
Supported Employment Opportunities
Supported employment programs help people with disabilities find and keep meaningful employment. These programs offer personal support, job coaching and other resources to ensure success in the workplace. By participating in supported employment, people can gain skills, build confidence and become more part of their community. And they can earn their own money which is a big bonus for independence and empowerment.
What is Supported Employment?
Supported employment is a specialised employment service that helps people with disabilities get and keep paid work. This service matches job opportunities to individual’s skills and abilities so they can thrive in their role. Supported employment services usually includes job coaching, job development and ongoing support to help people succeed in the workplace. By providing tailored support, these services enable people with disabilities to achieve their employment goals and independence through meaningful work.
Supported Employment Provider
Access Industries is an NDIS registered supported employment provider. The pricing framework outlines how employment supports can be funded through NDIS plans, so it is important for participants who need workplace accommodations. We believe in a holistic approach to employment support. Supported employment funding is essential for people who need ongoing support to get and keep paid work. In addition to great workplace facilities, we provide other services for supported employees to make the workplace supportive and productive. These services are underpinned by the National Standards for Disability Services and the NDIS Practice Standards and provide an environment for each employee to achieve their workplace goals.
Our NDIS Supported Employment Services:
- Individualised Support: Each participant receives individualised support based on their unique needs, abilities and goals. Our team works closely with participants to create a supportive work environment for them to thrive.
- We support people with high support needs to get integrated into the workforce and understand their rights and job options.
- Skill Development: We provide on-the-job training and development opportunities for participants to build new skills, gain confidence and increase independence in the workplace.
- Workplace Modifications: We offer workplace modifications and assistive technologies to make the workplace comfortable and accessible for each individual.
- Career Pathways: We help our participants explore career pathways. Whether it’s through additional training, mentoring or exploring different roles we want to help people progress in their careers.
- Ongoing Support: Our support doesn’t stop once employment is secured. We offer continuous support to help participants maintain their employment and overcome any challenges they may face.
With Access you will also receive:
- Individual Employment Plan (IEP) that outlines your employment goals and other areas of support needed
- Welfare Officers to support you with personal issues
- Safety and Training Officers to work with you to achieve your employment goals
- One-on-one training
- Internal group training
- Subsidised canteen
- Annual Presidents’ Award for work commitment and/or outstanding personal development
- Service Awards Recognition
- Flexible work hours to meet your needs
- Safety Awareness sessions (led by supported employees and their managers)
Types of Employment Services
There are various employment services to support people with disabilities to find and maintain employment. These include:
- Supported Employment Services: These services offer full support to people with disabilities to get and keep paid work. This includes job coaching, on the job training and ongoing support to ensure long term success.
- Open Employment Services: These services help people with disabilities find and maintain employment in the open labour market, promote inclusion and equal opportunities.
- Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs): ADEs offer supported employment in a structured work environment, substantial ongoing support to help people develop new skills and gain work experience.
- Employment Agencies: These agencies connect people with disabilities to job opportunities, often provide job coaching and vocational training.
Each of these services provides different employment opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve their career goals.
Employment Planning and Support
Employment planning and support is an important part of supported employment services. The process starts with an assessment of an individual’s skills, abilities and employment goals. This information is used to develop an individualised employment plan that outlines the steps to achieve those goals. Employment planning may involve identifying job opportunities, preparing for job interviews and arranging workplace modifications. Once employment is secured we provide ongoing support to help the individual maintain their job and overcome any challenges they may face. This support can include job coaching, regular check ins and assistance with any required job modifications. By providing continuous support employment services help people with disabilities to achieve and succeed in their chosen careers.
Employment Rights and Entitlements
People with disabilities employed through supported employment services have the same rights and entitlements as any other employee. This includes the right to fair pay, safe working conditions and equal treatment in the workplace. Supported employment services must comply with relevant laws and regulations such as the Fair Work Act and the Disability Discrimination Act, so supported employees are treated with respect and dignity.
Additionally people employed through supported employment services may be eligible for other entitlements such as the Disability Support Pension and other government benefits. These entitlements provide financial support and help people with disabilities achieve a good quality of life while pursuing their employment goals. By knowing and advocating for their rights, supported employees can have a fulfilling employment journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Supported employment by NDIS standards is a service that helps people with disability find and keep jobs by providing extra support and special training at work. Social services play a crucial role in supported employment by working with ministers and sector experts to develop guiding principles and a supported employment plan. Access Industries is a registered NDIS service provider for Supported Employment.
Supported employment can help people with disability:
- Learn new skills
- Build confidence
- Earn money
- Explore new interests
- Make friends
- Upskill for open employment
Supported employment provides individualised services, including:
- Job coaching
- Job placement
- Ongoing support
- On-the-job training
- Assistance with job modifications
- Regular check-ins
Access Industries also offers skills and vocational training through our registered RTO, Access Knowledge.
Supported employees work in typical work environments such as commercial businesses, not segregated or sheltered workshops. At Access Industries, we offer supported employment placements in timber manufacturing, industrial sewing, packing and linen services.
Supported employment is funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The supported employment service is covered under the NDIS, so employers and employees can have guidelines to increase paid employment opportunities for people with disabilities.