By Alesha Capone
Stefan Jurukovski is celebrating becoming a representative for OneWyndham.
Mr Jurukovski recently received a OneWyndham award from Wyndham council, which recognises young people who have demonstrated ingenuity and positive accomplishments within the community.
Mr Jurukovski is a strong advocate for youths who have autism, like him.
He is a participant on the Gateway Recreational Program, has worked in a factory and worked as a barista for three years with Mambourin Enterprises.
He also began volunteering for St Vincent de Paul in 2016, and helps categorise DVDs and electronics at the Hoppers Crossing Vinnie’s store.
Both Mr Jurukovski and Mirjana Gligorevic, who nominated him for the award, said that the potential of people who have a disability was often overlooked when it came to paid employment.
“Everyone wants someone who just has lots of years of experience, but most employers aren’t aware that going an extra step to explain something to someone in a way which they understand can do great quality-wise for both business and employee,” Miss Gligorevic said.
“The number of people who are classified as having a disability is on the rise (whether it’s physical, intellectual, sensory or mental) and if we don’t give them a chance, a big amount of our population will suffer.”
Miss Gligorevic, who has Asperger Syndrome, said she has seen Mr Jurukovski working and that he succeeded in many of his work tasks.
Miss Gligorevic said her dream was to become a travel agent. She is also writing a book about her travels and culture, titled My Balkan Heart.
