December 3 marks International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD). IDPwD is a United Nations recognised day and is held each year to increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with a disability.
This year’s theme is ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world’.
The day provides an opportunity to celebrate achievements and make positive change to the lives of the 4.4 million Australians with disability¹.
CatholicCare Victoria regularly celebrate the achievements of individuals living with permanent disability with our Disability Employment Services (DES) participants. DES provides ongoing support for jobseekers with permanent disability to find and retain employment.
In recognition of IDPwD day, jobactive and DES Coordinator, Travis Preston shares the support and outcomes from the DES program,
“DES is not just about getting the jobseeker employment – it is also about helping build skills and confidence to become job ready. Some of our participants may not have worked for 10+ years and in the first instance, we may assist participants to enroll in a Certificate I in General Education or other suitable training to help build skills and confidence for employment,” says Travis.
Disclaimer: this image is a stock photo (not an image of a DES client).
DES consultants work closely with participants, firstly identifying goals and listening to their story, then providing support including finding suitable employment options; assisting with resume writing and access to further education; providing support to gain licenses or workplace tickets; and providing regular ongoing support at the workplace.
“We provide participants with minimum fortnightly contact face-to-face or via phone during COVID. We also provide support through supplying food and fuel vouchers and linking into relevant support services,” said Travis.
Additionally, the DES consultants provide ongoing support to employers whilst advocating on the jobseeker’s behalf and assisting to overcome any barriers to employment,
“It’s important to focus on the ability of the jobseeker, rather than the disability. I could put many people with a permanent disability in a room and you wouldn’t necessarily know. A lot of people hear disability and straight away think intellectual – the participants we see have disabilities ranging from severe eczema or asthma to permanent injury to intellectual,” says Travis.
There are many stories to celebrate of DES participants gaining employment into various roles tailored to each individual’s different needs. Some of these roles have included barista, kitchen-hand, delivery driver and one participant recently started their own business,
“One of our DES participants have started up their own counselling service; they have had their own experience with mental health and went onto study a Diploma of Life Coaching, to help others through counselling,” shared Travis.
CatholicCare Victoria provides Disability Employment Services in Ballarat, Daylesford and Avoca. To find out more about this service or make a booking please call (03) 5337 8999 or visit Disability Employment Services.
Travis Preston | Coordinator, jobactive/Disability Employment Services
Jenny Phillips | Marketing and Communications Officer
Sources:
¹About IDPwP – International Day of People with Disability
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