Creating employment opportunities for people with disability is one of the cornerstones of the NDIS. Yet despite this, only 24% of working-age participants are currently engaged in paid employment.
Recognising this, the NDIA have released the NDIS Participant Employment Strategy 2019-2022.
The Participant Employment Strategy looks to improve the employment opportunities for people with disability, with a goal of increasing the employment rate amongst NDIS participants to at least 30% by June 2023.
Over this three-year period, the Strategy will seek to gradually improve choice and control for NDIS participants, encourage them to talk about work, identify their support needs for work, and deliver better services.
To do this and achieve its 30% goal, the Strategy outlines 5 focus areas:
The Participant Employment Strategy recognises the important role Support Coordinators play and urges planners to include Support Coordination in plans. During year 1 of the Strategy, the NDIA state they will "include support coordination to assist NDIS participants with more complex employment support needs to take the steps to achieve their goals".
Plan Managers also have a part to play, by allowing NDIS participants to access both registered and unregistered providers – something that’s particularly useful when looking for work, as it opens up options such as life and work coaches, private recruitment specialists, career counsellors and employment mentors, many of which are sole traders, self-employed, or independent.
Plan Partners looks forward to helping the NDIA put this Strategy into action and supporting our customers to find a job. For more information, we recently published a blog article that provides tips to NDIS participants who are looking to get a job ‘How the NDIS Can Help You Get a Job’.
Plan Partners is Australia's leading expert in NDIS Plan Management and Support Coordination, supporting thousands of people all over Australia bringing their NDIS plan to life - and we can help you too.
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