News
25 July, 2025
Reining in confidence
LOWOOD local Kayla Wilson has discovered her passion working with horses, overcoming employment challenges faced by many individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), the 24-year-old struggled to find meaningful work that matched her abilities.
“I was having difficulty finding a job because I don’t have my license, and it was trying to find the right job that suited me,” Kayla said.
“It’s hard for me. I’m more of a hands-on person. If I have to write something on paper, it’s difficult.”
Through APM’s Disability Employment Services (DES), Kayla connected with Employment Consultant Twahnee via the Lowood outreach office.
“People with disability are often excluded socially and economically and find it difficult to gain employment, as we know a job changes everyone’s lives,” an APM spokesperson said.
“This is particularly true for someone with an intellectual disability.”
Twahnee, who had only recently started with APM, met with Kayla and her support worker and made a clear commitment to help her find a role that matched her strengths.
During their first meeting, Kayla shared that she had previously worked at a stable and already held a stable hand licence.
Twahnee recalled another consultant had a contact at a stable in Ipswich and reached out to explore the opportunity.
Through this connection, Kayla was matched with a local stable, where she now works two days a week.
“I always had an interest in horses and animals,” Kayla said.
“It’s like a sort of therapy work. It gets you away from other stuff, and just if you’re thinking about something, you just forget about it.”
Kayla’s current role involves cleaning stables and putting horses in paddocks, tasks that perfectly align with her hands-on learning approach.
While working happily now, Kayla’s journey wasn’t always straightforward.
Having previously worked at Eagle Farm racing stables in Brisbane, she experienced the challenges of long hours and difficult transportation.
Now, her current position offers a more balanced and supportive work environment.
Located less than half an hour from her home, her new job has provided Kayla not just employment, but a renewed sense of confidence and purpose.
Kayla is now more engaged at work, looks forward to her shifts, and has become noticeably more outgoing and self-assured.
