Equity Works has received funding to assist people with disabilities participate in Customised Employment Workshops to explore accessing real, sustainable, paid, open employment. The project will be working with people with disabilities aged 14 and above through to June 2026. Equity Works is funded for this project by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Aging.
A life of purpose, contribution, security, and belonging is a solid foundation on which to build a good life. Employment provides many benefits for all Australians. For too many people with disabilities this is not their reality.
We understand employment for people with disabilities is a complex issue in our community. We believe by listening respectfully, educating members of the community and working together, we can achieve long term solutions that will make life better for all of us and lead to much needed social change.
Our project will use the Customised Employment approach.
Customised employment (CE) is a method of tailoring the job relationship between a job seeker and an employer to make sure it works well for both of them. CE occurs when the interests and contributions of the job seeker match an unmet need of the employer – achieving mutual benefit. This is especially important for individuals with disabilities. In CE, the job seeker's unique skills, interests, and requirements are figured out through a process called "Discovery," and then the job responsibilities and work conditions are adjusted to fit these factors through a negotiation process.
The Here Now Next project aims to present Customised Employment Workshops for people with disabilities and their supporters. During the workshops we will assist participants through “Discovery”, produce a high-quality Visual Resume, and create an individualised Job Seeking Plan. We also aim to encourage all people, organisations, and local businesses to take their very next step towards inclusive employment and become a community of leaders for social change on the Sunshine Coast.
Real Stories
Watch the videos below to hear from real people about their real stories of customised employment success with Here Now Next.
Get Involved.
If you would like more information please contact the team.
We encourage community members and businesses to contact us to learn more about customised employment. We are building a social capital network of community members who are interested in learning more about how our community can work to change employment for people with disability.
Contact the team
Email: k.whittam@equityworks.org
Phone: 0428 451 424