JobTrainer, the Commonwealth Government's skills investment program announced today, heralds the welcome prospect of greater numbers of trained disability support workers available across the country.     

The program, designed to assist school leavers and job seekers to learn new skills in target areas identified by the National Skills Commission, is anticipated to include health, social assistance and by extension, disability support. This would directly contribute to objectives of the National Disability Workforce Strategy.

"Today's announcement is significant, not least because JobTrainer could contribute to placing well qualified disability workers into the 90,000 additional disability positions that need filling over the next five years" said CEO of peak representative body, National Disability Services (NDS), David Moody.

"The NDIS should be fully rolled-out across Australia by the end of 2021, but in some areas of Australia disability support providers are challenged to fill all of their available shifts.

"The low or no-cost training to be available under JobTrainer will be an added incentive for school leavers, or those needing to transition into a different sector, to consider the enormously rewarding role of a disability support worker, and join what was, before the pandemic, the fastest growing sector in the Australian economy.

"With the continuing growth of the disability sector and job opportunities anticipated to accelerate after the pandemic period, I’d encourage anyone keen to make a difference in the lives of their fellow Australians to consider disability support work, regardless of where they live in the country."