Inclusive Employment Project

Thousands of people with an intellectual disability work for as little as $2.50 an hour. They pack goods, sort recycling, do gardening, laundry, and hundreds of other skilled and essential jobs in Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs). ADEs are also called sheltered workshops.

We want this to change, so more people with an intellectual disability can work in open and self-employment. This will mean people can earn proper wages and have the same choices and options as other Australians.

Inclusion Australia, with funding from People with Disability Australia, is working on the Inclusive Employment project.

The project is led by people with an intellectual disability who have worked in ADEs and now work in open employment.

Using research and evidence, we are building a detailed plan for people who work in ADEs to move into open and self-employment.

We will start by making sure people who work in ADEs get fair wages.

The Our Voice committee is made up of people with an intellectual disability who advise the Inclusion Australia Board. They say:

“people with disabilities have the right to work in the open job market like anyone else and get the training and support they need; this means no more sheltered employment.”

Our Inclusive Employment project will help with this and make a difference for many people with an intellectual disability across Australia.

To read reports from the Inclusive Employment project, visit Equal Pay, Equal Rights in the Submissions section on our website.