“When I talk to young people living with a disability about their goals and aspirations … (they) invariably include contributing in a workplace, to achieve their goals some people may need access to support services to be able to get to work, other people may need additional training or study for a particular role. “For others, it’s about overcoming a current period of incapacity and being supported
through employment services to secure a job.” Kevin Andrews MP
"These people make a profession
out of ripping off the system
and just move on to
another area to rort. "
I actually think the Government would be more productive working with people like Miss Chloe and those mentioned in Kevin Andrews above quote who are desperate to work and contribute financially to our society.
And NO IT CAN'T BE ACHIEVED BY DANGLING CARROTS OR SMACKING THE PLAYERS ON THE WRIST.
Here are some of my own ideas, about how to get people
with a disability into the workforce:
"It can be effectively achieved by re-educating society and SHOWING employers what these people are capable of."
Government can do this by creating programs or marketing, that make employers aware they actually have a huge new area of employment that will suit many people with an intellectual disability. Many of our youth today are not interested in going through 12 years of education and Uni, to be told they need to sweep floors and stack shelves and to menial tasks. And many employers are struggling to have these positions permanently filled....These positions are ideal for many people with ID.
By changing the structure of how the Government pays the disability employment agencies to a system where they are rewarded for training and achieving longer than 6 week employment for their client and ensuring the fit between employer & employee works.
"By educating non-profit organisations that people with a disability are not great slave labour."
I am sure they feel they are doing the right thing by these people by providing them with something to do during the day and helping their self-esteem, and they are right!!!
BUT, I believe, if they are paying some-one to use the disabled persons services ie:
a customer in a cafe is paying for a meal and the person with a disability brings that meal to them...then surely the disabled person is entitle to some sort of monetary reward?....just like the rest of the population.
"I confess I get tired of community organisations
using people from the disability population
to enhance their organisations,
but don't believe they are worth
any sort of remuneration."
The Government needs to look at ways that
"People who want to work
and find work are able to work as many hours as they like WITHOUT losing their healthcare card."
This is a massive fear for many people with disabilities who have medical issues. What happens if I get a job and lose my benefits? I am going to go out on a limb here & say, the healthcare card should be available to ALL people with a permanent disability - just because they have more expensive needs to the general population.
By removing this massive fear to MOST families and people with disabilities, you open the way for them to be free to chase their goals of working for money.
“Often it is about finding an employer who recognises the contribution that an individual can make to their business and that employer providing some flexibility to meet the needs of the individual,” Kevin Andrews MP
Kevin Andrews, I believe you are on the right track BUT do you have the courage to investigate any of the above suggestions and reduce the pension through positive and long term steps, instead of changing deck-chairs on the Titanic????
I am more than happy to help, I'll book you in my diary,
Lets get together and work a plan.
Next Steps: