00:00Dave Macquarie can spot a buddying barista a mile away.
00:07How are you going Andy?
00:10Are you ready for today?
00:12So when he noticed Andy Cooper watching him make coffee from his van in Eglinton, he made his move.
00:18When Andy comes on a Wednesday for me, I feel like I'm just helping him and it makes me feel better.
00:24Him being around me gives me a bit of happiness.
00:28The 37-year-old has Down syndrome and recently got his basic level barista certificate,
00:33dreaming of making coffees in real life one day.
00:37But he wasn't able to find a business in Perth's north to take him on,
00:41until he met Dave, who's training him up an hour a week, building up to more.
00:46It's so nice to come and go sometimes and make more people happier.
00:52Andy's carer has noticed a big change in his confidence and people skills since he started the training.
00:58The state government has just launched a pilot program that aims to give people with disability more opportunity
01:05by identifying skill gaps and providing specialised support to ensure a smooth transition into the workforce.
01:11The 12-month program, AbilityLink, will work with businesses like Dave's
01:16that are wanting to provide ongoing work for people with disabilities and helping them find a suitable match.
01:22Particularly understanding what a person's aspirations are, what their abilities are,
01:27what contribution they can make and being open to making the changes in the business
01:32that might accommodate those differences.
01:35If we look back over history, the percentages of people with disability who are seeking employment
01:40but are unable to do it, hasn't changed.
01:43So there needs to be that genuine commitment and champions in government and the business sector
01:48to bring about some meaningful change.
01:50Back in the van, Dave plans to put Andy on the books when he's ready,
01:55enjoying the sampling while they're at it.
Comments