Last week, our Disability Employment Services (DES) Participants came together at Status Clarkson to celebrate World Elephant Day!

The event began with an exploration of the elephant’s symbolism in meditation highlighting traits such as majesty, steadiness, slow movement, and perseverance. These qualities mirror the meditative process of focusing on one step at a time with gentle, steady effort.

Following the exploration, Participants took part in a six-minute guided meditation focused on breathing, helping them find calm and relaxation.

To finish, attendees enjoyed mindful art activities, choosing to either paint elephant silhouettes on canvas with acrylics or create elephant fridge magnets with diamond art.

Throughout the session, Participants remained focused, calm and very satisfied with their creations, many expressing joy and a sense of achievement. One Participant even stayed an extra hour to complete a canvas painting as a special gift.

The session was a wonderful opportunity for Participants to experience the benefits of mindful art, including stress reduction, enhanced focus, emotional expression, increased relaxation and a sense of accomplishment.

A big thank you to Sue and George from the DES team, and Casey and Lara from the Workforce Australia – Transition to Work team for organising and supporting this relaxing event for our Participants!

Last weekend, Disability Employment Services Participant (DES), Joseph played his 100th footy game for the Wembley Magpies Football Club!

Jo’s Disability Employment Consultant, Sherrilee, was invited to watch the occasion, which was also the semi-finals for the team. Although Wembley didn’t find the win, Joe had a stand out game with 3 goals!

The stormy weather held off for the entire game, giving Joe the special moment of running through his banner in his number 12 guernsey, and finishing the match lifted onto the shoulders of his teammates!

Joe loves his sports, often taking part in Down Syndrome Australia events like this one, as well as swimming and the HBF Run for a Reason.

You might remember Joseph from earlier this year when he was crowned a finalist in the Disability Employment Australia Annual Awards. Sherrilee found this day just as special, celebrating the milestone alongside Joe.

“Joseph’s family and I stood side by side cheering him on and his team mates, and to say I was lucky to be a part of this is an understatement.”

Congratulations on this big milestone Joe!

Tyrhys joined our Disability Employment Service three years ago, facing multiple personal barriers, including living with cerebral palsy, homelessness, family and relationship breakdowns, and exposure to drug and alcohol use. Without a phone, staying in contact was difficult, but Disability Employment Consultant Ari provided the consistent support Tyrhys needed to keep working toward his employment goals.

After building trust and a safe space within the Status Mirrabooka office with Ari, Tyrhys began to consistently attend fortnightly appointments, soon after getting in contact with BlueSky Mind Studio for NDIS support. From here, the team helped Tyrhys submit a job application for a First Nations Yarn Opportunity through NDIS—an incredible milestone that reflects how far Tyrhys has come.

We’re thrilled to share that Tyrhys got the job, which will be his very first paid role! With Ari’s guidance during his induction, he received extra support to settle in. He’ll be sharing his lived experience and making a real difference through NDIS for Indigenous communities, proudly representing his culture.

Disability Employment Services (DES) Participant David is on the road to recovery, thanks to the selfless support of our Disability Employment Consultant, Ruby.

Over the past 12 months, Ruby has been working with David through DES. Recently, David began experiencing a significant decline in his memory, frequently forgetting appointments, becoming disoriented mid-conversation, and struggling to remember basic tasks like using his phone.

Initially, support for David was hard to come by, with his GP reassuring him there was nothing to worry about. However, as David’s symptoms started to increase, Ruby reached out directly to his doctor via email to advocate for a deeper medical investigation. After a follow-up, David was finally booked in for a cognitive assessment.

Unfortunately, the process was far from smooth. When David received a referral for specialist assessment, it contained minimal information, and he was placed on a 12-month waitlist, a timeline that was simply not an option.

While speaking with David, Ruby discovered that his sister, who lived nearby and had a nursing background, could be a valuable support. Recognising the urgency, and with David’s consent, Ruby reached out. His sister quickly arranged a same-day GP appointment, which led to the discovery of two underlying health conditions.

While the diagnoses are serious, the intervention came just in time. David is now on the pathway toward a formal diagnosis and his sister is actively involved in coordinating his care, treatment and support.

Without intervention, David’s condition could have remained undiagnosed and untreated. Thanks to Ruby’s persistent advocacy, collaboration, and compassionate action, David now has critical medical oversight and family support in place!

David’s story powerfully demonstrates the vital role of proactive support and persistence in our work. It highlights how advocacy can change, and in some cases, save lives.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗔 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮

We are honoured to announce that 𝗘𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆𝟵 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, has been selected as a provider under the Australian Government’s new 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 (𝗜𝗘𝗔) program—an initiative designed to reshape employment services for people living with disability, injury, or a health condition.

This appointment builds on our long-standing commitment to empowering individuals through meaningful and sustainable open employment. Since 2009, Status has supported thousands of participants across South Australia and Western Australia, helping them build confidence, develop skills, and connect with inclusive employers who value their contributions. Over time, we’ve earned a reputation for delivering high-quality, trusted, and person-centred services—and we are humbled to continue this vital work, changing lives and strengthening communities.

From 𝟭 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, we will begin delivering IEA services from a network of 𝟰𝟬 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 across both states—from Two Wells in Adelaide’s north to Aldinga in the south, and from Clarkson to Mandurah in Perth. This expansion marks a significant milestone in our journey, enabling us to reach more communities, support more participants and employers, and deepen our impact. At the heart of this growth is a simple but powerful belief: 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀. It fosters independence, purpose, and connection. Through the IEA program, we will offer more inclusive, flexible, and tailored support—helping participants not only find work, but thrive in it.

𝗔 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀
At Status, every Participant journey begins with trust. Our service delivery model is built on co-design, ensuring services are shaped by the goals and aspirations of both Participants and Employers. Our model is inclusive and adaptable, offering tailored and holistic support for Participants with varying levels of work capacity, working closely with support networks in the community to ensure services are accessible and responsive to individual needs. Status are committed to continuous improvement, ensuring our services remain relevant, effective, and deeply connected to the people and communities we serve.

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁
With this expansion comes opportunity. To support our new service areas and sites, we are creating 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟴𝟬 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 across South Australia and Western Australia. We are looking for passionate, values-driven individuals who want to make a real difference in the lives of others. Whether you're an experienced employment services professional or someone looking to start a meaningful career, we invite you to explore opportunities to join our team.

🔗 Learn more and apply here