Some of Our Parts

Research Project to Determine Best Practice Career Support for Students with Disability

The National Careers Institute has funded a project to investigate best practice career support for students with disability with the aim of establishing the first dedicated national Career Development Learning Hub for students with disability.

This study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at Curtin University and is commencing data collection.   

They are seeking to recruit participants from three categories:

1. Students of university, TAFE or VET who identify as having disability
2. Parents/ carers of primary, secondary or tertiary students with disability
3. Stakeholders in careers or disability services: practitioners, career advisers, school leaders, equity practitioners, career services providers, member of industry bodies who have an interest in disability support

Survey Link for Students

We are seeking students with disability to contribute to research on careers support. Interested? Take our short survey: https://bit.ly/2RMJR5Q. Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee approved this study (HRE2021-0219)

Survey Link for Parents/Carers

We are seeking parents/carers of students with disability to contribute to research on careers support. Interested? Take our short survey: https://bit.ly/3fgVWcA. Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee approved this study (HRE2021-0219)

Survey Link for Stakeholders

We are seeking stakeholders in disability/careers support to contribute to research. Interested? Take our short survey: https://bit.ly/2TeXtYa. Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee approved this study (HRE2021-0219)

• If you would like to receive updates on the project, please visit the project webpage and register your email with olivia.groves@curtin.edu.au to receive the quarterly project newsletter.

Help Celebrate the Tenth Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)!

The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments.

What is Digital Accessibility?

Every user deserves a first-rate digital experience on the web.

Someone with a disability must be able to experience web-based services, content and other digital products with the same successful outcome as those without disabilities.

This awareness and commitment to inclusion is the goal of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a global event that shines a light on digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.

PACE Mentoring Spring 2021 Applications Are Now Open!

PACE Mentoring is an industry mentoring program that matches jobseekers and students with disability with experienced professionals from leading Australian businesses.

The program is a great opportunity for you to:

• Build confidence
• Develop employability skills
• Learn some top tips to get a head start on your career
• Experience professional and personal development

How PACE Mentoring helped Melissa

“After I finished PACE, I submitted my resume to Indooroopilly State High School, where I was successful in obtaining an interview. Initially I was nervous, but I just relaxed and thought of the tips my mentor gave me. A week later I got a call from the principal saying that I had the job as a mathematics and science teacher.”

– Melissa from the 2018 PACE Mentoring cohort reflecting on how PACE helped her break into the teaching industry.

Read more great stories from PACE Mentoring HERE

Want to learn more about the program?

Come along to AND’s free PACE Information sessions where they discuss what the PACE program is and how it can help your professional and personal development.

The sessions will be held through Microsoft TEAMS. This session is open to jobseekers, students and industry providers so feel free to share the details!

• Thursday 3rd June 2pm – 3pm (Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne time)
• Wednesday 16th June 11am – 12pm (Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne time)

You can access the Information sessions here!

Who is eligible?

• Anyone 18 years or over with any type of disability, mental health condition or chronic illness is eligible for the PACE Mentoring Program.

Mentoring opportunities are in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth & Adelaide. There are also some virtual mentoring opportunities for students and jobseekers based in other locations across Australia.

Find Out More About PACE Mentoring

Webinar: Workplace Adjustments – What Are They, How to Make Them, and Support You Can Count On

Take the right steps to make your workplace accessible and inclusive for everyone, including people with disability.

Forward-thinking organisations are taking the lead to embrace the skills people with disability have to offer. However, a lack of awareness and understanding of how to best support people with disability through simple adjustments has the potential to create barriers.

This free 30-min webinar will inform line managers, HR professionals, and business leads on why and how to organise workplace adjustments and see how JobAccess works with employers and employees with disability to simplify the process.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Learn what are workplace adjustments and discuss a wide range of examples that can help improve accessibility.
• Explore financial assistance available to employers through the Australian Government’s Employment Assistance Fund.
• Discover what a Reasonable Adjustment Policy is and why it is essential for employers to have one.

Webinar Details

• When:   Tuesday, 30 March 2021
• Who: This information session is for Employers, and should be of interest to line managers, human resources and recruitment professionals, and business leads.
• Time:
  11.00 am to 11.30 am – New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania
  11.00 am to 11.30 am – Australian Capital Territory
  10.30 am to 11.00 am – South Australia
  10.00 am to 10.30 am – Queensland
  09.30 am to 10.00 am – Northern Territory
  08.00 am to 08.30 am – Western Australia
• Where:  Register to attend the webinar
• Access: This event will have live captioning. You will be asked to provide any access requirements during the registration process. Electronic copies of presentation are available on request.

Registrations will close at 12.00 pm AEDT on Monday, 29 March, so don’t miss out!

For more information or if you have any questions or require assistance, please contact us at JobAccess@workfocus.com.

REGISTER NOW!

You Are Invited to a Free Online PACE Information Session!

Learn all about paid internships and industry mentoring programs for students with disability, chronic illness or mental health conditions

Hear from the Australian Network on Disability, and alumni from the Stepping Into internship program, about their programs for students with disability.

This webinar is recommended to all Monash students who identify as having disability, chronic illness or mental health conditions.

• Overview of AND internship and mentoring programs for students with disability
• Welcoming Stepping Into Alumni to speak about their internship experience
• Q&A session

DATE: Thursday 11^th March, 2pm-3pm. This webinar will be held via Zoom and you can access the meeting here.

Soundfair is Launching The HearMe Report

What does a world of hearing equality look like and how can we work together to bring it closer?

