Fun Was Had By All At The TTW End Of Year Gala Day

16 Dec 2011: Last Friday I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the NOVA Employment Transition to Work End of Year Gala Day, all be-it I was working, but still had a ball regardless.

NOVA Employment runs a fantastically successful program called Transition to Work, or TTW, which allows year 12 school graduates, who have a disability, to learn the skills necessary for them to progress into the workforce, and into open employment.

TTW offers a two year traineeship that provides trainees with everything from basic living skills, to work experience in a range of different fields, to broaden their options for potential careers they'd like to take on in the future.

This year, with the program growing so big, the TTW team decided to put on a big end of year gala to celebrate a hardworking year for all of the staff and trainees. It was held at the Rooty Hill RSL Club, and we even had the pleasure of being entertained by Glen Wheeler from Channel 7's The Morning Show, and radio announcer from 2GB, as our MC.

After Glen introduced himself and welcomed everyone to the event, we had a lovely introduction from Sophie, who was a previous trainee from our Penrith office, who is now, thanks to NOVA Employment, working two jobs, and couldn't be happier. Congratulations Sophie! She did a great job encouraging next year's trainees to give it all they've got, to get into the workforce.

We were presented with a video that was created by two trainees from our Port Macquarie office, who are now employed, and loving it. Their film showed their journey from school, to joining NOVA Employment, to becoming successful employees, which was very inspirational.

After an address from NOVA's CEO, Martin Wren, it was time for everyone to have some lunch, then a boogie on the dance floor, with Glen, who joined in, showing off some great moves.

Once everyone had stuffed themselves and then burnt off their calories on the dance floor, we had an address from Transition to Work's Program Manager, Anne Goyer, then it was time to hand out some awards to the trainees. They received awards and trophies for the most work experience hours, and for the second year trainees, a certificate for completion of their traineeship. All of the trainees also received a specially designed, commemorative NOVA Transition key ring to keep as a memento.

Some special gifts were given out to the hard workers at NOVA, to thank them. The manager from Rooty Hill RSL, who has given lots of our trainees work experience, and even paid employment to some of them, was awarded with a certificate and a gorgeous bunch of flowers. Glen Wheeler was also presented with some wine, and a certificate of appreciation, which he said he will display proudly in his office, we will hold you to that Glen!

When the formalities concluded, it was time once again for everyone to get back to the dance floor and celebrate their successes. Even the manager's joined in! I have never seen so many smiles and happy faces from all of the trainees and staff as I did at the end of year gala, which would have to be probably the most successful NOVA function so far, and we'll be looking forward to seeing it grow even bigger next year!

As the official photographer of the day, I have proudly put together a slideshow of the wonderful event for everyone to take a look at. Click here to view it: http – It truly shows the joy on everyone's faces! I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I did making it.