If you have never heard of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), it could be assumed that you have been living under a rock for many years! The NDIS plays a pivotal role in supporting Australians who live with disability to live their lives, the way they choose. In short, the NDIS supports more than 500, 000 Australians living with disability by way of providing funding to support these individuals to gain independence, engage in the community, develop skills and participate in training, or engage in employment and education. The main purpose is to give the most disadvantaged Australians an opportunity to live independent and fulfilling lives where they have the opportunity to achieve their goals.
Although we are not defined by our jobs, employment is a big part of a person’s life and often provides a sense of purpose and connection with the community. Unfortunately, people living with disability are significantly disadvantaged when it comes to securing employment. The unemployment rate for people living with disability is 10%, compared to 4.8% for people without disability. Therefore, it is essential that all support service providers collaborate and leverage off our unique strengths and capabilities to give people living with disability the best opportunity to succeed in the workplace. atWork Australia believes that work is for everyone and are focused on building strong relationships with NDIS partners to provide holistic support to the most vulnerable Australians. Find out how atWork Australia can support you to find the right job.
“atWork Australia recognise the importance of partnering with NDIS providers to ensure people living with disabilities have access to expert support, tailored services and resources that empower them to live their best lives. Together with its NDIS partners, atWork Australia assists its clients to build life skills, confidence and independence by engaging them in workshops and engagement activities, that foster social inclusion thereby enabling our clients to feel connected and valued,” said Deepa, atWork Australia Senior Manager Stakeholder Engagement.
“We understand the true power of how a co servicing model can enhance our client’s lives. While our NDIS partners work with our clients to focus on betterment of their health, we focus on their pre and post-employment journey, genuinely empowering clients to lead independent lives.”
What is an NDIS Provider?
An NDIS provider can be a person, business or an organisation that provides a support service to meet the needs of NDIS participants, the support will help the individual meet their goals that have been established within their NDIS plan.
Like anything, NDIS providers come in many shapes and sizes. A provider could be one person providing just one specialised service, it could be a small family business offering multiple services across multiple regions, or they could be a large company offering a full suite of services from every corner of the nation. Regardless of the size or the services a provider offers, they must comply with the NDIS guidelines to ensure they deliver a quality service at a fair price.
NDIS providers offer a variety of services, ranging from supporting participants to maintain their property, engage in social activities, psychosocial support and employment support services (just to name a few).
How atWork Australia Can Collaborate with Your Disability Provider
atWork Australia is a leading employment services provider. Through Disability Employment Services they support thousands of Australian’s living with disability, injury or health condition to find meaningful and sustainable employment. atWork Australia develop strong connections with NDIS organisations and disability providers to support participants to develop their employability skills and build their capabilities to progress towards meaningful employment. atWork Australia have extensive experience in supporting vulnerable Australians through employment support services and by collaborating with NDIS partners it can create more employment opportunities for people living with disability. Read here how atWork Australia’s collaboration with NDIS providers has helped Jamie.
“Disability Employment Services brings in-depth expertise in job placement, skill development, and workplace accommodations, which can help NDIS participants achieve meaningful employment outcomes. Utilising Disability Employment Service’s resources allows for more accurate job matching, ensuring clients find roles that suit their capabilities and interests,” said Penny, atWork Australia NDIS Support Manager.
“We provide a no cost holistic service to maximise your clients strengths, abilities and make a difference in their life, including a dedicated Job Coach, health and wellbeing coaching, access to employers looking for your client, support once you start working, and access to allied health professionals.”
Here are just a few examples of how atWork Australia can support NDIS participants on their employment journey.
Dedicated Job Coaches
To help form great relationships with NDIS providers and to support NDIS participants to find meaningful employment, atWork Australia have a team of dedicated Job Coaches who are passionate about supporting people living with disability into meaningful employment. Finding employment can be difficult, daunting and sometimes a scary process. Having a dedicated Job Coach by your side can make your experience fun and enjoyable. Read more about atWork Australia’s Job Coaches.
Network of employers
Once our Job Coaches have supported a participant to become work ready, the next step is to find the right opportunity. Yes, this too can also be a daunting phase of the employment journey. However, atWork Australia have a team of employer engagement specialists who build relationships with employers, getting to know their business and the skills and attributes they desire in employees. From here, depending on what our client’s goals are, we can connect them with a suitable employer.
In-Work Support
We understand that securing a job is only part of the journey and that for people living with disability, remaining in the job long-term is part of the challenge. Once a participant secures employment, they will continue to be supported by an In-Work Support Coach in whatever capacity they require. It might be on the job support, a friendly ear to debrief at the end of the day or support to raise any concerns that arise in the workplace. The In-Work Support Coach is also there to support the employer, ensuring their new employee is a good fit for their business. Read more about atWork Australia’s In-Work Support.
Working with NDIS Organisations to Build a Better Future
Navigating the employment market is a challenge, and for a person living with disability these challenges are often compounded. It is essential for organisations with similar purpose and vision of supporting people living with disability to collaborate and leverage off their strengths to provide the best support possible. If you’re an NDIS provider, participant or person living with disability, atWork Australia would love to connect with you and support you on your employment journey.
