Rail lover gets on the job training

ALL his life, Henry John has been passionate about trains, and his dream is to someday work for regional public transport provider V/Line.  

Living with autism, Mr John was unable to finish his last years of high school due to the pandemic, yet thanks to Connecting Futures Australia and V/Line he’s been able to live his dream. 

“I’ve always had a passion for trains and working with people, and this experience has been so much fun and I’ve learned a lot from everyone,” said Mr John. 

“I’d love to be a conductor one day. It’s a job where you are constantly moving around and also the social aspect of it, engaging with people. 

“Without the funding from the NDIS and support from Connecting Futures Australia, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this opportunity.” 

V/Line director customer services and accessibility Bradley Green said the organisation was thrilled to have had Mr John work with them and said he slot right into the team. 

“Henry has left a positive impression on our team at Bendigo Station, and we’ve had fantastic feedback from our customers about their interaction with Henry,” said Mr Green. 

“He’s worked behind the ticket counter and really enjoyed that interaction with the customers.  

“He’s used the PA system to make train announcements and shadowed our conductors on some trains, to learn more about that role, which we know is his dream job. 

“V/Line is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce that is representative of the communities we serve.” 

Connecting Futures Australia aims to help 15 to 24 years olds achieve life and career goals and provided Mr John with a mentor who supported him with one-on-one training to plan his ideal working future. 

The program receives funding through its Youth Employment Assistance program while V/Line offers work experience opportunities to high school and tertiary students across several parts of the organisation which can be applied for on its website.