Department of Education and Training

DISABILITY SERVICES AND STUDENT SUPPORT REPORT

NORTH COAST REGION PROJECT OUTLINE

To identify support services and funding available to students with a disability transition from school to vocational education and training. Local, state and federal jurisdictions will be identified and analysed to determine if any gaps exist to support students engage successfully with vocational education and training. Service networks will be identified and consulted regarding the services and funding available to successfully engage in and complete vocational education and training.

LOCAL SERVICES

Centacare – My Future: My Life / · Receives funding from Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services to administer and deliver this program.
Community Lifestyle Support Inc / · Post School Services Program – 48 week post school services to assist young adults (aged 18+) with a disability and their families’ transition from school and to plan for the future
Endeavour Group / · Post School Options – work with each person and their family/decision makers to develop flexible, practical options that enable skill development and participation in new opportunities including life skills training; support to transition to work; Certificate II courses.
Epic Employment / · Ticket to Work – provides employment opportunities, including school based traineeships and apprenticeships for Year 11 and 12 students with a disability.
Life without Barriers / · Provides support and transition programs to students in Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Mooloolaba
Mylestones Employment / · Work with students in high school, TAFE or University to transition to the workforce. The program is designed to help students with disabilities or learning difficulties make a smooth transition from school into the workforce, by providing them with the right skills and training to become confident and job ready.

STATE FUNDING

Department of Education and Training

Continuing investment in the four year Supporting Queenslanders with a Disability (Speech Pathologists) initiative to support speech pathology in Queensland Schools.
$6.5 million investment in - Getting the Basics Right; / ·  Grants in language, literacy and numeracy allows Principals more choice to select an LLN program which are matched to the individual needs.
Skills Disability Support / ·  Provides specialised technology and support services to approved training providers. Specialised technology is on a loan basis and includes assistive software, magnification aid and computer accessories.
·  Support services include Auslan interpreters and disability support workers.
Community Learning / ·  Available to eligible learners with a disability who have not completed a Certificate III or higher level qualification and not on income support may undertake government subsidised training.
Education Adjustment Program (EAP) / ·  Identifies and responds to educational needs to students with disabilities ranging from Austism, hearing and vision impairment, intellectual or physical impairment to speech-language impairment.
Inclusive Learning / ·  A Way Forward – equitable and inclusive VET system that enables all learners to achieve their potential through skills development

Non-State Schools

Students with Disability Program / ·  Support the education of eligible students with disability in non-state schools and aims to enhance the educational outcomes of these students. These students must be verified with ASD, hearing impairment, intellectual or physical impairment, social emotional disorder, speech language impairment, vision impairment or a combination of any of these. These students will be profiled through the Education QLD EAP
Special Needs Organisation Program (SNO) / ·  Provides funding to organisations to deliver educational services and resources that enhance the participation, inclusion and outcomes of students with special needs.

OTHER OPTIONS FOR SCHOOLS

Work Inspiration Model – Smith Family / ·  A campaign to encourage employers and their industry associations or networks to be proactive and creative in re-imagining work experience for Years 9 and 10 students in an effort to generate more successful transition to school to work by young people; additional career development opportunities for students and recent school leavers and stronger partnerships between employers and schools leading to VET learning and positive pathways for young people.
University of Southern QLD / ·  Opening Doors -The Opening Doors project offers career development support and guidance to secondary schools with particular focus on raising awareness and aspirations of students in Years 10-12. This project will be especially relevant for students from low-SES, indigenous and non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). The Opening Doors Career Development project offers the services of qualified career development practitioners in 2015.
Special Education Training Alliance (SETA) / ·  Provide resources to Special Schools and SEP Units to deliver alternate assessments and provide administrative support to School Registered Training Organisations.

Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Eligibility – Must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident with suitable visa; a QLD resident and under 65 years of age. Must have a disability that is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of impairments; results in a substantial reduction of your capacity in one or more of the following areas: communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, or self-care/management; results in your needing support and is permanent or likely to be permanent (and may or may not be of a chronic episodic nature) and manifests itself before the age of 65.

· $1.465 billion allocated with an extra $5.5 million to provide assistance to up to 300 young people leaving school.

My Future: My Life / · currently has three streams of support:
-  Eligible young people in years 11 and 12 (or equivalent) can access time-limited financial assistance to support them in achieving the goals identified in their SET plan.
-  Transition Preparation for young people attending QLD secondary schools – this will provide eligible young people with an opportunity to engage in thinking that will assist them to better understand themselves; assist young people and their family to build on their strengths and capacity to develop strategies to support and guide the transition from school to adult life.
-  State wide information and developmental sessions in 2015 to be aimed at families with young people in secondary schools who have a disability; Disability Services and DETE staff and Disability professionals.

TAFE QUEENSLAND

·  Student Support - Disability Services across all TAFE Queensland Campuses

·  TAFE QLD Brisbane – Disability Support Officers

·  Foundation Skills Training

FURTHER EDUCATION OPTIONS

There are a number of Universities in Queensland that offers Year 11 and 12 students the option to commence University studies while still undertaking secondary school studies. The Universities also have disability/equity units to provide support services to students.

