The Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, has announced an extra $26 million for disability employment. The money will go to projects in the first round of the Structural Adjustment Fund ($14.9 million), the Disability Employment Advocacy and Information Program ($9.8 million), and a pilot of disability and employment expos ($1.4 million). Focused on people with disability with high support needs, the initiatives are a preliminary step in the government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendations on disability employment.   

The first round of the Structural Adjustment Fund will go to 32 organisations for projects to improve employment for people with high support needs and make pathways to open employment. The projects will run for up two years from 1 July.  

The Disability Employment Advocacy and Information Program will be delivered by Inclusion Australia and the Disability Advocacy Network Australia. The program will provide advocacy support and information to job seekers with high support needs and their families and carers. 

The ImpactInstitute will deliver the disability employment expos pilot, which will showcase the potential of workers with high support needs, assist them with tailored employment pathways and connect them with employers.   

In announcing the initiatives on Tuesday, Minister Rishworth said, “People with intellectual disability and other high support needs can face particular barriers to employment and these three programs will work together to increase the number and range of employment pathways. They will also support people with disability and their families to better understand and exercise their rights at work.”    

You can read the Minister’s media release on the Department of Social Services webpage. 

DSS has published a list of successful projects as well as a feedback document [pdf] to assist grant applicants understand the elements of a strong application that best respond to the assessment criteria. Successful projects placed a strong emphasis on innovative approaches that create pathways to open employment, better met community expectations and would create sustainable employment for people with disability.  

The feedback document and the list of successful projects may also stimulate ideas for projects in second round of the Fund, scheduled to open in late 2024.  

NDS appreciates the Commonwealth Government’s efforts to strengthen the supported employment sector and the ongoing practical emphasis on increasing and improve the quality of employment opportunities for people with high support needs.