Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 36 Guests: Scott & Sam McLarty, Founders Business Name: Connecting Futures Website: https://connectingfutures.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-mclarty2/
Topics Covered:
/ Youth Employment Through a Neurodiverse Lens
Scott and Sam McLarty share how Connecting Futures helps young neurodiverse people (ages 15–25) transition into meaningful employment. Drawing from their own lived experience, they explain how adapting the environment – not the individual – enables long-term success.
/ Building an Inclusive, Award-Winning Culture
The pair reflect on winning the Diverse and Inclusive Workplace category at the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards. Their focus on staff engagement, trust-building and shared purpose has created a team culture that empowers both workers and participants.
/ Expanding Through Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA)
Connecting Futures has been selected to deliver the Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) program across several regional areas including Bendigo, Maryborough, Castlemaine, Echuca, Shepparton and the Sunshine Coast. This expands their reach beyond NDIS to include people with a disability, injury, or health condition.
/ A Personal Mission Rooted in Lived Experience
As parents of neurodivergent children, Scott and Sam bring empathy and deep understanding to their work. They describe their journey from navigating the school system to creating a service that now supports over 70 young people each week through mentoring and team-based projects.
/ Transformational Participant Journeys
The episode features powerful success stories, including:
Henry, who went from struggling to secure interviews to becoming a permanent V/Line employee and purchasing his first home at 22.
Sammy, who built confidence, moved out of home, and started an IT career at Coliban Water after completing cybersecurity studies.
/ Partnering With Industry to Drive Inclusion
Scott and Sam outline how they collaborate with businesses to create neurodiverse-friendly workplaces. This includes training, sensory spaces and leveraging government funding to support onboarding and workplace adjustments.
/ Demystifying the NDIS System for Families
They discuss the complexity of the NDIS and the importance of empowering families and young people to understand and manage their own plans. Practical tools like the NDIS app and informed advocacy play a key role in increasing self-determination.
/ Sustainable Business With Purpose
From their early days as a one-person NDIS support service, Connecting Futures has grown through clear values, participant-first design and a deep commitment to leaving a lasting legacy in communities across Victoria and Queensland.
References:
- Connecting Futures – https://connectingfutures.com.au
- Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) – https://www.jobaccess.gov.au
- NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) – https://www.ndis.gov.au
- V/Line – https://www.vline.com.au
- Coliban Water – https://www.coliban.com.au
- Bendigo TAFE – Construction Pathways – https://www.bendigotafe.edu.au
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