!

Akna, Rainer, Owen, Sophie, and Alex are thriving at the Australian Open, gaining valuable experience in customer service and retail through Yooralla's Impact program.

Akna, Rainer, Owen, Sophie and Alex are having a ball at the Australian Open (AO), working in customer experience and at the AO retail store – as part of their participation in Yooralla’s Impact program.

Rainer, Akna and Owen are serving up smiles one visitor at time as part of the Customer Experience team and are having a ball!

“I like the tennis, it’s good!” said Owen.

The Customer Experience team have been the friendly first face of the Open, greeting guests, handing out maps and assisting with directions, making every moment a grand slam for guests. 

“I like working here, I love my uniform. I like working in the information booth,” said Akna.

Sophie and Alex have been practising their money handling and customer service skills, while helping customers ace their style game with the exclusive gear on offer at the AO retail store. 

“I love working at the Australian Open!” said Sophie. 

“I did a good job with customers. I like the towels and tidying the products,” she said.  

Serving up employment opportunities with Impact

Impact is a unique one-year group job training program for people with intellectual disability that combines classroom job skills training with hands-on work experience to prepare for open employment opportunities – like this one with Tennis Australia.

Tennis Australia have partnered with the Impact program each year since 2021, with Impact program staff working throughout the year with Tennis Australia to ensure participants are ready to enter the workforce. 

The participants are supported through the application and interview process and are supported onsite if needed during their shifts.

Check out the team at work!

More on Impact

This partnership with AO is just one of the many exciting work experience opportunities that are on offer to Impact program participants, with the aim of future employment. 

This cohort has already got a taste for open employment, previously developing their job skills through work experience opportunities at Ben & Jerry’s, Carlton Football Club and the M80 Ring Road Alliance in 2024. 

Three participants are embarking on exciting new opportunities as a result of these work experience opportunities! 

Two will join the M80 Ring Road Alliance, with one taking on an office assistant role at the Watsonia building site and the other starting a professional development journey through a Traineeship in Business Administration. Meanwhile, another participant has landed a fantastic role at Ben & Jerry’s in St Kilda, thanks to his newly honed customer service and hospitality skills.

Want to get started on your employment journey?

We can support you to pursue your employment goals by providing job skills training and building pathways into supported, open and customised employment.

Yooralla’s Impact program

The Impact Program's comprehensive approach includes a discovery process, classroom-style job skills training and job coaching. Through this, we help participants explore their strengths, interests and employment goals. Our training supports people with disability to develop independence, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, communication and digital literacy.

Supported by dedicated job coaches, our participants are not only gaining work experience but also receiving ongoing mentorship. This support ensures they are well-prepared for the transition into open employment within their community.

Read more about our Employment services.

Classes are starting soon, contact info@impact.com.au to discuss further

Yooralla’s Foundation program

Yooralla’s Foundation program is designed for 16 to 22-year-olds with intellectual disability.

This one-year program focuses on building self-awareness, vocational choices and independence – providing foundational skills for people who want to transition into the Impact Program or pursue other life goals.

Looking to provide meaningful job opportunities for people with disability?

We’ll help you find the right person for your business, and you’ll provide an employment opportunity for a person with disability. Let us help you find the best employees.

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