You have the potential to bring a range of skills, talents and abilities to the workplace. Many people with disability have tertiary or trade qualified and hold senior managerial positions.
People with disability are successful in all areas of the workforce. People with disability are employed across many occupations:
- 37 per cent of employees with disability are professionals, managers and administrators
- 30 per cent of employees with disability are clerical sales and service workers
- 33 per cent of employees with disability are from remaining occupational categories. These include tradespeople, transport workers, labourers and related workers (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2003).
Apprenticeships and traineeships
When you consider what sort of work you would like to do, you may consider doing an apprenticeship or traineeship. There is additional support for apprentices and trainees with disability and their employers:
Your own business?
Perhaps you'd like to start your own business? There is support available through the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme. Research has shown New Enterprise Incentive Scheme participants with disability have very good success. 78.2 per cent are still employed after completing the Scheme (Department of Employment and Workplace Relations 2007).
Workplace modifications and adjustments
Workplace modifications and adjustments can remove barriers in the workplace that may prevent you from getting a job or achieving your full potential. The Employment Assistance Fund aims to remove barriers in the workplace, even if you are self employed:
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004, Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings 2003, Cat. No. 4430.0, viewed 23 May 2006, <http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/Lookup/978A7C78CC11B702CA256F0F007B1311/$File/44300_2003.pdf>.
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations 2007, New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS): For client groups, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Canberra, viewed 27 March 2007, <http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Category/SchemesInitiatives/NEIS/Forclientgroups.htm>.