Newsletter Spring 2016
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National Disability Coordination Officer Programme Region 14
Welcome to the spring edition of the NDCO programme newsletter for region 14. If you would like information about special projects, networks and professional development opportunities in relation to education & employment for people with disability please contact the NDCO programme.
Sally Bailey, National Disability Coordination Officer T (03) 9784 0400 M 0439 897 027
E sbailey@skillsplus.com.au W www.ndcovictoria.net.au
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Rethinking career support for workers with disability
A study by UTS Business spoke to 30 people with disability who are successfully pursuing a career to see what they had in common. They worked in a range of occupations, including law, journalism, politics, IT, academia and management, in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. The study found the most common experience was their work with not-for-profit disability organisations (NPDO) – paid and unpaid. Just under half of the study’s participants gained their first paid job with such an organisation. It became clear from the study that people with disability are instrumental in creating career opportunities and pathways for themselves – that they are their own career supports.
https://theconversation.com/rethinking-career-support-for-workers-with-disability-23175
Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) Statewide Portal has been launched
Find current work placements offered by employers across Victoria, Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) is on-the-job training that allows students to develop their work skills and understand employer expectations. SWL is available to Victorian school students undertaking a VET program as part of their VCE or VCAL studies, including School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs).
http://www.workplacements.education.vic.gov.au/
Vision Australia awards Further Education Bursaries
Each year, Vision Australia awards Further Education Bursaries to a select number of students who are blind or have low vision.
The bursaries provide adaptive technology to help the students fully participate and succeed in their chosen studies. Assistive technology can eliminate barriers to education and enhance access to information. It enables students to read course material, conduct research and improve their student life. Please distribute this information to any interested individuals.
Eligibility Criteria
Students of any age can apply for a Vision Australia Further Education Bursary.
Applicants must:
- Be or become, a client of Vision Australia
- Have a current (within the last 12 months) eye report on file with Vision Australia
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Be living or moving to Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory or Tasmania
- Be enrolling to study at an institution in Victoria, ACT, NSW, Queensland, the Northern Territory or Tasmaniae enrolling to study in at least Certificate IV or higher accredited courses including undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (not a Foundation or Enabling course) at the start of the year or be already enrolled in such a course (preference may be given to those in the early stages of a course). The course must have a minimum 12 months remaining for those already enrolled.
- Be willing to be involved in publicity events and provide feedback and provide updates on their academic progress
Applications will be available on the below website on August 1st. Applications will close October 28th, 2016.
www.visionaustralia.org/bursary
Youth Jobs PaTH
The Youth Jobs PaTH is a flexible new approach to youth employment. The $752 million initiative is designed to support young people under the age of 25 years to gain the employability skills and real work experience they need to get and keep a job, and provides incentives for employers to take them on. The Youth Jobs PaTH provides three elements: Prepare – Trial – Hire.
For more information go to: http://www.employment.gov.au/youth-jobs-path
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Policy and Research
Autism in the Workplace Report
Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre has released a report on a recent project into Autism in the Workplace. Employing an adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) provides benefits to employers and their organisations without incurring additional costs.
http://business.curtin.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/bcec-autism-in-the-workplace.pdf
Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) Education Survey 2016
The results of CYDA’s national survey on the education experiences of students with disability have been released. The survey of 1396 students and families provide a national snapshot of current experiences. The majority of participants stated that the level of support the student receives at school is inadequate. High rates of bullying, exclusion, restraint and seclusion are also reported.
CYDA also recently requested information about cases of abuse of students with disability through freedom of information legislation from each state and territory education department.
http://www.cda.org.au/cyda-education-survey-2016
Disability Standards for Education Exemplars of Practice
These Examplars of Practice demonstrate the Standards in practice across various education settings: early learning, schools, vocational education and higher education.
https://docs.education.gov.au/documents/exemplars-practice
Ticket To Work (TTW) pilot outcomes study 2016
Study shows long-term benefits of supporting young Australians with disability to prepare for work. The outcomes study by independent consultants, ARTD, compares past Ticket to Work participants with other young people with disability and shows impressive outcomes across a broad range of indicators including levels of job satisfaction, independence and social participation. - See more at: http://www.tickettowork.org.au/research/study-shows-long-term-benefits-supporting-young-australians-disability-prepare-work/#sthash.p41Mp92y.dpuf
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Professional Development
Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Further Education and Training (ADCET)
Free Webinar
Engaging Students on the Autism Spectrum in Tertiary Settings: An Evidence-Based Peer-Mentoring Program at Curtin University, presented by Theresa Kidd and Dr Jasmine McDonald (Joint Program Managers of the Curtin Specialist Mentoring Program (CSMP)).
