Something that we preach at EPIC is that no career journey is the same. While the expectation from most is a straight line, it’s far more normal for yours to have all kinds of twists and turns. And that’s perfectly fine! Consistently changing positions provides an opportunity always to be learning. You can pick up all kinds of soft skills on your way to adding to the always-growing resume.
There’s no better example of this than EPIC participant Harry Cahill! Harry got connected with EPIC soon after he finished high school. Not wasting any time before advancing his career. Thanks to his volunteering efforts in the school café, Harry pursued a role he’d feel comfortable in. He transferred those skills to a role in a local café! Harry continued his work until COVID in early 2020. Thanks to the pandemic, he was one of many unlucky employees who had to be made redundant.
If there’s one thing that sets Harry apart from the rest, it’s his determination. And it didn’t take him long at all to bounce right back into the job search. He soon started work at a local Thai restaurant Oh Boy, Bok Choy! Back in 2022, we wrote a story on Harry and his diligence in both his work and professional swimming. Since we just checked up on him again, quite a bit has changed!
Catching up with Harry
Harry now works in a dedicated cleaning role at McDonald’s Newmarket. He clocks in bright and early three days a week. And for three hours, he makes sure that it’s left looking spotless.
“Those are our favourite days because we get such consistent and thorough cleans!” exclaimed Harry’s restaurant manager, Brooke.
“He has a very high standard, which he consistently meets. He’s got a real eye for cleanliness and attention to detail. The dining room is huge with a ton of space to cover, and he gets it done every time. The place really doesn’t look the same without him, and we really feel his absence,” she continued warmly.
The cleaning work that Harry does at McDonald’s Newmarket scratches a particular itch. He enjoys making sure that everything is organised in the restaurant. And he brings a real attention to detail that his workmates have picked up on and appreciate!
It’s not just the work itself that enriches Harry from week to week – there’s a social aspect to it as well.
We had a chat to Harry’s dad, David. He explained that Harry loves making conversation with people in his life. Harry’s work provides a constant topic of conversation in his day-to-day. One of his favourite parts of his day is being able to share it with his friends and family.
“It also means that on those mornings where he is working, he gets a chance to interact with the community. Whether that be the supportive team he’s got here at McDonald’s Newmarket or the customers that come into the store,” David explained with a smile.
Gold standard athlete at the Golden Arches
David went on to say that the customers see Harry and get inspired. A person with Down Syndrome, working hard and being such an important part of the team.
We asked David about Harry’s sports career. At the last check-in with Harry, he was swimming at an Olympic level! David was happy to give us the latest update on Harry’s athletic endeavours.
When he started at McDonald’s Newmarket, Harry was reaching the end of his swimming journey. He had loved it! But it became a full-time, 7-day commitment for him. As his life got busier with other things, he made the mature decision to step out of the pool.
If there’s one thing we know about Harry, it’s that he doesn’t waste any time. Similar to how quickly he moved jobs, Harry picked up a new sport in the blink of an eye.
Not wanting to be physically inactive, Harry picked up the true-blue Aussie sport of AFL! As of July 2025, he has been playing for the Moorooka Roosters for 18 months and is now in his second season. David insisted that Harry benefits a lot from the collaborative environment and mindset that team sports provide.
For Harry, the fry’s the limit!
It didn’t take long in our chat with David for him to speak about just how proud he is of Harry. And his constant improvement and progression at McDonald’s Newmarket.
“He’s really built on his interpersonal skills while being here. Thanks to the support of the McDonald’s Newmarket team and EPIC,” David said appreciatively.
He went into further detail about the kind of support that Harry gets from EPIC, and why it’s been so effective.
“Harry has two different support workers from EPIC, Graham and Chris. Who have really helped him develop and assist in his growth. They each bring a different approach to supporting him. This is great because it means Harry can learn twice as much from two different individuals. He’s got that consistency in them helping develop his skills, and they can identify where he needs help.”
David said he gets constant positive feedback from McDonald’s Newmarket staff and managers. He gets told that Harry is a valued member of the staff regularly!
Harry’s manager Brooke echoed this, explaining that Harry is a kind of celebrity of McDonald’s Newmarket. He’s always met with warm greetings and wide smiles on his early morning shifts.
McWrapping up with David and Brooke
We finished our time with David by asking him a bit of a tough, yet important, question. What would he say to other parents of people with disability who were in his position before he had come to EPIC with Harry?
David was quick to answer. He explained that he’d been asked this question several times by other parents in person.
“The advice I always give is that parents should always be actively involved with the process. You’ve got to work with EPIC and companies like them in a partnership. It’s not about outsourcing the responsibility. It’s about coming together to give your child the best outcome for their career. There also needs to be clear and consistent communication from all parties involved. From the parents, the workplace, and companies like EPIC, to make sure that the right support is in place. And that the person is getting the right support as soon as they need it, whatever it may be,” David said wisely.
We also asked his manager, Brooke, if she had any wisdom of her own to pass on to employers who are thinking about hiring a person with disability.
“Everyone deserves a go. McDonald’s is huge on inclusion and celebration of diversity. We’ve given Harry a go and look at the result: he’s been here for years, consistently performing at the top of his game. We love having him around. It makes me proud to be working for an organisation that values diversity and inclusion like McDonald’s,” said Brooke with a grin.
Diversity and inclusion – the secret sauce of success
With businesses like McDonald’s Newmarket prioritising inclusion. And companies like EPIC providing consistent, quality, ongoing support. There’s no reason why a person with disability like Harry can’t find their dream job and flourish in that role.
Good on you Harry – your employment journey is far from over!
If you, like Harry, have a disability and are looking for help finding a job you love, get in touch with EPIC Assist today.
