Second group of OWL trainees graduate from Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) programme

The second group in the ground-breaking Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) programme, graduated yesterday, at an awards ceremony in Leinster House. 

The Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) Programme is an applied learning, development and socialisation programme specifically tailored towards young adults with an intellectual disability. The Programme was first launched by the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD in September 2018 as a pilot programme with two sponsor organisations, WALK and KARE, and was facilitated by the Houses of the Oireachtas Service who provided a workplace in which these adults can learn and develop their skills to be “work ready”. The Houses of the Oireachtas is the first Parliament in the world to host a programme of its kind.

The outcome of the programme is to support OWL graduates to find meaningful and viable part-time permanent employment in the wider Civil and Public Service through the OWL Graduate Programme. Seven of this year’s graduates have already secured part-time employment following their participation in the programme; six across Government Departments and Offices and one in the private sector. Plans are underway to commence the next training programme in September 2022.   

During their time in Leinster House, the ten current programme trainees (now graduates) were placed across different offices in-house and in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media where they gained valuable work experience in multiple areas. Throughout 2020 and 2021 the trainees engaged in remote working tasks where they gained valuable experience in a blended working setting.  

Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD said: 

 “Inclusive work programmes and opportunities are vital if we are to harness the talent of people from all sections of society and a diverse workplace benefits us all. The OWL Programme is now considered the first Supported Employment Model in the Civil and Public Service and I know the partners will continue to collaborate to expand and develop it to provide people with intellectual disabilities with public service jobs”.  

The Ceann Comhairle congratulated the graduates on their achievements throughout the programme and said:  

“You each brought your own skills and experience to the roles and added greatly to the work that is done here and in the other Departments every day. Your individual personalities and the determination you have already shown in your lives up to now served you well”.  

The ten young people graduating commenced the OWL programme in September 2019. While the COVID-19 pandemic presented a challenge it also presented the programme partners with an opportunity to expand the programme and used the time to work with the trainees to add a blended working element to the programme.   

WALK, Director of Services, Catherine Kelly and KARE Operations Manager, Peter Furlong said:

“There is absolutely no doubt that the OWL programme is a ground-breaking initiative. The benefits of this programme are far reaching, it not only provides an opportunity for experiencing a blended work and educational environment, but this programme also teaches the trainee the kind of practical, day-to-day skills that you need to survive out there in the real world. This, graduation is very special because the past few years have really been tough. These trainees have learnt to adapt and work remotely through a global pandemic, and numerous lockdowns. The OWL programme has played its part in changing the course of history and embracing a culture not of elitism but of inclusion and diversity and every graduate from the OWL programme past and present have a significant role in breaking down barriers and challenging structural boundaries”  

They also thanked the graduates and their families for putting themselves forward and proving again that whatever obstacle is put in their way people with an Intellectual Disability are just as resilient as anyone else”.   

The programme trainees from Kildare (KARE) who graduated are Aaron Collins, Emma Condron, Kim O'Kelly, Michael Mc Cormack, Shannon Brogan and the Dublin (WALK) graduates are Emma Synnott, Gavin Gilvarry, Laura Delaney, Riona Cullen, and Sarah Carroll.   

The graduates were each invited to attend yesterday’s graduation ceremony, with their families to recognise their achievement and learning journeys. Each of the graduates present received a certificate from the Ceann Comhairle to mark their achievement.   

The programme maximises the opportunity for the trainees to experience several areas of work learning in units in the Oireachtas Service and to undertake formalised training through the Dublin City Education and Training Board for the purpose of achieving a Level 3 Quality and Qualification Ireland (QQI) qualification.   Two full time, on site co-ordinators support the trainees in their roles and work towards QQI  qualifications, while the Houses of the Oireachtas provide a permanent training room.   

To download images from the ceremony click here.

Note to editors:   KARE and WALK, are two voluntary bodies that provide services and supports to adults with an intellectual disability. KARE was started in 1967 by parents and friends of children with an intellectual disability. KARE works with each individual who uses their service, and their families, to support them in developing their skills and abilities so that they can live the life of their choice. KARE supports individuals in all aspects of their daily lives including lifelong learning, living options, work and careers. KARE operates a Supported Employment Programme supporting people with intellectual disabilities to gain and maintain the job of their choice in the open labour market.    WALK’s mission is to be leaders in a movement for change, empowering people with disabilities to live self-determined lives in an equal and inclusive society. WALK has developed and piloted different innovative supported employment programmes aimed at increasing the rate of employment for people with intellectual disabilities.   

The purpose of the OWL programme is to assist 10 trainees annually to become work ready through a “hands on” learning and development programme. As this is a work learning programme, a multi-faceted approach to the learning process for the trainee is taken. The trainees engage with a wide range of learning interventions, attending weekly formalised learning sessions with the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), while informal training including mentoring and coaching is carried out daily by the unit/ sections providing the work experience placements.    Two onsite coordinators provided by WALK and KARE and funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE), assist the trainees on a full-time basis throughout the programme and engage in securing employment for them. 

The programme generally takes place between September and June each year with each trainee completing three work experience placements (10-12 weeks each) in various units in the Oireachtas Service and other placement Departments along with the education programme delivered by City of Dublin Education and Training Board. This allows the trainees to sample different work types to help them decide the work they enjoy doing and would like to have a career in. During the COVID-19 pandemic the OWL trainees continued the programme developing their remote working skills.    Upon completion of the learning programme, the trainees attend a graduation event to recognise their achievement and learning journeys. 

As a learning programme, the OWL programme lends itself to a wide range of benefits, for the Houses of the Oireachtas and the trainees while promoting a more integrated and diverse working environment. The National Disability Authority (NDA) and the Government have committed to increasing, from 3% to 6%, the number of staff with a disability in all government departments by the end of 2024 and the Houses of the Oireachtas Service and Commission also recognise the benefits of increasing diversity in the workplace. Under the Oireachtas Dignity and Respect Statement of Principles and Employment Equality Acts, the Service is committed to providing equal opportunities to individuals with intellectual disabilities, to help them engage in the workforce and to provide a work environment conducive to ongoing learning and development opportunities. 

The programme continues to expand and develop through working in partnership with other public sector bodies including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Appointments Service supporting the development of the Graduate Programme, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as training programme placement sites and the 5 new Employing Departments in the Graduate Programme. We are continuing to work with other Public Sector organisations who also are interested in participating in the programme.