Thursday 8 September, 2016 1pm - 2pm AEST For further information go to:
Aspect Capable DES Training
Disability Employment Services (DES) and Transition to Work (TTW) providers around Australia are seeing an increase in their numbers of job seekers on the autism spectrum. The Aspect Capable Autism Spectrum Training offers awareness training for your staff to build the skills and confidence to get better outcomes for your jobseekers on the autism spectrum.
The Aspect Capable DES Training has relevance across all Disability Employment Service employees responsible for supporting candidates and employers, such as Employment Consultants, Job Coaches and Managers. For more information or to book a bespoke training session for your organisation, please contact Aspect Customer Service on
(03) 9377 6600 or (03) 9377 6602 or email
Irma Hilkens, Employment coordinator: ihilkens@autismspectrum.org.au
Classroom Engagement – Easy English
You do not need to work in a school to come to this workshop https://www.trybooking.com/202818
Universal Access includes the access to written information. How much written information does your organisation provide? 44% of the Australian adult population has non-functional literacy (PIAAC, 2013). 20% of 14 -15 yr Australian students have non-functional literacy (PISA, 2013). This workshop will introduce Easy English and provide you with opportunities to learn to write Easy English to improve access and inclusion for everyone. All training is listed at http://accesseasyenglish.com.au/training
Leadership Program for Women with Disability
Are you a woman with a disability interested in participating in a two-day leadership workshop? Do you know a woman with a disability who would like to attend?
“Women Leading by Example” is a unique leadership program that will be held in Melbourne on the 20th and 21st September for a maximum of 30 women with disabilities. High-profile female leaders, mentors, and workshop facilitators from corporate, government, and non-profit sectors will present and interact with participants.
Participants will explore their self-leadership as well as their ability to lead others. This includes identifying and sharing leadership goals and working to increase confidence to take the next step in community leadership.
Each applicant will be assessed on the total of their experiences and goals in life.
More information, such as the Interim Program, can be found on our website at http://www.wdv.org.au/our_work.htm#wlbe
Learning Difficulties Australia
Dr. Maryanne Wolf
Tales of the Reading Brain: Reading Development, Dyslexia and the Digital Culture with
Prof Pamela Snow - Psychologist, Speech Pathologist, Head of School of Rural Health at Latrobe University
Hannah Stark - Speech Pathologist, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and PhD candidate, Melbourne Graduate School of Education
Alison Clarke - Speech Pathologist, Vice-President LDA, author of the Spelfabet website
Melbourne, Friday 9 September 2016
Collingwood Town Hall, 140 Hoddle St, Abbotsford
For more information follow the link
https://www.ldaustralia.org/pdm-wolf.html
Pathways 13 Conference Website - Celebrating 25 years of Pathways
30 November - 2 December 2016 Canberra
The ATEND Pathways Conference is a bi-annual event organised by the Australian Tertiary Education Network on Disability (ATEND). The conference brings together disability practitioners, NDCOs and a range of other professional, academic staff and students with disability to identify and remove barriers for people with disability participating in higher education and training.
Pathways provides a unique opportunity to improve our knowledge and plays a pivotal role in supporting practitioners and the sector in general with an opportunity for professional development. It encourages discussion and debate which informs the sector and ensures that we are all working towards an improved practice model. Pathways 13 centres around the theme; Changes, Challenges and Choice – embracing the future. The Pathways 13 conference will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Pathways in Australia.
