People with disability want to work, have so many skills and talents to offer, yet still face systemic employment and societal barriers. 

 

The panel chaired by Dr Ben Gauntlett, Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner, will include; Erin Wilson from the Centre for Social Impact, IncludeAbility Ambassadors Dinesh Palipana and Tracey Corbin-Matchett, and IncludeAbility Employer Network Members; Majella Knobel (Westpac) and Catherine Seaberg (Australian Public Service Commission). 

 

The panel will reflect on their own employment experience, discuss what is required to improve employment for people with disability in Australia and highlight practical ways employers can recruit, retain and advance people with disability.  

 

·         Benefits of employment for people with disability (the individual, the organisation, broader society) 

·         Disability confident employers / leaders 

·         Practical ways employers can recruit, retain and advance people with disability

·         What successful employment looks like 

·         Flexible workplace solutions: Reasonable accommodation / adjustments, universal design versus individual needs

·         Community attitudes 

Plain Language Abstract
This presentation is about people with disability and work.  It is about getting jobs, keeping jobs, and being promoted in jobs.  Many people with disability have difficulties with jobs.

Research, discussion and practice at all levels of society indicates people with intellectual disability can thrive in an open employment market. Challenges to this however, remain, particularly with regards to preconceived stereotypes these of people with intellectual disability around areas of capability and support. Endeavour Foundation, through its Employer Engagement program, seeks to address this misalignment and work with employers to understand their business needs and by so doing, seek to put forward a suitable candidate. 

 

Part of this process involves Endeavour reviewing current recruitment practices and supporting businesses to develop workplace adjustment policies and procedures (where necessary). Support is also provided with regards to conducting interviews in line with person centred practices and providing candidates based on skills and interests. 

 

This presentation will outline the beginning of the pilot and provide details regarding its current state. Furthermore, lessons learnt will be provided to the audience, including both successful and unsuccessful case studies. Also discussed will be supports created for people with intellectual disability entering into the program and the upskilling of candidates before and during their employment.

Plain Language Abstract
This presentation is about people with intellectual disability having jobs alongside people without disability (sometimes called open employment).

Many young people with disabilities transfer to disability services prior to being given the opportunity to explore the world of work. Employment First means that “employment in the general workforce should be the first and preferred option for individuals with disabilities receiving assistance from publicly-funded systems” (APSE, n.d.). Adopting Employment First principles within schools and disability services in the Australian context has the potential to lead to improved integrated employment opportunities for young people with disability. 

Key Questions

How do employment first principles support economic participation for young people with disability?

 

What are the practical strategies that support employment first?

 

How have employment first principles supported young people with disability into post school employment in the Australian context?

Plain Language Abstract
This presentation is by a group of people.  There will be time for each person to speak.  There will be time for questions from the audience.