Consultation Begins on Disability Employment Framework
26 May 2015 at 10:21 am
The Federal Government has launched an issues paper and details of a national public consultation program to help in the development of a new Disability Employment Framework.
The Government announced a series of national forums to discuss what is and is not working in current disability employment programs and what can be done to improve employment rates.
“Australia invests over $1 billion dollars in disability employment support but only 52.9 per cent of people with disability of working age are engaged in, or actively seeking work. We can do better,” Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield said.
“People with disability should have the same opportunities as other Australians to participate in employment and enjoy the many benefits that work brings.
“An Issues Paper has been released to encourage discussion about the current approach and the best ways to support people with disability to find long-term, meaningful employment.
“We want to hear from people with disability, their families and carers, employers and service providers so we can develop a system that works for employers as well as people with disability and get more people with disability into jobs.
“I encourage everyone with an interest in the employment outcomes of people with disability, to read the Issues Paper and have their say by attending a forum or making a written submission,” Fifield said.
Fifield said the recently established Disability Employment Taskforce will work closely with stakeholders over the next six months to design the new Framework.
The Issues Paper outlines what the Federal Government is currently doing to help people with disability find and keep jobs.
The Paper is calling for public discussion on nine specific topic areas:
- Workforce Participation of People with Disability
- Different needs of People with Disability
- Principles for Changes to Disability Employment Services
- National Disability Insurance Scheme
- Personal Helpers and Mentors
- Australian Disability Enterprises
- Disability Employment Services
- Job Services Australia
- Support for Employers
Public forums will be held around Australia starting on 25 May, in the following locations:
Melbourne – 25 May 2015
Bendigo – 26 May 2015
Hobart – 28 May 2015
Brisbane – 1 and 2 June 2015
Townsville – 3 June 2015
Darwin – 9 June 2015 Perth – 15 and 16 June 2015
Adelaide – 17 and 18 June 2015
Sydney – 23 June 2015
Newcastle – 25 June 2015
Canberra – 29 June 2015
Join the discussion by making a submission or attending a public forum.
