Why is the Here Now Next project important?
Equity Works has received funding to assist young people with disabilities access real, sustainable, and open employment. The project will be working with young people with disability aged 14-24 through to June 2024.
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 disability this is not their reality.
We believe employment for young people with disabilities is a complex problem in our community. We don’t have the solutions, but we believe if we listen deeply and respectfully to young people and all members of the community and work together, we’ll come up with long term solutions that will make life better for all of us and lead to much needed social change.
Our project approach will be to connect with young people through a process of Discovery. Discovery is the process of understanding who you are and what are your ideal conditions of employment. Our project has formed a technical partnership with the Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice (CDERP) to ensure that we practice Discovery with integrity and a commitment to achieving outcomes of Customised Employment.
As a result of their participation in the project Here Now Next aims to secure employment for 25 young people. We also aim to support 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.
Acknowledgement: EQUITY WORKS is funded by the Department of Social Services, Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program.