Employment Information

When thinking about a career, the type of job you would like to do, or even when finding work, it is important to consider all of the options and support systems available to you.

There are many services and agencies to assist people with a disability to decide on career options and to look for and maintain employment. While people with a disability can access services that are available to all Australian citizens and permanent residents, there are also services designed specifically for people with a disability.

The Australian Government funds a range of agencies and employment support services to assist people with a disability to find and maintain work. These services include:

• Centrelink provides information and assistance to help people access they services available to assist them in seeking employment.
• Australian Apprenticeships combine practical work with quality structured training to give a nationally recognised qualification and on-the-job experience.
• Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) fund the following services:
  • Job Network
  • Disability Employment Network
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) fund:
  • Business Services (sometimes referred to as supported employment or sheltered workshops).
• Voluntary work and work experience for people with a disability to develop skills and experience in the community or workplace.

Each of these agencies and services provides a different type of assistance from preparing you to look for work, searching for a job and, if needed, ongoing support in the workplace once you have found a job.

The following Centrelink payments might apply to you if you have a disability. Further information including whether or not you might qualify for assistance is available from Centrelink.

• Auslan for Employment (AFE) Program
• Mobility Allowance
• Supported Wage System
• Wage subsidy scheme
• Workplace Modifications Scheme

The Disability Coordination Office in your region can also assist students, families, teachers and support agencies require information on transitioning from post-secondary education and training into employment. The Disability Coordination Officer is available to provide information and guidance on employment services and supports in the local region.

Important Information for Disability Support Pensioners Wanting to Find Work

If you are on a Disability Support Pension you do not have an obligation to look for work in order to receive your Disability Support Pension.

If you would like to look for work and require assistance from an Australian Government funded Employment Services such as a Disability Employment Network member, you will be volunteering for employment services.

If you have not had a Job Capacity Assessment in the last two years you will be required to have a Job Capacity Assessment to be able to access such employment services. This assessment will work out your work capacity. The Assessment will also recommend an employment service for you and ensures that you go to the service most suited to your needs.

It is important that you understand that the Job Capacity Assessment will start a review of your entitlement to Disability Support Pension. The assessment outcome may indicate that you will be better supported by another type of payment from Centrelink such as the Youth Allowance or Newstart Allowance.

If you want to have a Job Capacity Assessment, Centrelink will give you a Treating Doctor's Report form for your doctor to complete. This is so that the Job Capacity Assessor has the most up to date medical information about you. When Centrelink gets your Treating Doctor's Report, an appointment for you to have a Job Capacity Assessment will be made.

For more information click on the link to Job Capacity Assessments

Employment Support for Graduates

The Careers Service at the University of Wollongong offers a range of services and supports to assist university graduates to help make the transition from your university study into the next stage of life.

The services and support available to University of Wollongong students through the Careers Service include:

• Get the Edge in job seeking
  - for access to "Get the Edge" booklet that deals with writing job applications and job interviews.

• Career Counselling - Book an appointment with a Careers Counsellor - phone: 02 4221 3324. To book an appointment you need to be a current student or alumni of the University of Wollongong.

The following information should also help you to understand some of the options available to you when deciding on the type of employers and graduate opportunities available:

• Gradlink
• Graduate Opportunities
• Unigrad

Resources:

`Education to employment package for graduates with disabilities and employers'

The Education to Employment Package is a web-based resource designed to provide information, advice and support to assist graduates with a disability to understand their rights and responsibilities when looking for work. This website also features a section for employers to assist in the process of employing people with disabilities.

`Choosing Your Path. Disclosure: It's A Personal Decision'

The `Choosing Your Path. Disclosure: It's A Personal Decision' guide is a web based resource that addresses the challenges disclosure of disability raises for people with disabilities, employers and educators. The website provides substantial information about options and pathways that people with disabilities can use in disclosing their disability in post secondary education and employment environments.