To commemorate the close of Hearing Awareness Week, on Friday 5 March Soundfair is launching The HearMe Report – a document that centres the lived experiences of people with hearing conditions and identifies ten priority areas for society-wide action.

The report will be launched at midday with support from The Hon Mark Coulton MP and keynote speakers including Suzanne Waldron, and Dr Caitlin Barr.

• When: 5 March 2021
• 11am: Welcome
• 11.15am–11.45am: Art Exhibition
• Midday–1pm: Speakers
• 1.15–2.45pm: Networking lunch
• Where: Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006

The Hon Mark Coulton MP is the Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government in Australia’s Federal Coalition Government. He has served in the House of Representatives as the Member for Parkes since 2007.

Suzanne Waldron is a deaf behaviouralist with a Master’s Degree in Coaching and Neuro-Linguistics. Her research focusses on pro-social leadership and the psychological aspects of inner fulfillment through moving significant ideas(beyond self) into action.

Suzanne works with individuals, organisations and influencers to build cohesive relationships in community, government and not for profits.

Dr Barr is an international leader, researcher, and advocate for putting people with hearing conditions at the centre of systemic and societal change. As CEO of Soundfair Australia Ltd and as an honorary senior clinical researcher at the University of Melbourne, Caitlin brings together consumer voice of people living with hearing conditions with clinical and research perspectives for a common cause of catalysing change.

Ultimately, Caitlin is driven to see a society where having a hearing condition poses no barrier to living connected and healthy.

• Don’t miss out on this fantastic experience of meeting these people and RSVP today! The HearMe Report launch will also be livestreamed, so you can join online too!
• To find out more about the HearMe Report, speakers and to register for the event, visit the website.

Join the GradWISE Industry AccessAbility Week!

Monday 8th of February to Friday 12th of February

Would you like the inside scoop from leading industry employers in preparation for your 2021 Graduate applications?

If you are a university student living with a disability, mental illness or injury, we would like to invite you to join GradWISE’s Industry AccessABILITY Week!

This is a jam packed week, showcasing a wide variety of industry partners who will share information about their organisation, the application process, and tips to help you stand out in your application.

Presenters include:

• Deloitte
• Telstra
• Coles
• Department of Defence
• Victorian Government
• Accenture
• EY
• NBN
• Red Cross
• And Many More!

*To join GradWISE’s Industry Accessibility Week, Register Here!

You’re Invited: Webinar on Career Start Graduate Program at Vision Australia

Vision Australia invites students, tertiary education providers, disability liaison officers and career advisors to our Virtual Careers Information Webinar to better understand their  Career Start Graduate program and long-term career offerings.

The webinar on Monday November 16 from 12.30-1.30pm AEDT will be a chance to hear from previous participants and ask any questions to the program organiser Melissa Rattle and Vision Australia CEO Ron Hooton.

Career Start Program

The 12-month Career Start program is for people who are blind or have low vision and allows for an internal placement within a division of Vision Australia and a paid placement (up to three months) with an external employer.

Some of the previous participants have completed paid cadetships and internships at organisations such as Medibank, Channel 31, Seek, Urban List and Bupa – all of which were chosen to match the graduates’ own interests.

• Applications are now open for the 2021 program.
• Please register for the webinar by emailing: careerstart@visionaustralia.org.

2021 Career Start Graduate Program Eligibility

The program is a 12-month opportunity for people who are blind or have low vision and begins in March 2021.

Graduates can expect:

1. An internal placement within a division of Vision Australia; and
2. A paid placement (up to three months) with an external employer

• Candidates must have completed a diploma level or higher in the last four years to be eligible.
• Applications can be found online.
• Candidates will need to complete the application and submit their resume and a cover letter.
• Applications close November 27, 2020.

Vision Australia job opportunities and in-house assistance

For people who are blind or have low vision that don’t meet the qualifications requirements for the program, other opportunities are available at Vision Australia.

Approximately 15 per cent of the Vision Australia workforce is blind or has low vision.

We see it as hugely important to have people with lived experience helping people who are blind, have low vision or are caring for people with eye conditions.

In fact, Vision Australia helps more than 26,000 people each year.

Some of the ways Vision Australia can help:

• Explore suitable career options and create a professional development plan;
• Develop an effective resume, write application letters and address key selection criteria;
• Training to travel independently to and from work;
• Use computers with assistive technology;
• Advocate for job redesign; and
• Identify appropriate employers to directly target (reverse marketing).

Vision Australia also has a vast volunteer program that has allowed people to help and get an idea of potential jobs.

For current job vacancies please visit the Vision Australia website.

For more information please visit: https://www.visionaustralia.org/services/employment-assistance or call 1300 84 74 66.

Join in the Biggest Autistic Youth Event in Australia!

On Friday 20th November, I CAN Network will proudly host their AWETISM 2020 Virtual Expo, the biggest Autistic youth event in Australia and the largest event in I CAN Network history!

This amazing day, which celebrates Autistic students and their passions, is free and open to participants of all ages worldwide.

There will also be valuable presentations for parents & carers, teachers, employers, advocates & the broader community and interactive exhibitions by 20 partner organisations across Australia.

You can choose how you wish to engage – from attending student presentations and panel discussions to visiting online exhibitions and enjoying our keynote speakers.

Prizes for Participants

They also have prizes for guests who participate in their scavenger hunt and leader board!

Anyone who registers has the option of taking part on the actual day and/or enjoying access to all of the Expo content (resources, webinars and presentations) through to 20th December 2020.

Register Today!

To find out more and register for this event, please visit the AWETISM 2020 EXPO web page.