Australians living with disability who have high support needs will find it easier to enter the workforce as the government introduces a plan to boost employment.
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The Commonwealth's Supported Employment Plan outlines a series of federal, state and territory measures to provide extra support and guidance for those with high support needs who want to work.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth says the scheme, to be unveiled on Thursday, will help make Australia a more disability-inclusive nation.
"It's been clear for a long time that there is a need to evolve this sector," she said.
"The plan will help everyone with high support needs to exercise genuine choice and control over their job and career.
"That means not just finding employment, but meaningful and fulfilling roles that help them reach their career goals."
Drafted in consultation with the disability community, the plan suggests providing grants to employment service to create job opportunities for people with specific needs, considering ways to increase the number of businesses owed by Australians with disabilities and delivering employment expos for these people and their families.
Each state and territory have their measures such as boosting disability inclusion in schools, recruiting these Australians in the public sector and investing in funds that will help students with high-support needs move into post-school options.
The government released a federal disability royal commission report in September which found Australians with disabilities were more likely to experience violence, abuse and neglect alongside systemic barriers to education, housing and notably employment.
More than 4.4 million people in Australia identify as having a disability.
The federal government has committed $52 million over the next four years for Australians with high-support needs and will provide a progress report on the Supported Employment Plan every 12 months.
STATE AND TERRITORY BREAKDOWN:
* In the ACT, the government will support early childhood education centres, schools and workplaces as they try build more disability-inclusive environments.Career planning tools will also be made more widely available for people living with disability
* In NSW, the state government has introduced initiatives to support agencies in reviewing their disability inclusion action plans.
* The NT is working on existing plans such as recruiting more people with disability in the public sector and supporting students with disability in their transition from schools to community and employment opportunities.
* The Queensland government is working on existing initiatives aimed at expanding the number of workplaces that employ Australians with disability and providing ongoing support for prisoners with disability to enter the job market.
* SA has introduced plans to provide workplace learning for students with disability and educator resources to support said students.
*The Tasmanian government has suggested assisting disability enterprises to reform areas in line with the NDIS Review and the royal commission findings.
* Victoria is also working on existing plans to support students with disability with career planning and education alongside other initiatives.
Australian Associated Press
