$22 million investment in a Disability Employment Centre of Excellence to provide support and resources to improve job outcomes.
The Albanese Labor Government has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive employment with a $22.1 million investment in a new Disability Employment Centre of Excellence. The Centre, a key election promise, will be run by Swinburne University of Technology in partnership with leading disability organisations, including Inclusion Australia, Family Advocacy, Disability Employment Australia, National Disability Services, and the University of Melbourne.
“The unemployment rate for people with disability has remained stubbornly high for the past three decades,” a government spokesperson said. “Labor has been acting to implement a range of changes to help shift this, and the Centre of Excellence is a crucial part of that effort.”
The Centre aims to improve job outcomes for people with disability by strengthening the capacity of employment service providers. It will provide centralised access to evidence-based best-practice resources, designed to be specialised, innovative, and drive quality practice within the sector.
“In order to deliver real change to disability employment in Australia, we need evidence of effective service approaches and what works to reduce the barriers preventing the participation of people with disability in the workforce,” explained Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth. “The Centre will collect and translate this evidence into best-practice resources to help support all employment service providers improve the services they deliver to people with disability and employers.”
The Centre will bring together a wide range of expertise, including people with lived experience of disability, researchers, advocates, peak bodies, employers, and service providers. This collaborative approach is seen as vital to achieving meaningful change.
“The establishment of the Centre of Excellence is a cornerstone of the Government’s package of reforms to disability employment, and it will help support the beginning of the new specialist disability employment program which commences this year,” Minister Rishworth added.
Swinburne University expressed enthusiasm for the project. “Swinburne University of Technology is excited to work with the Commonwealth Government, our partners and stakeholders across the sector to lead change and increase the employment of people with disability in Australia,” said Professor Karen Hapgood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at Swinburne University.
The university’s vision for the Centre is to provide best-practice, evidence-based information that can improve employment outcomes. “Our vision for the Centre of Excellence is to provide best-practice, evidence-based information that can bring people and technology together for a better world,” Professor Hapgood stated. “By harnessing the collective expertise, knowledge and resources of those with lived experience, their families, researchers, service providers, employers and industry bodies, we can help providers improve employment outcomes for people with disability.”
The Centre of Excellence is scheduled to begin operations in March 2025 and will receive funding for four years, until 2027-28. The government believes this initiative will play a significant role in creating a more inclusive and equitable labour market for people with disability. Further information about the Centre of Excellence can be found on the Department of Social Services website.
Also read: $31 million boost for disability support: empowering communities
Milton writes as both an occupation and a hazard. He also works on the newsletters you see on Tuesday and Thursday with articles you should find interesting.
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