On weekdays, Shay steps through the grand entrance of the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney, changes into his uniform, and greets guests with his 1000-watt smile.
“I arrive at my job, I put on this amazing uniform, and I’m just so grateful,” says Shay, 26, who’s come a long way from the days he was told he was not ready for the workforce.
The turning point came with a conversation – and an ally in his corner who listened.
“Leyla is phenomenal, a real gem,” says Shay’s Mum, Diane. “She really took the time to listen to what Shay’s goals were and really believed that he could achieve them.”
Leyla is Shay’s Uniting Local Area Coordinator. Rather than focusing on limitations, Leyla focused on potential. She took the time to understand Shay’s goals, worked closely with his family, and explored opportunities to set him up for success.
With support from Uniting LAC and the NDIS, Shay secured a place with Hotel Etico, a social enterprise that trains and employs young people with disability. Through the program, Shay developed real-world skills in hospitality and ultimately secured permanent employment at the Fullerton Hotel.
He started as a porter in October 2022 and grew into a valued member of the team, greeting guests, assisting with luggage, and doing what he loves most: connecting with people.
His employer, Fullerton Hotel General Manager John O’Shea, celebrates his impact: “I don’t think there should be any barriers in hiring. We should give people a chance to do anything that they feel capable of doing.”
Shay’s family is thrilled to see how he’s blossomed through finding the right employment pathway. “We could not have done that without the NDIS and Leyla’s support,” says Diane.
Today, Shay is thriving. He travels independently, manages his routine, participates in social groups and keeps his gaze firmly on the future. “He’s very motivated,” says Diane. “Very proud to have a job, to be making money, to be contributing to life in general, like his sisters, like I am, like his dad, like everyone else.”
Shay’s positive outlook was evident to Diane one day, as she took a walk with Shay and he chatted to her about his daily commute: “Shay said, ‘Mum, you know, sometimes, if it’s a nice day, I will walk to get off the train at Central, and walk, and look at the city, and look at the beautiful buildings, and go, I am so lucky! I get to travel on the train by myself and look at the beautiful city, and then I arrive at my job, and I put on this amazing uniform, and I’m just so grateful.”
Hearing this was momentous for a Mum who’d faced uncertainty, prior to finding support through Uniting LAC and the NDIS. “We were really concerned, wondering what the future would look like. And that has completely changed now,” says Diane.
“It’s been transformational, not just for him but for the whole family.”
To find out how Uniting LAC can support you or someone you care about, contact us on1300 453 303.
Follow this link to watch Shay in action! https://www.facebook.com/reel/1768434903848580