Calling all businesses! Meet your next employee at Head High
There’s a group of young people at the Head High skills hub in Manly who have been working together to create an upcoming business networking event, with the hopes of finding skill share opportunities.
The group has been brought together by Julie Ross-Edwards, founder of Head High, which is a progressive and unique service for young adults who are neurodivergent or have a disability. Based in Manly and Mosman, the service is highly personalised for each individual, or ‘Head Higher,’ with a holistic approach that targets support and guidance in all aspects of young adult life.
The service is recognised in the community for its real life work places and events like The Big Happy Cafe and The Big Happy Shop, helping participants to build confidence and gain practical employment skills.
Josh Warton, 22, is part of the group that has been meeting weekly to plan the event. “It’s called ‘Meet the people you’ve been missing’ and it’s telling businesses that they are missing out by not meeting us and learning all about our skills for work,” Josh says. “We sometimes feel forgotten about by employees and really want to work like everyone else. Our campaign will have a networking event for business owners to come and meet us and get to know us.”
The team of eight has already surveyed local business people to find out what time of the day would suit them best to attend the networking event.
“It can be very hard for young adults who have a disability or are neurodivergent to find a job the traditional way,” says Julie. “We’re trying to find those perfect matches that might result in employment. And we’re trying to let people see what Josh and his friends can do.”
Josh Warton (far right)
She says Head High is looking for new businesses to join the skill share program, which is like work experience. It involves having a Head Higher do one hour in a day at the business, with a minimum of four sessions up to 10. “We call it professional skill share because we like to say it’s mutually beneficial – the business gets something out of it as well,” Julie says. “And obviously the hope is that some opportunity will come up. But if it doesn’t, the whole experience – building rapport and relationships in the community – is really important, along with the work skills.”
Josh says he and his Head High friends hosted a Trivia and Tales event at Op for Change as part of the Rise Manly Festival in June, which involved coming up with trivia questions, designing a drink – a Maple Chai Latte – and running the event.
“I’d love to be offered any type of opportunity that matches my skills and great personality,” Josh says. “I’m open to developing in any role in a great, supportive place.”
Julie and Josh are looking for professionals and business owners to attend their upcoming Meet the People You’ve Been Missing networking event in Manly and meet the Head Highers. Businesses can register their interest by emailing: headhighskills@gmail.com