TWO years ago Katrina Redcliffe could never have imagined that her teenage son would be piping macarons for an Albury patisserie.

Jarrod, 15, was suffering from anxiety so severe that he wasn’t able to attend school full-time.

His autism meant he struggled with just sitting in the classroom and concentrating on the lesson.

He was only able to manage a couple of hours a day.

“He would come home at 1pm and because his anxiety was so bad, he would have to go to bed,” Katrina says.

But now, after Katrina kindled a passion for food and cooking, Jarrod is developing skills as a pastry chef with Geoffrey Michael Patissier.

Jarrod spends four hours every Thursday morning in Geoffrey’s Dean Street kitchen.

He fills macarons, makes raspberry mousse, brownie slabs and vanilla bean custard, weighs ingredients, and prepares the croissant dough.

Geoffrey has invited Jarrod to be part of a cooking demonstration at The Cube next week.

Jarrod hasn’t decided what part he will play at the demonstration — helping with the cooking, serving food — but whatever he chooses, it will be a big achievement.

After struggling at school for so long, suffering from language and writing difficulties and slipping way behind his peers, spending time in Geoffrey’s kitchen under his tutelage has meant the world to Jarrod and his family.

“He’s thriving over there,” Katrina says.

“It’s amazing for his confidence, to get that work skill. 

“It’s the first year we feel like we’ve actually achieved anything.”

Jarrod’s story is a bright point in an otherwise challenging environment for children with autism and their parents in preparing for the world after school.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, just 42 per cent of adults with autism spectrum disorder are employed.

This is compared to 53 per cent of people with other disabilities and 83 per cent of people without disabilities.

However, that statistic is compounded with research that shows that adults with autism are, as a group, more likely to be unemployed, underemployed — in jobs that underuse their capabilities — or malemployed — jobs for which they are unsuited. compared to the rest of the population.

According to Dr Debra Costley, director of Aspect practice and research at Autism Spectrum Australia, many adults with autism are disproportionately in casual or part-time positions compared with people with equal qualifications and experience.

Further to this, a study co-authored by Dr Costley this year revealed that the percentage of adults with autism who hold a post-school qualification — at 86 per cent — is substantially higher than the general Australian population — at 57 per cent.

“We’re not making the most of that pool of talent,” Dr Costley says.

Dr Costley says the data shows that it doesn’t matter how well qualified someone with autism is because they don’t have the same workforce experiences as neuro-typical people.

“Anxiety, a lack of social skills and other things made it hard for them to manage in the workplace,” she says.

“Not many employers are willing to understand or put the time into understanding.

“So for me, if we’re talking about preparing people for adult life, the support needs to be there from primary school and right through high school, to make sure they have the systems to manage and to make the transition to further education or to get a job.”

She says the exception to that trend in workplace experience is a young person who, generally, has had their mother behind them, pushing them into new opportunities and encouraging their passions.

“A lot of support happens through somebody’s mum,” Dr Costley says.

“That’s not to be sexist but it is usually mums.”

Wodonga mother Jennifer Tait is on the front foot when it comes to paving a career path for her eight-year-old son.

He has autism and has also been diagnosed with a mild intellectual disability and suffers from anxiety.

But none of that has deterred her from preparing him for the real world.

“My approach is to socialise him, to give him every social skill I possibly can and to look at what he’s good at,” she says.

“In my son’s case, he loves four-wheel-drives.

“He can tell you every make and model, including the tyres. 

“Who knows in the next 10 years what he will discover he’s good at. 

“So I try to identify those things to help him build a career and give him as many experiences in that area as I possibly can.”

Ms Tait believes firmly that preparation for employment — especially for children with autism — should begin at the age of seven.

That might seem a bit over the top to some.

“Am I getting way ahead of myself? No, I don’t think so,” she says.

“Time is speeding by; in less than 10 years he’ll want a part-time job for a bit of cash in his pocket, and probably be saving for his first four-wheel-drive.

“We all know that in order to develop knowledge and ability in something other than the natural talent or special interest of our child, they need to work harder for longer, and need to start earlier to meet milestones.”

She says parents and teachers should support the passions the children exhibit and to look at those passions as possibilities for future employment.

However, it’s the social skills that people with autism really struggle with when it comes to the workplace.

“It’s the unwritten rules of the workplace that are mystifying,” she says.

“People see odd behaviours or strange comments and the lower level of social interaction is probably the biggest issue.

“It’s great to be good at school but if you can’t fit into a workplace, it’s going to make it hard to get a job.”

But even before people with autism make it to the workplace, it’s the job interview and its peculiarities that present real hurdles.

“What do you bring to the job?” Ms Tait says is one of the common questions they will be presented with.

“I might bring my car or my lunch. 

“Actually the answer the employer is looking for is about skills or friendliness. 

“But that first question is going to impact getting the job.”

Ms Tait says that’s what makes autism complicated — and the reason for those adults struggling to find employment and hold down a job.

“People with autism are the least employed disability subgroup — not because of ability but social interaction,” she says.

And yet, with the right support, Ms Tait says people with autism could be the most productive employees.

Ms Tait is involved in an autism employment advocacy group and is often speaking to businesses and at seminars about employment issues.

She says raising children is hard work at the best of times but the added tasks of parenting children with autism is a big ask.

“But what’s the point of all the work and effort and struggle that our kids, and us as parents, put in, if not to help our kids achieve a full, productive, and enjoyable life?” she asks.

“A life that includes employment of some type, mainstream, supported, or voluntary.

“Our young people have to work harder to make sure they are as well prepared as the next person to enter the job market.”

That’s why Ms Tait is so pleased to hear of stories like Jarrod Redcliffe, who is now thriving and focused on a job and career path.

“It’s not because he’s a young man with autism but because he’s passionate and good at what he’s doing,” she says.

“Who knows what this man might achieve.”

Jarrod’s story came about because his mother identified a passion for food and helped him explore it further.

He loved MasterChef and Adriano Zumbo and his macaron tower. Watching Zumbo and the other chefs on television is where the passion for food was ignited.

So Katrina took him to the Melbourne Food and Wine Expo to see Zumbo, despite the anxiety that came with being enveloped by big crowds.

When Geoffrey Michael opened his business, Katrina took Jarrod to peer through the window into the kitchen to watch Geoffrey at work.

“Years ago all he wanted to do was play for Collingwood,” Katrina says.

“We all knew that wasn’t going to happen. 

“So now he has found another goal, we’re absolutely amazed and thrilled; and Geoffrey said he saw a passion and took him on.”

Geoffrey says Jarrod is a pleasure to have in the kitchen and actually describes him as better than a lot of first-year apprentices.

Jarrod fits into the team well, always has a smile and is a fast learner.

“I give him a recipe and he gets it straight away,” Geoffrey says.

“He doesn’t make any mistakes, makes sure his cream isn’t over whipped and follows the recipe perfectly, just like one of our employees.

“He doesn’t seem different, he’s just a normal worker. 

“I would have loved an opportunity like that when I was younger so it’s good to be able to give back.”

Jarrod isn’t paid for his time at the patisserie but Katrina says she would feel bad if he was, because of what Geoffrey is offering Jarrod and his family.

“Jarrod says they pay him in food and he’s more than happy with that,” she says.