Disability Employment Centre of Excellence

People with disability can face many barriers to employment.

Through the advocacy work of organisations like Inclusion Australia, the Government is starting to address some of these barriers. However, more work needs to be done so people with a disability can find and retain work.

The Australian Government committed to establishing a Disability Employment Centre of Excellence in the 2023 budget.

What is the Disability Employment Centre of Excellence and what will it do?

It will help people with disability find work, keep work and have meaningful jobs.

It could help employment service providers and employers support people with disability in the work they do.

Why do we need a centre like this and who will it help?

I think we need a centre like this to help more people with disability find the work they want.

It could also help employment service providers and employers give the right support to people with disability in their work.

Who will the centre help?

I hope the centre will be able to help people with disability and their families.

I think it could also help teach employers to build their workers confidence to do well in their work and keep a job.

How will the centre work?

There are different ways the centre will work:

• support research and training for disability employment.
• have online resources and information.
• have experts on disability employment give training.

People with an intellectual disability have told me they often find it hard to get a job and keep a job, and don’t get enough support at work.

The government information says the centre will:

• help people understand what segregated education and employment is.
• share information about meaningful jobs and why this is important.
• explain how the NDIS can help you with your employment and education.
• help people with disabilities to find jobs and stay in jobs.
• give accessible information.
• give supports for people with disability who need support in their work.
• teach you about your rights – for example, that employers should treat you fairly.

What do you think the centre needs to do to make sure it can work well for people with an intellectual disability?

I think the centre should have easy read information about the centre and what it can provide.

Also, it should include everyone in the conversation; people with an intellectual disability and other disabilities, as well as other groups like LGBTIQA+ and First Nations people.

They need to give information to families and people with disability to understand the way they work and the way they want to participate in work.

How can people tell the government their ideas for the centre?

Discussion papers, consultation reports and submissions were considered in developing an options paper on a proposed model for the Disability Employment Centre of Excellence.

An options paper will help stakeholders make decisions about the centre.

The Department of Social Services is seeking feedback and ideas until November 27, 2023. Feedback and comments are welcome from anyone.

• You can provide your feedback via email to: [email protected]
• You can also write a submission to: Make a submission | engage.dss.gov.au

You can find an Easy Read version of the options paper here: Disability Employment Centre of Excellence (dss.gov.au)

You can read the full version of the options paper here: Establishing a Disability Employment Centre of Excellence (dss.gov.au)