Disability Employment Australia

• The peak body for Australia's Disability Employment Services

• Represent the interests of members at a national level to government and other stakeholders.

• Get a “better deal” for people with disability participating in the workforce and educate the public about issues related to disability employment.

• Lives independently in his own apartment

• Works 2 days a week as a recreation officer’s assistant

• Performs with one drama group and one dance group

• Patron of e.motion21 a dance company for children and young adults with Down syndrome

• MCs for a mixed ability dance club, Street Festivals and co MCs Corporate Events

• Hip Hop Dance Group teaching children and young adults

• Adhoc performances contracts• In relationship

Paul Matley 34 years old

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not

reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try

to follow where they lead.

Louisa May Alcott widely known as the writer of Little Women

Dare To DreamThe Environment makes it possible:

• UN convention – Article 27 – Open Employment• Disability Service Act – Disability Service Standards• Disability Employment Services

• National Disability Insurance Scheme • Access• Choice and Control

Supported Open Employment

Disability Employment Services in Australia

Unemployment

Open (or supported) employment in AustraliaFunded by Government and outsourced to different organisations

Disability Employment Services

Employment Support Service

Disability Management

Service

Job AccessEmployer Assistance

Fund

Employment Support Service

Permanent disabilityRequires long-term

(more than 6 months) employment support

18 months (can extend to 24) of

employment preparation assistance

Ongoing workplace support for as long as

required

Most people with ID participate in ESS

Disability Management Service

People with temporary or short-

term disability

Not likely to require ongoing employment

support after 6 months

18 months (can extend to 24) employment

preparation assistance

Flexible, ad-hoc, on the job support can be provided for episodic

conditions

Very few people with ID participate in DMS

Job Access

Workplace modifications

Adaptive technology and

equipment

Co-worker education for mental health

issues

Specialist adviceFunded by the

Government so no cost to consumers

Employer Assistance Fund

Wage subsidy funding for employers

$1650 inc GST for Wage Subsidy

Scheme

$5700 inc GST for Wage Connect

Subsidy

Funds Job Access modifications

Auslan for employment

DES Locations

States Total

NSW 599VIC 484QLD 436 SA 224 WA 189 NT 56TAS 53ACT 9

Total 2,050

Characteristics

5.7%

94.3%

DES caseload by disability type

Intellecual DisabilityAll other disability types

The DES Model

Engagement Assessment Action Plan EmploymentPost

Placement Support

Ongoing Support

Eligible School Leavers

To be eligible to commence in DES as an Eligible School Leaver, the job seeker must be:

• in the last 6 months of full time secondary school and considering post‐school options/employment opportunities, or

• a full time student who is participating in a school based Apprenticeship ‐which is recognised by an Australian Apprenticeship Centre and a training contract is lodged in the Training Recognition System (TRS), or

Eligible School Leavers

• a full time student who is intending to work part time outside of school ‐ ‐hours at award based wages, or ‐

• first registering with a DES provider within the 12 months of leaving full time secondary school, or

• first registering with a DES provider directly from participating in a recognised State or Commonwealth funded transition to work program.

AND….

Eligible School Leavers

• of legal working age,

• assessed by the provider as having capacity to work for a minimum of 8 hours a week with the assistance of a DES provider,

• not currently employed for 8 hours or more per week,

Eligible School Leavers

• able to provide suitable evidence from their current educational authority recognising the student’s need for educational support due to the nature of their disability,

• does not have a current and valid JCA with an employment services referral*

Employability Skills• 1 Communication• 2 Team work• 3 Problem-solving• 4 Initiative and enterprise• 5 Planning and organising• 6 Self-management• 7 Learning• 8 Technology(Source: Business Council of Australia & Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry 2002)

Pathway

• Directly approaching providers• Schools have relationships with providers• Direct registrations do not require a Job Capacity Assessment• Referral from Centrelink via Job Capacity Assessment• Volunteering to participate in DES does not trigger a review of

a person’s DSP

Eligibility - Post School Leaving

• Working aged up to 65• Australian citizen or resident• Has a work capacity of at least 8 hours per week• Medical evidence to support disability

What are the options after secondary school?

• The move from school to employment represents a critical life transition for young people - even more so for people with disability

• Open (competitive) employment through DES, in our view, offers the best pathway towards improved economic and social outcomes.

• Natural inclusion in and contribution to the communities they live and work.

What are the options after secondary school?• In Australia many young people with disability are transitioned

into Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE) – ‘Sheltered Workshops’

• People who work in an ADE are paid wages in line with their productivity ‘not based on the award wage system’

• Being included in an excluded group is not true social inclusion

What are the options after secondary school?

• There are 20 000 people working in ADEs and 75% of those people have an intellectual disability.

• 60% of people with intellectual disability are not employed

Open employment through DES offers the best pathway towards improved economic and social outcomes

Find a Provider• Use the Disability Employment Australia website

http://disabilityemployment.org.au/provider-search/all/

• Or use the Australian Job Search Website

http://www.jobsearch.gov.au