The virtual reality revolution has come to a Maroochydore social enterprise, to help people with disabilities up-skill for work.
Forty-eight Endeavour Foundation Maroochydore employees are set to benefit from the state-of-the-art technology.
Covering a range of work and life skills, employees will be able to practise activities like forklift safety, driving and confidential document destruction in the safety of the virtual world before trying them out in the real-world.
Trainee receptionist Jamie Barling said it could improve her career prospects.
“It’s so lifelike,” she said.
“I have my driver’s licence already but I did the driving simulation and when I put the goggles on. It was so real.
“There’s one thing in the VR that I’d really like to learn and that’s the forklift and if I can get on the forklift VR then I can get my (forklift) licence one day.”
Endeavour Foundation’s Executive General Manager of Work Services, Eric Teed, said the training modules made learning more intuitive, fun and memorable.
“These VR modules are a perfect way to familiarise people with the tasks they need to do at work or help them along the path to learning new skills,” he said.
“For many of the people we support, learning to do a complex activity such as driving a car or forklift can be especially daunting, but VR makes it fully immersive, fun, and can help cut out distractions.
“The VR programs we offer are tailor-made for people with disability and autism and focus on familiarity and comfort, but they are of course a great way for anyone to start their learning journey.”
The new Virtual Reality Learning (VRL) hub at Endeavour Foundation’s Maroochydore social enterprise was established using an $7250 Commonwealth Government Stronger Communities grant, along with a co-contribution from Endeavour Foundation.
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O’Brien said it should have a positive impact on the lives of people living with a disability.
“Experience is often the most sought-after credential for employers and this VR Hub will provide this in droves for those looking for work,” he said.
“The ability of a job to improve people’s lives cannot be underestimated.”
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