This bus provides a vital service to students, enabling a twice daily school bus run that includes students throughout the Port Macquarie-Hastings area from Wauchope to Laurieton.

Encouraging young people to pursue eclectic new opportunities in life has become a speciality area of operations, not only for Nautilus Senior College, but for Port Macquarie Community College generally.

It always involves other partnering organisations, like Newcastle Permanent, who help to make the pieces fit together, sometimes unexpected ways.

Shaun Evans’ story is a case in point, after he arrived in Port Macquarie form Walcha early in 2018.

Having started at the community college in the construction pathways pre-employment program at The MakerSpace, Shaun learnt lots of things alongside his set of building skills.

Teamwork, punctuality, listening to instructions carefully, getting on with difficult people and other important life and employment skills.

This was supported by his Disability Employment Service OCTEC, who assisted the college in providing Shaun with what he needed in the learning support field.

During Shaun’s time with the college, it was identified that he was a very keen driver and he showed interest in working as a school bus driver.

His record of exemplary attendance and consistent learning stood him in good stead to apply.     

Not only did Shaun succeed in getting the job of bus driver, he also scored a college traineeship. All the pieces came together perfectly to assist someone who had been struggling to find work in an area where he was new.

OCTEC continues to provide Shaun ongoing support for his employment and thanks to Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation who helped to make Shaun’s dream of employment a reality.