Preparing students on the autism spectrum for life outside the education system is the goal of a new program at Aspect Hunter School.
The school's new 'Work Education and Employment Skills Program' provides specialised autism-specific support for high school students to transition them from school into the workforce.
In 2021, 41 per cent of adults with autism were employed in Australia.
Aspect Hunter School principle Lara Cheney said all 33 students from year nine to 12 are participating in the program to help improve the employability of people with autism.
"Adults on the autism spectrum are under employed based on their potential skills, talents and abilities. We want to respond to that data and look at ways that we can develop skills while students are at school that support them to move into employment," she said.
"Students on the autism spectrum need really specific teaching. We are teaching communication skills, skills in how to apply for jobs, how to interview, traveling to an interview and coping with unfamiliar environments, what to expect when they are in the workforce and also exposing them to different industries."
The new program includes a fully operating café based at the school that offers students the opportunity to build skills across a range of industries such as hospitality, customer service, management and financing. It also includes a 'Garden to Market' program which allows students to plant, harvest and sell produce every fortnight at the local markets.
Students manage the online banking for the café and help decide what the profits go to.
Aspect Hunter School work education teacher Kazany Flick said the program makes students feel excited about becoming financially independent.
"They have been asking whether they can open bank accounts and how to pay tax and shop online and it is great for them to have an interest in being able to manage their own finances," she said.
"We want students to be independent, and an important part of that is being financially independent."
The program will establish partnerships with Hunter businesses and industries that will employ students.
It will be funded by the Greater Charitable Foundation for the next three years.
