Grocer Ready

Real employment changes more than a young man’s job status. It changes how he sees himself, how his family sees him, and how he steps into adult life.

Grocer Ready is more than just a job placement program. It’s Perth’s only structured supermarket employment program for people living with autism, built to get every participant there: a real job, held entirely on his own terms.

We help young men with autism achieve real paid employment, lasting independence, and genuine social connection, through structured, shoulder to shoulder coaching inside a major Perth supermarket.

Why We Built This

The unemployment rate for young Australians with autism sits at 31.6%, nearly six times the general population
More than half have never held a paid job, despite genuinely wanting to work
The problem isn't ambition or ability. It's an environment that hasn't been built around how these young men actually think and learn
Generic job readiness training, undefined placements, and simulated social skills exercises do not produce real world results
The longer this goes on, the more isolated and resistant to change these young men become, and the window to intervene narrows
The supermarket gives this cohort exactly what it needs: predictable structure, clear tasks, physical activity, and a real team to belong to

How the Program Works

Grocer Ready is built around one goal: getting young men with autism into real, paid employment inside a major Perth supermarket, and supporting them until they can hold that role entirely on their own.

The pathway begins with Foundations, in the lead up to placement, and ends with Social Nights, once employment is secure. In between, participants move through the structured stages of Grocer Ready itself, from their first shift on the floor through to full independence.

The Roadmap

By the time a placement is confirmed, participants are not walking in cold. They are walking in ready.

Step 1

Foundations

Structured volunteering builds routine, stamina, and work readiness before placement

Step 2

Placement Secured

Matched to a Coles store and department based on fit and availability

Step 3

Coaching Begins

On the floor from day one, learning by doing, shoulder to shoulder with a dedicated coach

Step 4

Formal Assessment

Participant, store manager, and an independent assessor review progress and set the next level of support

Step 5

Independent Shifts

Support is gradually stepped back as confidence and competence grow

Step 6

Full Independence

Fully independent employee, on the roster, in the team, doing the job

Steps 2 through 6 sit under the Grocer Ready stage, bookended by Foundations at the start and Social Nights at the end.

By the midpoint of the program, most participants are completing independent shifts. By the end, they are fully independent employees on the roster, in the team, showing up and doing the job.

The timeline varies. What does not vary is the standard we hold for the participant, for the store, and for ourselves.

Ready to see where this pathway leads for your son?

What a Typical Week Looks Like

Participants work part time, typically between nine and twelve hours per week. This is intentional, the goal is to build capacity steadily, at a pace that produces lasting results rather than early burnout.

Every shift is supported, with one of our team working alongside the participant in store from day one
Support is discreet by design, our coaches blend into the store environment rather than drawing attention to the coaching relationship
The participant is simply a member of the team doing his job, because that is exactly what he is
The level of support is reassessed as the participant progresses, at his own pace
The standard expected never changes, only the amount of support needed to meet it does
By the midpoint of the program, most participants are completing independent shifts
By the end, they are fully independent employees, showing up, doing the job, and no longer needing us there

The Coaching Model

Our coaches are not generic support workers placed inside a supermarket. They know what a good job inside a supermarket actually looks like, and are skilled enough to teach it.

Every task is taught through demonstration, repetition, and patient hands on coaching
Coaching continues until the participant can complete each task independently and to a high standard
Coaches work shoulder to shoulder with participants, on the floor, in the job
Coaching happens in the actual environment where the skill must be used, not in a classroom or simulation
This is coaching, not supervision, we're never just managing the participant through the shift
The goal is to make ourselves unnecessary

What Changes

Employment is what the program produces. But it is not all it produces.

Structure and routine: knowing where to be, what to do, and that someone is counting on you builds a stability that is difficult to create any other way
Genuine friendships: relationships built with coworkers through shared daily work are some of the most durable social connections available to this cohort, not friendships facilitated by a support worker in a group activity
Financial independence: earning a regular wage, however modest in the early stages, is evidence that he contributes, not just income
Family impact: less tension at home, somewhere to be each morning, coworkers to talk about, and a future he's started thinking about

Before too long, he has taken his first real step into adult life.

Success Story

When Liam joined the Grocer Ready program, he had never held a paid job in his life.

Over the course of nine weeks, that changed.

Working alongside our team on the floor at Coles, Liam built his work ethic shift by shift. In the early weeks the focus was on the fundamentals. Developing physical stamina for a full shift, staying mentally focused throughout, and building enough confidence to interact with customers and coworkers without shutting down.

What stood out from early on was his attention to detail and the consistency he brought to every shift, even when things were hard.

As the weeks progressed, the level of support was gradually reduced. Liam was given more space to own his contributions to the team. It became clear he was ready before the moment was formally assessed.

When Liam completed his first fully independent shift, his store manager commented on his productivity.

That does not happen by accident. It happens because the right person was given the right environment, the right training, and enough time to find his feet.

Liam. From first shift to full independence.

What Families Say

    
 
 
         
   Caitlin Di Rosso 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Christian and his team provide a safe, personalised and holistic service. A long overdue game changer in the world of disability support!
  
 
        
   Ivonne Whitehouse 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Unger & Friends really stand out as an NDIS support provider. They genuinely focus on building individual capacity through highly personalised, professionally delivered services.
Christian, in particular, is very experienced and incredibly patient, and you can tell he's truly dedicated to making a positive difference in people's lives.
If you're looking for an NDIS provider that's both caring and highly effective, I can't recommend Unger & Friends enough. They really do an exceptional job.

Who This Is For

Grocer Ready is designed for young men who are ready to work but have not yet found the right pathway into employment.

The program is suited to young men who:

Are aged 17 to 24
Are living with autism
Have finished school or have limited ongoing school commitments
Hold an active NDIS plan with Capacity Building or Community Access funding
Have not yet secured or maintained paid employment

If you are unsure whether your son meets these criteria, the best first step is to get in touch. We will have an honest conversation about whether the program is the right fit and if it is not, we will say so.

How to Refer

Referring someone to Grocer Ready is straightforward.

01. Get in touch

Contact Christian directly by email at christian@ungerfriends.com.au or through the contact form on the website. A brief message outlining your son’s situation is enough to get the conversation started.

02. Phone call

Christian will follow up with a phone call to discuss the program in more detail and understand whether it is likely to be a good fit.

03. In person meeting

If the phone call suggests a good fit, the next step is an in person meeting with the participant and his family to explore the program together and answer any questions before a decision is made.

Places in the program are limited. If you think Grocer Ready could be right for your son, we would encourage you to get in touch sooner rather than later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prerequisites does my son need to join the program?

There are no formal prerequisites beyond the eligibility criteria listed above. We do not require prior work experience, specific qualifications, or a minimum level of independence. What we are looking for is a genuine willingness to work and a family who is committed to supporting the process. The program is designed to build the skills, not assume them.

What store will my son work in?

Grocer Ready currently operates inside Coles stores across Perth, with locations available both north and south of the river. The specific store is determined based on proximity to the participant’s home and availability of placement at the time of joining.

What NDIS funding is used?

The program is funded through NDIS Capacity Building, specifically the Finding and Keeping a Job support category, and the Improved Daily Living Skills category. Community Access funding can also be utilised in some circumstances. If you are unsure whether your son’s plan includes the right funding, speak with your support coordinator or contact us directly and we can help clarify.

Will my son be paid a full wage?

Participants are employed on a supported wage, which is assessed based on their current level of productivity. This is a standard arrangement under the Supported Wage System for NDIS funded employment. As independence and productivity grow through the program, the wage is formally reassessed. The goal is full independent employment and the wage reflects that progression.

When will support be dialled back?

Support is reduced gradually based on formal assessment rather than a fixed timeline. After the initial period of employment, a formal assessment takes place involving the participant, the store manager, and an independent assessor. This determines the right level of ongoing support going forward. The process is staged and individual. It is never reduced before the participant is genuinely ready.

What department will my son work in?

The program runs across the following departments: Fresh Produce, Grocery, Dairy, Meat and Online. The department chosen will reflect the participant’s preference as well as store availability at the time of placement.

How many hours per week will he work?

Participants work part time, typically between nine and twelve hours per week during the program. This is intentional. The goal is to build capacity steadily at a pace that produces lasting results.

Ready to find out if Grocer Ready is right for your son?

Places in the program are limited. The best first step is a conversation.