Fish, Goals, and New Roles: Hayden’s Explore Program Success Story

For Hayden, a lifelong love of aquatic life turned into a dream job when he secured a position at a local aquarium, all thanks to the skills and confidence he gained through Happy Paws Happy Hearts' Explore Program.

When joining Happy Paws Happy Hearts (HPHH) in 2023 to take part in the Explore Employment Pathways Program, Hayden’s work experience was limited to a stint at Subway. Growing up with anxiety, OCD and on the Autism Spectrum, Hayden struggled with school attendance but continued to aspire to do something meaningful for work, particularly working with animals. 

Hayden joined HPHH with the goals to become more social, build confidence, prepare for getting a job and make some friends. We were proud to hear that following his graduation, Hayden reported achieving each of these goals. In Explore, participants learn a range of skills from goal setting, time management and financial literacy, to addressing barriers to communicating in the workforce. These skills are gained all the while interacting with shelter animals and commonly drawing parallels from the skills for animal training into an array of life management skills, transferable for any role or industry.

The ultimate outcome for Explore participants is to transition into volunteering, further study or employment, and Hayden has successfully gained employment in one of his dream jobs – being surrounded by fish!

From feeding exotic fish to helping customers learn about marine life, Hayden’s journey is a true success story, reflecting how passion and dedication can lead to amazing opportunities and outcomes.

“I’ve always had fish tanks at home, ever since I can remember and currently, I have 26 tanks at home,” he says.

We asked Hayden how he felt in the lead up to transitioning into work. Hayden recalls a mix of emotions, "I was pretty excited but also a little nervous about starting a new job," he shares. "However, the Explore Program helped me prepare for everything—learning new skills, overcoming nerves, and being ready to face a new work environment. It’s also helped me with being able to interact with people".

Reflecting on his first day at the aquarium, Hayden recalls it was exhausting but rewarding. "I remember coming home tired, but it felt great," Hayden said with a smile. Since then, he has settled into a routine of caring for nearly 150 tanks—feeding fish, maintaining water quality, and keeping everything clean and presentable. It’s a lot of work, but for Hayden, it is his happy place.

Hayden’s deep knowledge of fish and the different species has made it easier to connect with customers at the aquarium. "Coming into the job, I already knew a lot about fish, which really helped me feel confident when talking to people, which wasn’t something I would have been able to do before Explore" he says. He also found a passion for wanting to help people, which he is able to do by sharing his knowledge on fish and helping people find their perfect fish.

Now, ten weeks into his role at the aquarium, Hayden is thriving. "I’ve learned so much, and it’s great to work in an environment I’m passionate about and can just have fun in," he says. Hayden’s journey from Explore participant to aquarium expert shows the power of following your passion and gaining the right support along the way.

The Explore Program isn’t just about gaining practical skills—it’s about helping participants like Hayden find their path and build the confidence to achieve their goals.

We asked Hayden what one of his most favourite moments has been since working. “We have some fun when new fish come in and the Manager and I play a guessing game and he tests to see if I know about the fish or know what they are called – sometimes I can guess and that’s pretty cool”.

Hayden’s ultimate dream is to own his own aquarium and he is grateful for the experience working where he is now, gaining exposure on the inner workings and operating of a store, under the supportive guidance of store owner, Luke. Being the primary employee helping Luke run the aquarium, Hayden has been given responsibility and opportunities he never thought he would get and was reflecting on how cool it is but also how grateful he is.

Hayden’s mother, Jodie reflected on the impact Explore has had on Hayden, saying:

“Explore has been the best thing to happen to Hayden. If only all kids had access to programs such as this. The vast number of activities they undertake and the care that everyone put in was exceptional. We have been lucky to have Hayden’s Case Manager supporting him throughout this program and to his work placement – a small business with owners who have big hearts”.

We’re thrilled to share Hayden’s inspiring journey and extend a big thank you to him for letting us be a part of his story!

We look forward to seeing what fin-tastic things Hayden continues to achieve!

If you are seeking support to transition into employment or know of someone who would benefit from such a program, visit our website to learn more about Explore at https://www.hphhfoundation.org/explore-program or get in touch with us at hello@hphhfoundation.org

Alternatively, if you are a business owner or manager and interested in supporting an Explore participant by hosting their work experience placement, get in touch with our Partnerships team at partnerships@hphhfoundation.org.