Sydney Employment Development Service
Ruya Celik
Less than a year ago, Ruya Celik had never had a paid job. The 20-year old Auburn resident had done some work experience at school, but she lacked confidence and wondered if she would ever find paid work.
In February 2004, Ruya – who has spina bifida – approached Ali Uluc, the Disability Officer at Auburn Centrelink, in an effort to obtain assistance from
a specialised disability employment agency. Ali suggested that Ruya contact SEDS (Sydney Employment Development Service), the employment division
of The Spastic Centre.
“When I first met Ruya, I knew she would make a good employee”, said Isabella Ayad, Ruya’s Employment Development Officer at SEDS. ”But she needed a confidence boost to help her believe that she could
be
a great
worker”.
Using the ideas of employment expert Richard Nelson Bolles, Isabella helped Ruya to identify the skills that
she already had, but would not have thought to include on her resume. She also intensively coached Ruya in interview preparation. This thorough groundwork paid off. Ruya was offered a job after her very first interview.
“Isabella helped me with interview questions, which really helped”, said Ruya. “She threw the questions at me…. and the same type of questions came up in my interview!”
Ruya has now been working for the past eleven months as a receptionist/ secretary at a private psychiatric hospital in Sydney’s inner west. Her tasks include answering phones, making appointments, billing, filing and interacting with patients. The types of conditions that the hospital treats are varied, and include depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
Ruya agrees that finding work, and dealing with such a wide range of people, has done wonders for her
sense of self-assurance.
“I’m definitely more confident and experienced,” said Ruya, “I’ve already had a job offer from another hospital,” added Ruya with delight. ”But I’m happy with what I’m doing”.
Richard Nelson Bolles, author of “What Color is Your Parachute?” and “Job-Hunting for the So-called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities”
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