Qld Prepares for Disability Sector Growth

The Queensland Government says it’s planning to help attract 13,000 people statewide into jobs caring for people with a disability.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said the disability sector would double in Queensland due to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), capturing twice the number of clients who receive specialist care – and the Government was preparing for the increase in opportunities.

“These people will need appropriate skills and training, which is why the Government has prioritised training for certificate three courses in disability,” he said.

The Certificate 3 Guarantee, part of the Queensland Government's five-year training reform action plan, Great skills. Real opportunities, provides a government subsidy to support eligible individuals to complete their first post-school certificate III qualification.

The Government said it also supported Queensland's Year 12 graduates to transition to employment by providing fee-free training in high priority qualifications.

Disability Services Minister Tracy Davis said the Government had a strong plan for the sector that would create a brighter future for thousands of Queenslanders with a disability.

“Training and resources are available to disability services organisations and individuals, so they can develop their skills and capacity during this period before the NDIS commences,”she said.

The Government said it planned to offer accredited and non-accredited training to the sector workforce and people with disability, their families and carers to assist in transitioning to the NDIS, as part of the Sector Readiness and Workforce Capacity Initiative delivered by the Health and Community Services Workforce Council and National Disability Services.

Cerebral Palsy League CEO Angela Tillmanns said CPL recognised how important it was to build skills in the disability sector ahead of the roll-out of the NDIS in 2016.

Tillmanns said CPL’s training and education division, Mylestones Training, offered accredited qualifications through specialised programs that taught students how to assist people living with disabilities and support them to be independent members of their communities.

“The Certificate Three Guarantee program means that training can be offered to eligible Queenslanders at an affordable price,” Tillmanns said.

“Since we launched the program, we’ve had 41 graduates through this program achieve a Certificate Three in Disability – some of whom are now working as valued members of our CPL team.

“A career in the disability sector is perfect for anyone who is looking to do something different and more meaningful than the average nine to five desk job.

“The work we do is rewarding and certainly worth considering for people interested in being part of a sector that makes a real difference.”

For more information about the Queensland’s transition to the NDIS, click here.