- Ella found her final year of school challenging and wasn’t sure what to do after finishing.
- Ella's school connected with Castle to help with her goal "to try out different jobs and see what I liked best"
- Now she’s building her resume, learning how to apply for jobs, and taking the first steps toward independent employment.
Ella preferred not to share her image, but was happy to share her experience of leaving school.
By the middle of Year 11, Ella already knew school wasn’t going to be her long-term path.
“My last year of school was hard. I didn’t really like it, and I knew I didn’t want to stay until Year 12.”
Living with Autism and ADHD, Ella found the school environment challenging and felt uncertain about what would come next. She wanted independence, but with limited work history and no clear direction, the idea of finding a job felt overwhelming.
Warners Bay High School connected Ella with Castle’s Inclusive Employment Australia program as she prepared to finish school.
When she began working with Employment Success Officer Caleb at Castle, the focus was practical and step-by-step. Together, they updated her resume, worked through online job applications and practised basic interview techniques to build her confidence answering common questions.
-1.png?width=700&height=408&name=Untitled-2%20(5)-1.png)
Ella has since taken the initiative to approach local retailers in person, handing her resume directly to managers at stores including Best & Less, H&M, Spendless Shoes and Dusk. Retail is her short-term goal, a starting point to gain her first job and build workplace skills.
“Ella has been willing to put herself out there,” Caleb says. “It’s been great to see her confidence grow. She’s been walking into stores and introducing herself to managers. That’s a big step.”
Caleb, Castle ESO
At the same time, Ella is beginning to think longer term. She has a strong interest in beauty, particularly nails, lashes and brows, and with Caleb’s support is exploring possible training pathways in that space.
“Castle has helped me figure out what kind of job I want and what I’m good at. It’s also made me more confident talking to people professionally.”
Ella, 17
Ella preferred not to share her image, but she was happy to share her journey in the hope it reassures other young people who feel unsure about life after school.
For now, Ella is planning to secure her first job, build experience and keep discovering where her interests can take her. This is just the beginning.