Register your interest here http://www.pathways.consec.com.au/register.html
Promising Employment Pathways
WHEN: Monday 5th September 2016. 10.30am - 2.30pm
WHERE: Kington Arts Centre, 979-985 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin, Victoria
This seminar is best suited to people who are wanting to create employment pathways for people with a disability or others who find themselves marginalised from community i.e. people with a disability, their families, support workers, planners, professionals, managers, CEOs, policy developers and other people in leadership position.
http://www.belongingmatters.org/
SPELD Training
The following are workshops that Speld Vic is running in the upcoming months which might be of interest to your members, parents and teachers.
22 September 2016 Understanding spelling well enough to explain it to kids 2
12th-13th & 19th-20th October 4 day Teacher Training Course in Specific Learning Disorders
Resources
Educational Resources for Consumers with Disability
Recently the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) consulted with you on the development of guidance about the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) for consumers with disability. We are pleased to inform you that today we released a suite of four educational resources for consumers with disability and the businesses supplying them.
http://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/information-for/consumers-with-disability
Evidence for Learning - Teaching & Learning Toolkit
The Toolkit summarises the global evidence base on 34 different approaches to lift learning outcomes in schools. You can view all approaches, see approaches relevant to primary or secondary schools or look at approaches by school management area.
http://evidenceforlearning.org.au/teaching-and-learning-toolkit/full-toolkit/
New JobAccess website
The new JobAccess website www.jobaccess.gov.au was introduced on 1 July 2016.
The new website aims to improve access to information, funding and services that support disability employment for people with disability, employers and service providers.
It builds on the old JobAccess website to make it easier than ever for people with disability to find the right job and keep it.
We are asking you to help promote JobAccess through your networks to improve awareness of the free disability employment information and support available to people with disability, employers and service providers.
You might like to provide a link to www.jobaccess.gov.au on your organisation’s website, or to the JobAccess video resources. These videos demonstrate the diversity of skills, abilities and experience an employee with disability can bring to an organisation.
There are also a number of posters and information sheets, which are available for download on the JobAccess website. These resources provide valuable information about the support available through JobAccess. Please check any links you may have to the old JobAccess website, as content has moved and these links may no longer work. www.jobaccess.gov.au.
New Videos: Inclusive technology playing a vital role in students success
ADCET is excited to be launching a number of wonderful videos that showcase students using technology to support their studies at university. Technology can play a powerful role in improving the access to education for students with disability. These videos show a range of technologies in use and the impact they have had on the student’s success.
http://www.adcet.edu.au/resource/9391/inclusive-technology-playing-a-vital-role-in-students-success/
NDIS Provider Toolkit
Working with the NDIS: your guide to being a registered provider illustrates the typical steps and processes that a provider must undertake to become a registered NDIS provider and supply services to NDIS participants.
NDIS Ready
A new NDIS Ready webpage has just been launched at www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-ready. This includes a link to the new My NDIS Pathway – a guide to being an NDIS participant, and other resources including videos.
Resources to Recommend
Australian Disability Clearing House on Education and Training (ADCET) provides information, advice and resources to Disability Practitioners, Teachers and Students on inclusive practices within the post-secondary education sector.
http://www.adcet.edu.au/ndco/resources-to-recommend/
Toozly – The world’s largest job search website for jobseekers with disabilities
Whether you’re a jobseeker with a disability looking for work, an employer looking for staff or a service provider assisting clients with disabilities to return to the workforce, you’ve probably found yourself wondering – Why is there no major online jobsearch platform specifically for people with disabilities?
There is now.
What you might not have known is that Toozly was created by professionals with over 30 years experience in Disability Employment Services, Business, Human Resources, Psychology, Education and Training.
https://www.toozly.com.au/about-you
Sharing and Monitoring Disability Information
Disability is likely to be present in your workplace and it may well be invisible. Many Australian employers are unsure about how to ask people about their disability status. A recent survey of members by the Business Council of Australia 2 found that concerns about seeming discriminatory, invading privacy, not knowing how to ask and lack of internal know-how prevented companies from asking employees or applicants if they had disability. The purpose of this guide is to: • help you prepare before you ask; • when to ask; and • what to ask.
http://www.and.org.au/pages/sharing-and-monitoring-disability-information.html
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