Experience gives the best outcomes for employers and job seekers

This is advertiser content for VERTO.

Trying to find work when you have a disability can sometimes be difficult, but it doesn't have to be.

Not-for-profit organisation VERTO is a provider of the Australian Government's Disability Employment Service, helping those living with a disability to secure a job, and the service is completely free.

Through the service, a VERTO consultant works closely together with the candidate to identify their personal goals, skills and abilities, to help determine the best job match and employer fit.

"This initial meeting and assessment allows us to understand the nature of the candidate's barriers to employment, plus their strengths, weaknesses and support network, and allows us to look at their aspirations and goals," said VERTO Employment Services Manager Alyssa Bennett.

"We then use that assessment, built around their goals and needs, to develop an individualised plan."

From there, the VERTO consultant provides personalised support and advice about job searches, career options, interviews, resumes, and job applications.

"We provide the assistance and support needed for them to be competitive in the employment process, whatever that might look like for each individual candidate," she said.

VERTO has more than 20 years experience in employment services and a track record as a 5 star rated Disability Employment Service provider. VERTO was also named Open Employment winner at the 2018 Disability Employment Excellence Awards.

Alyssa said what sets VERTO apart is their friendly and experienced consultants.

"Our team are genuinely here to make a difference with the people they work with in our community," she said.

"Our client consultants are people who live and work in these communities, and they're dedicated to helping people not only get a job, but sustain long term employment."

Over the years, VERTO has worked with candidates living with a range of disabilities, from mental health conditions to intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities and severe injuries. They have placed candidates in roles ranging from retail and hospitality, through to warehousing roles, traffic controllers, labourers and administration.

"It's really varied as all of our clients are very different," said Alyssa.

And VERTO's assistance doesn't end once the candidate finds a job, with consultants providing ongoing support tailored to both the candidate and the employer for as long as they're needed. Support for employers also includes financial incentives through the Australian Government's Wage Subsidy Scheme.

"We try and find sustainable employment options, because we want to make sure that our candidates continue in their role for as long as they'd like to. But we also provide any ongoing support that's needed along the way," said Alyssa.

"And we support career progression of our candidates. We've had some who, for example, started as a retail assistant and they're now working as managers and we're working with them to employ more people."

VERTO also has access to government funding which can assist employers with workplace modifications to help candidates best carry out their jobs.

They also deliver the Eligible School Leavers program, for students planning to leave school within the next 12 months. The program can help students find a part-time job while they're studying, plus help with a smooth transition from school into either study or an apprenticeship, and a full-time job.

The Disability Employment Service is free for both employers and job candidates in the Bellingen and Port Macquarie region. To find out more about the free service, call 1300 4 VERTO (1300 4 8378), email desemployment@verto.org.au or visit VERTO.

This is advertiser content for VERTO.