Interchange WA has nominated Lee for the Excellence in Supporting Employment Outcomes award at the 2026 WA Disability Support Awards.
This nomination comes after he supported a customer not just to secure a new job, but to find a sense of belonging, build confidence, and step up into a leadership role.
Five years in the making
Lee has been supporting Josh for over five years, including through the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth that Josh has experienced in that time has been outstanding. Growing from a deep introversion even before the lockdowns of the pandemic, to becoming a Team Leader in a job that he loves today. Every step along the way has taken time, but Lee showed patience and celebrated the small victories that has lead Josh to where he is today.
Through much of this time, Josh had been working in late-night retail and fast-food positions, sacrificing sleep to choose to work back-to-back shifts. It was clear from the beginning that Josh had both the drive and the capability to work hard, but the workload left him burned out and feeling unsupported by his coworkers and managers, and, most importantly, felt that the work didn’t align with what he truly wanted to do.
As a result, he began to turn inwards and seek to increase his isolation in addition to the loneliness he already faced during lockdowns. Lee took the initiative to encourage him, starting with small steps, until Josh asked Lee to help him make a change in his situation.
When Josh faced discrimination in his workplace, Lee advocated for him and helped escalate the issue to senior management. This lead to a formal legal process that affirmed Josh’s right to fair treatment in the workplace.
Throughout this process, Lee questioned whether Josh felt fulfilled by his work, and after some reflection, he realised he didn’t, but he wasn’t sure about what to do. Together, they sat down and researched employment options that suited him. Lee felt that the issue was never the Josh’s capacity or skills, but his confidence. After all, he had committed himself to intensive working schedules at his previous job, so he had the drive to work, but not the belief he could do more.
One Step At A Time
After taking the time to assess possible jobs, they broke down the process of getting that job into smaller steps.
The work they found involved traffic management, which provides structure, clear rules, and applies practical problem-solving to everyday work. This aligned with Josh’s interests and way of thinking.
Getting this job started with getting his driver’s license. To do this, Lee worked with Josh’s mother to attain NDIS funding for driving classes. Although Josh had failed his driving test multiple times in the past, Lee’s encouragement didn’t falter. The day he passed his test was a breakthrough moment that bolstered his confidence and pushed him forward.
Following up on this success, Josh trained for Traffic Management and White Card certification. Lee continued to support him with this endeavour, supporting him to learn the content. Although it took time, dedication, and focus, Lee kept Josh motivated and focused on every step. Never doing the work for him, Lee made sure Josh understood the content on his own so he could apply it on the big day: the job interview.
Lee attended the job interview with Josh, and it was a complete success. Starting with this casual position at work, he found meaningful putting a smile on his face, and it only got better from there. As time has passed and trust in his work has grown, Josh’s work has increased his hours and even promoted him to a Team Leader role last year.
Lee’s commitment to coaching was a perfect match for Josh’s unwavering work ethic. Josh always knew he could work, and was willing to put in the hard yards to get there. Lee’s motivation is what kept him on-track and gave him the ability to uncover his potential which he hadn’t seen before.
Confidence is key
Meaningful employment reignited Josh’s confidence. Passing his driving test restored independence. Securing a job aligned with his interests, rebuilding pride and self-worth. He now maintains stable routines, engages socially with colleagues, and participates actively in the community.
Josh’s early 20s were once defined by isolation; now they are defined by growth and responsibility.
His family has felt the change, too. Instead of distress and uncertainty, Josh now moves forward with a sense of pride and stability. He no longer works for just money, but for a purpose he’s set, and his family couldn’t be prouder of him.
Lee’s unwavering belief in Josh is what has brought them to this point. Rather than being a passive presence in Josh life, he operated as a coach who encouraged resilience in the face of failure. He was there for the ups and downs, celebrating each success big and small.
Lee’s commitment to coaching , building confidence in capacity, and achieving outstanding results in employment is why Lee has been nominated for the WA Disability Support Awards in Excellence in Supporting Employment Outcomes. The 2026 WADSA winners will be announced at the award ceremony on May 2nd. Please wish Lee, and all our other employees who were nominated, the best of luck.
If you want to learn more about our other nominees, here are their stories:
