Having arrived in Australia from Venezuela only a year ago, fifteen-year-old Billy Garcia has been navigating the challenges of learning English, settling into school and being the only teenager in Canberra who is profoundly deaf.
Billy communicates using sign language and has an interpreter for most of his time at school. He has a small network of hearing-impaired friends in other cities, but without a peer in his home town, his experience in Australia has been somewhat isolating so far.
Billy’s dad, Daniel, says that despite his communication challenges, Billy still has plenty to say. “He’s always got something to contribute. He’s quite strong with his opinions, even if he’s wrong. He has confidence but he doesn’t always have someone to share his thoughts with, which can be tough,” Daniel said.
“With support from Jeff Pollard from Mas National, our Apprentice Connect Provider, and Glenn Maybury from HTN, our Host Employer, Billy was offered an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the kitchen at Australian National University’s Ursula Hall. One of the chefs at Ursula Hall is also deaf, which has helped create a sense of comfort and a supportive environment for Billy.
After two weeks of work experience, Billy impressed the team so much he was offered a School-based apprenticeship, Certificate III Cookery through Mas National, who also offer mentoring support as our Apprentice Connect Provider in ACT. He now balances his time between attending school three days a week, working one day in the kitchen, and one day studying at the Canberra Institute of Technology.
Daniel says the chance to spend time working with someone else who is deaf has encouraged Billy to embrace the opportunity to learn about working in a commercial kitchen.
“Even before the apprenticeship was offered, he was asking the chef to teach him how to cook new things. Now he is trying to teach me how to cut vegetables, how to prepare a meal and things like that. He’s very keen to learn and he’s happy doing the work,” Daniel said.
In a short amount of time, Billy has shown an enormous amount of resilience considering the set of challenges he’s had to face. Mas National’s apprenticeship consultant Jeff Pollard gives credit to Billy’s incredible perseverance and willingness to take on the challenges he is facing.
“It hasn’t been easy for Billy since arriving in Canberra. Thankfully, he has an incredibly supportive family and a belief in his own ability. We’re delighted to have supported Billy through this opportunity as the Apprentice Connect Provider. He seems happy to be able to learn somewhere outside of the classroom and we have no doubt he’ll give it his best shot,” Mr Pollard said.
Besides his interest in cooking, Billy is also a talented artist and is currently exhibiting as part of the Gungahlin Art exhibition. He’s a keen sportsman and is simultaneously learning English and Auslan (his third sign language). He says his experience working in the kitchen will help to develop his independence.
“It’s been positive so far. I like working with people who are eager to teach me and have patience. The chef has shown genuine interest in teaching me and it’s allowed me to have a good role model as the only teenager with a hearing impairment in Canberra,” Billy said.
(From Left to Right) Jeff Pollard MAS National (ACAP), Billy Garcia (ASBA Student) Daniel Garcia (Billy’s Dad) Glenn Maybury (HTN) and David Wannell (Head Chef Ursula Hall, ANU).
