A new job service for people with disabilities has been launched in Sydney.
Federal Minister for Employment Participation, Senator Mark Arbib said the new Disability Employment Services would mean more jobs for people with disability, improved choice for job seekers and employers and better service delivery.
Senator Arbib said Disability Employment Services would operate under two new programs: the Disability Management Service to help job seekers who were not expected to need regular long-term support to maintain their job, and the Employment Support Service for those who needed continuous support.
$1.2 billion scheme launched
“For the first time, people with disability will have direct access to the help they need to find and keep a job,” he said.
“There will be no waiting lists because the Government has uncapped services.
“People with disability will have access to better and more individually tailored employment services.”
Senator Arbib said employers would benefit by being able to tap into the wide range of skills and experience offered by people with disability.
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten said people with disability were under-represented in the workforce.
“We need to ensure that we remove the barriers facing people with disability who want to work, and recognise their potential rather than their impairments,” Mr Shorten said.
A Disability Employment Services Reference Group is to be established to provide strategic advice on the future of Disability Employment Services.
The Commonwealth has also launched a $6.8 million Disability Support Pension (DSP) Employment Incentive Pilot to encourage employers to offer jobs to people with disability and allow DSP recipients to demonstrate their skills.
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