A refreshed plan of action by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is aiming to support more people with disability find and keep jobs.
The NDIA has refreshed its Participant Employment Strategy 2024-2026 (Strategy) to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of NDIS employment supports.
The Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), is advocating for change, so more people with disability have meaningful work.
“The refreshed Strategy builds on what we’ve learned from the disability community and includes new actions to help NDIS participants find and keep a job,” Minister Shorten said.
“Through work, people with disability can have more financial independence, contribute to their community and improve their health, wellbeing and self-esteem,” Minister Shorten said.
The actions in the Strategy aim to make it easier for participants to use their NDIS supports to achieve their employment goals.
The NDIS has helped participants like 21-year-old Arjuna from Logan, Queensland to achieve their dream jobs.
Arjuna, who always wanted to work as a diesel mechanic, attended an NDIS funded inclusive training program for people with disabilities, to develop vehicle maintenance skills. He landed a full-time job working with a diesel mechanic because of the skills he learned.
“Positive outcomes like Arjuna’s are what we want to see more often,” Minister Shorten said.
“Helping NDIS participants in their employment journey will create more inclusive communities.”
“It means a lot to have found a job that I love, it’s opened up a whole bigger world of opportunities,” Arjuna said.
“It’s allowed me to buy a car. I can also afford to go out and socialise.”
Participant voices guided the development of the refreshed Strategy, to improve Agency practices and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of employment supports delivered by NDIS providers.
“The new Strategy will make the NDIS stronger, and it will make sure NDIS works in harmony with other Government initiatives that offer employment support for people with disability,” Minister Shorten said.
“We’re already seeing positive numbers – the latest quarterly report shows the number of NDIS participants aged 15-24 years who have a job has doubled, 29 percent of participants aged 25 to 34 years have a job and 27 per cent of participants aged 35 to 44 years have a job too.
“The workforce can be richer and more productive with more people with disability in jobs, and the Government is working hard to make employment pathways stronger and accessible.”