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School to Work National Disability Employment Conference

Wednesday, 14 September 2022 at 9:00 am - Thursday, 15 September 2022 at 5:00 pm

Novotel Parramatta, 350 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150, Parramatta, 2150

People with disability & families* $190 / Professionals $480 / / *If cost is a barrier for people with disability and families, contact us to discuss options

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Conference

Don't miss the Disability Employment event of the year! The "Securing Futures, Shifting Mindsets" Conference offers a candid opportunity to explore the way forward for those invested in supporting successful employment outcomes alongside people with significant disability.

Why it is important to talk about employment

Getting a job is a rite of passage for most Australians. Employment enables a sense of contribution, creates opportunities for relationships and adds meaning to a person's life.

Australians with disability, however, face substantial barriers to obtaining employment, with Australia having one of the lowest employment rates for people with disability - ranking 21 out of 29 in the OECD* . This worsens dramatically for people with a significant disability who often spend their adult lives in disability programs or sheltered workshops, with many in this cohort still considered unemployable.

With our disability employment services under review, and Australian Disability Enterprises being scrutinised, this is the perfect time to progress employment for all people with disability.

The "Securing Futures, Shifting Mindsets" Conference offers a candid opportunity to explore the way forward for those invested in supporting successful employment outcomes alongside people with significant disability.

Who should attend

Anyone interested in ensuring that stronger employment outcomes for people with disability are experienced.

Whether you are a person with disability, a family member who is supporting their loved one to navigate school to work and post school employment pathways, a disability employment service, an Australian Disability Enterprise, from the education sector or the disability sector, this event is for you.

We also strongly encourage policy teams that are grappling with progressive employment strategies from both a state and national level.

What to expect

Two jam-packed days of thought-provoking presentations and purposeful discussions aiming to:

Demonstrate employment is achievable for people with significant disability

Create a shift in thinking about what is possible and how we can make it happen

Create discussions on key barriers currently impacting the employment of people with significant disability

Share practical strategies to prepare young people with disability for work while they are still at school

Highlight models and approaches leading to successful employment

Engage with both National and International presenters at the forefront of the field of employment for people with disability.

Who are the speakers

People with disability who will share their insights on employment

Families supporting their family member with disability to navigate employment opportunities and supports

National and International experts in employment models and practices.

Some of the international speakers include: 

Therese Fimian, President - Marc Gold & Associates (Virginia, U.S.)

Therese has worked in the disability employment field for over 20 years, overseeing national workforce, research and demonstration projects and programs to increase access to employment and economic empowerment for individuals with significant disabilities.

She directed a national initiative through which hundreds of customised employment positions and strong partnerships with businesses were created.

She has worked with national and state agencies to develop and improve strategy, policy and practice to increase interest in and access to resources and services that result in competitive, integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.

David Mank Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at Indiana University, U.S.

Dr. Mank is a Senior Advisor at the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, and is the former Director of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana’s University Centre for Excellence on Disabilities.

As a writer and researcher, he has an extensive background in the education and employment for persons with disabilities. He has authored or coauthored dozens of articles and book chapters.

Dr. Mank has worked on issues related to Competitive Integrated Employment for people with significant disabilities for many years.

Milton Tyree, Project Associate for the University of Kentucky and owner of Milton Tyree Employment Consulting, LLC

Milton has decades of experience in the area of disability employment, and has advanced supported and customised employment for more than 25 years. He helped develop and direct Community Employment, Kentucky’s first supported employment program. His present work at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute is focused on leadership development including the Supported Employment Leadership Series. In 2013, he received The Marc Gold Award for Employment, presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to increasing access to community and integrated employment for people with significant disabilities.

We look forward to hopefully seeing you in September!