Some of Our Parts

Summer Vacation Research Scholarships/Internships 2021/22 (Rossjohn lab)

Applications Now Open for the 2022 Ability Apprenticeship Program at Department of Social Services

The Department of Social Services (the department) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2022 Ability Apprenticeship Program.

The program is open to people with disability aged 18 years and over. Download the PDF Flyer here.

It is designed to create pathways into secure, ongoing employment within the department and the broader Australian Public Service (APS) and act as a stepping stone towards the participants’ long-term career aspirations.

Program Commences Early 2022

The program will commence in early 2022 and run for 12 months, with positions available in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Perth, and Adelaide.

Participants will start at the APS 3 level and undertake an individualised learning program tailored to the needs of their business area and their own career goals.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will advance to an ongoing APS 4.

Each participant will have the opportunity to connect with a disability employment services (DES) provider to support them throughout their employment.

The Entry Programs and Inclusion team at Department of Social Services will provide support for participants and their work areas.

Building a Diverse and Accessible Public Service

The program is an important step toward building a more diverse and accessible public service that better represents the Australian community. The APS Disability Employment Strategy 2020-2025 outlines the Australian Government’s commitment to this goal.

• For more information on the Ability Apprenticeship Program, go to www.dss.gov.au/abilityprogram or email AbilityProgram@dss.gov.au.

*Applications close Thursday 7 October 2021.

Diversity and Inclusion Week is here!

Diversity and Inclusion Week started today.

Have You Registered for An Online Event?

If not, there’s still time!

There’s plenty of great events still available.

Such as:

• Women in Leadership Panel 
• Inclusive Communities
• Queer Industry Panel
• What Do You Know About Race and Racism,
• And many more!

Disability-Specific Events:

• Disability in the Legal Profession – Panel Discussion
• 50 Shades of Bias
• Autism – a Personal Perspective
• Beyond braille: Inclusive tech for a fairer world 
• Understanding Autism
• Supporting Students with Disability

See you there!

2021 Students with a Disability Super Fair!

You’re invited!

TUESDAY, 28TH SEPTEMBER 2021

• 2:00PM to 4:00PM in NSW, QLD, ACT, VIC & TAS
• 1:30PM to 3:30PM in SA & NT | 12:00PM to 2:00PM in WA

Who is this for?

The Students with a Disability Super Fair is for all students studying any degrees wanting to discover employers who have either a dedicated graduate program for students with a disability or offer otherwise attractive and inclusive opportunities.

• Register NOW!

How does it work?

This is an interactive virtual career fair designed to help you learn about graduate job and internship opportunities you can apply for.

The fair is conducted via video conference and split into two parts.

Who will I meet?

We’ve invited some of Australia’s best graduate employers to meet with you and share what a future working with them looks like.

• See All Exhibitors

Why should I attend?

Applying for graduate jobs is a bit like sitting your final exams; the lecturer usually gives away some handy tips in the final class!

• Don’t make the mistake of submitting job applications blind.

Attend this event to meet the employers you already know about, discover new ones, and find out what recruiters are looking for in your job applications.

• Register NOW!

Why Disability Employment is the Answer to Australia’s Skills Shortage

A free webinar for employers hosted by JobAccess

A slowdown in regional and international talent mobility has seen employers access an increasingly limited pool, as one in five Australian businesses faces skills shortages.

But what if you were able to build a steady, sustainable pipeline of diverse candidates to fill your vacancies? Register here to find out how.

People with disability are reliable, safe and productive employees and yet are overlooked by businesses when hiring.

Nearly 50% of people with disability of working age are looking for work and can be a great resource for industries facing skills gaps.

Progressive organisations are tapping into the diverse skills people with disability have to offer. In doing so, they are reaping the long-term benefits of higher productivity, staff retention and market innovation*.

Register Now for This Online Event

How do they do it? Register for our free online event to hear from disability-confident organisations who will join Paralympian Katrina Webb OAM to share how they broadened their talent pool by attracting and employing people with disability.

*You might recognise Katrina as part of Channel Seven’s Tokyo Paralympics 2020 commentator team.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Learn first-hand a wide range of strategies and good practice to make your recruitment and employment processes more inclusive.
• Interact with a panel of disability-confident employers who will share their learnings and experiences in supporting employees with disability, including mental health conditions.
• Explore the free, sustainable supports and resources available to employ people with disability within your organisation.

When:  Thursday, 7 October 2021

Time:    1.00 pm to 2.15 pm – ACT, NSW, VIC and TAS
12.30 pm to 1.45 pm – SA
12.00 pm to 1.15 pm – QLD
11.30 am to 12.45 pm – NT
10.00 am to 11.15 am – WA

Where: Register to attend the webinar

RSVP:  Monday, 4 October 2021

• Access: This event will have live transcribing. You will be asked to provide any access requirements during the registration process. Interpreters and electronic copies of presentation are available on request.
• For more information or if you have any questions or require assistance, please contact us at JobAccess@workfocus.com.

Kickstart Your Business with This Free 2-Day Workshop

This 2-day workshop is made for people living with disability.

This workshop will give you the confidence to explore starting up your own business or taking your business to the next level with expert facilitators.

IgniteAbility Small Business Start-Ups Program

The IgniteAbility® Small Business Start-Ups program started in 2016 to support people living with a disability to explore, start or grow a small business in Australia.

In the last 5 years businesses like Carly’s Coffee Couriers and MB Disability Consultancy have been supported to gain the knowledge, skills and capacity they required to make their dream a reality.

5 things you will take away from your workshop:

1. Ability to pitch your business idea to anyone.
2. Identify gaps in your business knowledge from product development to compliance management.
3. Understand the importance of a support network to grow your business.
4. Complete a business map for your business.
5. Opportunity to refer into our IgniteAbility® Small Business Start-Ups program.

This program provides free and ongoing business support with an expert facilitator.

FAQ

• How do I know if it is right for me?

Once you register, the team will reach out to help you answer the questions you might have.

• Does this cost me anything?

No. The workshop is completely free.

• What happens after I register?

You will be contacted with information about the best workshop for you and your needs.

Register Now for this 2-day online workshop!

Here are the dates:

• Group 1: 13 & 15 September – 10am – 2:30pm
• Group 2: 14 & 16 September – 10am – 2:30pm
• Group 3: 20 & 22 September – 10am – 2:30pm
• Group 4: 27 & 29 September – 10am – 2:30pm
• Group 5: 28 & 30 September – 10am – 2:30pm
• Group 6: 04 & 06 October – 10am – 2:30pm
• Group 7: 11 & 13 October – 10am – 2:30pm
• Group 8: 12 & 14 October – 10am – 2:30pm
• Group 9: 18 & 20 October – 10am – 2:30pm

Click on this link to REGISTER NOW!

Community Training Now Available!

The Australian Centre for Disability Law has started free online Learning Together community training.

This training is for students with disability, families of students with disability and advocates who assist students with disability.

Online training is now available for students with disability, their families and advocates.

The training will be practical and interactive, and it will focus on:

• Your rights
• How to build a good relationship your school or education provider
• Communication tips
• How to deal with issues if they arise.

Register Now!

9 September |  10:00am to 11:30am
16 September  |  9:30am to 11:00am
7 October  |  1:00pm to 2:30pm
18 October  |  11:00am to 12:30pm

What is This Project All About?

ACDL has been funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS) through their Information Linkages & Capacity Building (ILC) programme to make it easier for students with disability to stay in mainstream education and reach their full potential.

They have created a detailed toolkit so that students and families can understand their rights, and advocate more effectively for reasonable adjustments.

• Please see the following link to register today – https://disabilitylaw.org.au/projects/education/
• Any questions, please contact Laura – lcottam@disabilitylaw.org.au

Closing Soon: Applications Must be Submitted by 30 September 2021

The Vision Australia bursaries provide adaptive technology to help 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.

Are You, or Do You Know Someone That Should be Applying for This?

If so, then please pass on this information.

• For more information and details on how to apply, please visit our Vision Australia Bursary page on the VA website.
• Meet the 2021 recipients (VA website).
• If you have any queries or would like to speak with our bursary coordinator, email Joy.King@visionaustralia.org or phone (03) 8378 1220.

Diversity and Inclusion Week – Register For Events Now!

• Don’t forget to register for online events running all week, 13-17 September (Week 8).

Underpinned by the Diversity and Inclusion Framework, the week celebrates our diverse community and strengthens our inclusive culture.

It’s about helping to create an environment of involvement, respect and connection through sharing and learning from one another.

Looking for Something Different to Do During Your Lunchtime?

There are online events running everyday at lunchtime (12 – 2pm) during Diversity and Inclusion Week 13–17 September.

• Monday – Understanding Intersectionality in the Learning Environment
• Tuesday – Spring Celebrations Across Cultures
• Wednesday – *Autism: A Personal Perspective, and Beyond Braille: Inclusive Tech for a Fairer World
• Thursday – Mentoring and Mental Health: Opening the Conversation, and *Understanding Autism
• Friday – Super Women

*Events hosted by Disability Support Services

Visit the Diversity and Inclusion Week website to find out more and to register for over 50 upcoming events. https://www.monash.edu/diversity-inclusion/week

There’s something for everyone so make sure not to miss out!

• Register for events now.

R U OK? Day – 9 September 2021

R U OK?Day  – Thursday 9 September.

Are You Really OK?

2020 & 2021 has been an exceptional year and many people (across the world) have been affected by these challenging events.

Holidays have been cancelled, dinner plans and home gatherings have had to be rescheduled and hair appointments have been pushed out.

That’s naming just a few adjustments we’ve made over the past 18 months.

On September 9 it is R U OK Day and although mental health is an ongoing health issue, it is always great to take a moment, make a cup of your favourite beverage, find a quiet space and pick up your phone to check in with a friend.

You yourself may not be feeling ok, and want someone to talk with. Or there may be a significant person in your life who has not coped well in lock down.

A single conversation can have a lasting impact and change a life.

Call a Loved One and Ask if They’re OK

So, on September 9, we ask our DSS and Monash community to call a loved one and –

1. Ask them if they are ok? This may feel like a tricky conversation, so here is a great website on how to start your dialogue
2. Listen actively to how they are feeling
3. Encourage positive action
4. Check in and follow up with your friend

Currently many parts of Australia are vaccinating their way out of lockdown and, whilst in Melbourne we are confined to our 5km limit, please know that you are not alone.

If you would like to talk with someone, there are some fantastic support resources you can reach out to.

• If you need support right now, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or you can make a free telehealth appointment with the Monash University Counselling services.