Some of Our Parts

The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development is looking to recruit talented students from diverse backgrounds for the 2016 Graduate Development Program.

On Monday, 2 March, the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development will open applications for the 2016 Graduate Development Program. From roads to local government funding, airport security to large scale shipping, urban planning to transport logistics, the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development really is shaping Australia’s future. Here is your opportunity to be part of it and choose your own adventure!

With the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, you can choose your own adventure. As a standard, however, you will:

• Begin your career as an APS 3 – an entry level above that of interns and trainees;
• Complete three rotations across the Department that will keep you engaged in a variety of projects;
• Undertake a graduate certificate in Public Administration;
• Participate in a graduate interstate industry tour to see the work of the Department in action; and
• Be involved in the running of the Department’s Social Club, giving you plenty of networking opportunities.

On top of all that, on successful completion of the Graduate Development Program you will advance two levels to become an ongoing APS 5, a more senior classification. With this head-start, you are well on your way to establishing a successful career.

Along the way, you will be supported within the Department’s structured learning environment. They have specific mentoring initiatives to develop the workforce skills of people with disability. Their Disability Working Group is a supportive network and, if you choose to join it, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the Department’s directions in the disability space – particularly in relation to the Department’s Disability Workforce Action Plan. The Department is also a Silver Member of the Australian Network on Disability.

You can get a firsthand account of what it is like to complete the Department’s Graduate Development Program from previous graduates at the AAGE Big Meet (Victoria).

Find out more about the Graduate Development Program and application process see the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s website, Facebook page or contact their Diversity team (02 6274 7233 or diversity@infrastructure.gov.au).

Australian Network on Disability (AND) has a vibrant and dynamic mentoring program, called PACE, which has been developed to offer students with disability the opportunity to develop their skills and confidence in a workplace setting, which can assist them in planning their career journey, as well as aiding their personal and professional development.

PACE recognises that students and job seekers with disability frequently find themselves with little or no work experience, and may not be fully aware of the skills and attributes they can offer an organisation. This can add to the difficulties that students and job seekers may encounter as they try to enter their chosen career. PACE aims to assist mentees to become ‘job-ready’ and reduce some of these hurdles.

How to apply?

The commitment is to meet with a mentor up to eight times during the course of 12 weeks. The autumn program will start just after Easter so applications should be submitted by 13 March, with the chance to be matched with a manager from one of AND’s member organisations, including ANZ and IBM. This can be great preparation for the AND Stepping Into program as well.

To find out more and to download the application form, please visit the AND website

The National Disability Coordination Officer Program at the University Western Sydney is excited to launch a total update and revamp of the popular Get Ready for Study and Work student workbook. The workbook is based on ten top tips for young people with disability and contains information, contacts and activities to help students make a successful transition from school into tertiary study, work or post school programs. It is relevant for students with disability across Australia and contains specific information and links for each state or territory.

The publications include:

• Get Ready Workbook
• Parents Get Ready Guidebook
• Parents Get Ready Supplementary Fact Sheets
• Which Way? Getting Ready for Study and Work booklet – National

The Walter and Eliza Hall Trust Opportunity Scholarship is available to undergraduate students who have a physical disability (and receive the Disability Support Pension) and are experiencing financial disadvantage.

For more information including eligibility criteria, please contact the Monash Coursework Scholarships Unit.

The Disability Leadership Scholarship Program is an initiative from the department’s Disability Action Plan. The program aims to achieve a long-term increase in the number of qualified people with a disability employed across all areas and all levels of the public service. The 2015 program will be offering a limited number of scholarships for people with a disability in Victoria in the following areas of study:

• Law
• Criminology
• Para-legal
• Psychology
• Social work
• Other justice-related fields.

A scholarship for study at diploma, advanced diploma, bachelor, and postgraduate level will be offered at a tertiary institution within Victoria.

See the Department of Justice and Regulation website for more details.

The Department of Justice (Victorian Government) is administering a Scholarships Program commencing in the 2015 academic year.

The People with a Disability Leadership Scholarships Program 2015 seeks to support students with a disability who are studying justice-related subjects. Scholarships will be of two years in duration and are intended to support students engaging in studies including (but not limited to):

• Law
• Criminology
• Para-legal
• Psychology
• Social work
• Other justice-related fields

There are three scholarships on offer for the 2015 academic year:

• $20,000 to the candidate who tops the list of applicants, and
• $5,000 each to the two ‘runners-up’ in the process.

The closing date for applications is 5.00 pm 27 February 2015.

You can find the Program Guidelines and Program Application Form linked here.

The more you know, the more skills you have in using things like technology or asserting your needs, the more likely you are to succeed. There are some great programs out there to assist people with disabilities in the workplace. Make sure you are prepared and knowledgeable for the workplace. This all starts at Work Experience. Don’t miss the opportunity!

Choosing Your Path. Disclosure: It’s A Personal Decision’ addresses these challenges 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. The website also articulates the role and responsibilities of employers and educators in relation to disclosure . ‘Choosing Your Path. Disclosure: It’s A Personal Decision’ is a web based, collaborative project, written and funded by the University of Western Sydney, Federation University and the National Disability Coordination Officer Program.

JobAccess is a free service providing help and workplace solutions for the employment of people with disability.

Are you interested in Disability Studies? There are two great new opportunities being advertised at the moment!

Curtin University has an ARC funded project within the Faculty of Humanities in Disability and Digital TV: Access, representation and reception. This project investigates the impacts digital televisions have on the social inclusion or exclusion of people with disability through a user-focused analysis of accessibility and representation.

Further abroad, the University of Leeds has a position for a University Academic Fellow in Disability Law.

The I CAN Network and Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) are partnering to deliver a personal development experience ‘Worlds of Work’ (WOW) for students with high-functioning Autism or Asperger’s from Tuesday 28 – Thursday 30 October.

WOW is aimed at Year 10-12 students. It provides participants with a week of personal development and exposure to different career paths in the CBD, such as in software development, technology, business, consulting, law, health, fitness, community development and many more. Over the three days students respond to the question ‘What does it take to succeed in life and work?’

The upcoming week with I CAN Network will be run by FYA facilitators experienced in working with students with Autism Spectrum Conditions. Recently FYA and I CAN ran a successful WOW program for students at the Northern School for Autism.

WOW details

• Tuesday 28 – Thursday 30 October (9am – to approx 3.30pm each day)
• Vincent 2, Level 1, 349 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne
• Facilitators: Patrick and Mandy

How do you register?

• Email admin@icannetwork.com.au before Thursday 23 October
• Make the $135 payment via http://www.trybooking.com/103304
• Bring the attached parental consent form to WOW on Tuesday 28 October
• 

Former Federal Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes was a significant driver behind some of the most significant reforms in human rights and disability advocacy both nationally and internationally.

Mr Innes qualified as a lawyer, and then spent a year attending thirty job interviews without success. He took a job as a clerical assistant in the public service, and recently ended a nine year term as a Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Read his top ten tips for getting a job for people with disabilities.