Work and Study program makes florists of the future

Val and Tabitha are blossoming into florists of the future through Northcott Campbelltown’s Work and Study program, where they are learning practical skills and taking important steps towards employment.

The hands-on program supports people with disability to develop workplace skills and gain real experience in areas that could lead to future work. For Val and Tabitha, their interest in floristry bloomed after Senior Support Worker Susan Collis used her background as a florist to introduce a colourful new initiative.

Since then, the pair have been creating floral arrangements, learning how to work with different flowers and materials, along with the planning involved in making bouquets for real occasions.

Susan says the program is helping customers gain confidence while developing practical skills that can support future pathways.

“They genuinely enjoy the work and take pride in what they create. It’s rewarding to see the skills and confidence they’re gaining along the way,” Susan says.

“The skills our customers are developing through the program will help create future employment opportunities and build their confidence in the workplace.”

Flowers fit for a wedding

One of the group’s current projects is preparing floral arrangements for an upcoming wedding. The project gives Val and Tabitha the opportunity to work to a brief, manage materials and contribute to designs that will be used for the special occasion.

“At the moment, they’re working on floral arrangements for a wedding. They’ve put a tremendous amount of effort into creating beautiful designs, and through this process they’re developing valuable floristry skills,” Susan says.

The project has included selecting flowers and supplies, comparing prices and calculating costs. For Tabitha, the experience has helped her understand both the creative and practical sides of floristry.

“We got the flowers from Campbelltown Centre and got some of the supplies from Auburn. I chose them by looking at the different prices,” Tabitha says. “I calculated how much the price is. We looked at how much in total it cost for the flowers.”

Alongside budgeting and planning, Val and Tabitha are learning floristry techniques such as cutting stems, using wire cutters, arranging flowers by size and understanding flower placement and design principles.

“They’re learning practical floristry techniques, from using tools such as wire cutters to understanding flower placement and design principles. They’re also developing time management skills by working to real project deadlines,” Susan says.

Creating pathways from high school into further study and employment

Tabitha started the floristry program last year at Northcott Campbelltown, after previously taking part in Northcott’s Wink program while she was in Year 12. She says being part of both programs has felt amazing, helping her make new friends.

“My favourite part of the floristry program is making flower arrangements, and arranging the flowers from the biggest to the smallest,” Tabitha says. 

Val also enjoys the creative side of the program and says she likes making a range of floral designs. 

“My favourites are making wreaths, bouquets and corsages,” Val says.

With support from the Northcott Campbelltown team, both Val and Tabitha were connected with TAFE Disability consultants and enrolled in a Certificate II in Floristry, where they are building their knowledge and confidence. The team also connecting regularly with Val and Tabitha’s parents to help ensure both young women are able to meet the course expectations.

“I started TAFE in February with Tabitha,” Val says.

“It’s pretty amazing learning some new flower names and making bunches of flowers,” Tabitha says.

For Susan, seeing customers take the confidence and skills developed through Work and Study into further education is one of the most rewarding parts of the program.

“Knowing we’ve helped support them to take that next step in their lives is incredibly rewarding,” she says.

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