·  University of the Sunshine Coast – University Skills in Community; Tertiary Preparation Program

·  University Of Southern QLD – Tertiary Preparation Program

·  CQ University – Skills for Tertiary Education Preparation Studies

·  QLD University of Technology – START QUT

·  University of QLD – (ESP) Enhance Study Program

·  Griffith University – (GUEST Program) Griffith University Early Start to Tertiary Study

·  Bond University – (SFAS Program) Student for a Semester

·  Australian Catholic University – Pathways Program

·  James Cook University – Tertiary Access Course

·  Southern Cross University – Preparing for Success Program

FEDERAL FUNDING AND SERVICES

·  $14.25million invested in ‘more support for students with disabilities’

Capital Grants program / ·  available for non-government schools capital infrastructure to support those who are educationally disadvantaged
Positive Partnerships – Helping Children with Autism / ·  Professional development for school leaders and teachers. It also provides workshops and online resources for schools and parents
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) / ·  During the trial period clients need to live in an area that is participating in the trial program. NDIS supports people with a permanent and significant disability that affects their ability in everyday life including involvement in education and employment.
Widening Participation Program / ·  QLD Universities are provided funds to implement programs aimed at increasing the participation rate of students from key geographical regions and under-represented cohorts of students.

Department of Human Services

Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program / ·  Payment that assists employers of eligible Australian Apprentices with disabilities.
National Disability Coordination Officer Program / ·  Australian wide coordination and delivery of transition services for people with disability who are at, or will be attending secondary school, university or vocational education and training. This service provides information to people with a disability; links individuals and organisations to local support services; assist local education providers and employers to provide better services for people with a disability and raise awareness amongst education providers, employers and general public of the issues facing disabled people.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

·  Skills Disability Support – all training providers

·  Community Learning – Community Based Organisations who are approved to deliver programs

·  Education Adjustment Program (EAP) – Education QLD

·  Students with Disability Program – Education QLD

·  Special Needs Organisation Program – Autism QLD; BUSH Kids; C.H.I.L.D – Let’s Talk Development Hub; Down Syndrome Association of QLD; The Hear and Say Centre; Noah’s Ark Resource Centre; SPELD Queensland Inc; Spina Bifidia Hydrocephalus QLD and Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia

·  My Future: My Life – Centacare

·  Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program – Federal Government

·  National Disability Coordination Officer Program – Busy at Work

·  Higher Education Disability Support Program – Federal Government

EMPLOYER OPTIONS

·  Australian Disability Enterprises – provides employment opportunities and support to people who are unlikely to be able to find or retain work in the open market.

o  Endeavour Industries, Strathpine, Redcliffe

o  Mylestones Printing, Strathpine

o  House with No Steps, Sunshine Coast – Logistics and Hospitality

o  Endeavour Foundation Industries, Bundaberg

o  Impact Make Your Mark, Bundaberg

o  Red Cross Business Services, Gympie

o  Endeavour Industries, Gympie

o  Endeavour Industries, Maryborough

Disability Employment Services

Disability Employment Services providers offer a range of services to support your individual needs, including: / ·  help to prepare for work, including training in specific job skills
·  job search support, such as résumé development, training in interview skills, and help in looking for suitable jobs
·  support when initially placed into a job, including on the job training and coworker and employer support
·  ongoing support in a job if required
·  the purchase of vocational training and other employment-related assistance
·  access to help with workplace modifications, support services, and Auslan interpreting in the workplace

Moreton Disability Employment Services Providers

Community Solutions Group / Bribie Island
Community Solutions Group / Caboolture, Bribie Island, Kilcoy
Open Minds / Caboolture, Deception Bay, Kippa-Ring
MAX Employment / Caboolture, Deception Bay, Kilcoy, Woodford
Mylestones Employment / Caboolture, Redcliffe, Bongaree, Kilcoy
Red Cross College Employment Services / Caboolture, Redcliffe
Matchworks / Strathpine
EPIC Employment Services / Caboolture
HELP Enterprises / Caboolture, Redcliffe
Australia Red Cross / Caboolture

Sunshine Coast Disability Employment Services Providers

Job Futures / Beerwah
Advanced Personnel Management / Birtinya, Cooroy, Eumundi, Maleny, Maroochydore, Montville, Mooloolaba, Nambour, Noosaville, Pomona
Community Solutions Group / Bokinara, Maleny, Maroochydore, Nambour, Coolum Beach
Advanced Personnel Management / Caloundra
Job Centre Australia / Caloundra, Maroochydore, Nambour, Noosaville
Mylestones Employment / Caloundra, Maroochydore, Nambour, Noosa Heads, Noosaville,
Red Cross College Employment Services / Caloundra, Maroochydore, Nambour, Noosa
STEPS Group Australia / Caloundra, Maleny, Maroochydore, Nambour, Noosa Heads
Epic Employment Services / Caloundra, Maroochydore, Nambour, Noosaville
Community Solutions / Beerwah, Bokarina, Coolum Beach, Maleny, Maroochydore, Nambour

Wide Bay Region Disability Employment Services Providers

Advanced Personnel Management / Gympie, Imbil, Kilkivan, Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay
Jobmatch Employment / Gympie, Imbil, Tin Can Bay
Job Futures IMPACT Community Services / Bundaberg, Gin Gin, Childers
Red Cross College Employment Services / Bundaberg, Gin Gin, Childers, Maryborough, Hervey Bay
STEPS Group Australia / Bundaberg, Gin Gin
Community Solutions Group / Maryborough, Hervey Bay
Mylestones Employment / Maryborough, Hervey Bay
Epic Employment Services / Maryborough, Gin Gin, Pialba, Bundaberg
IMPACT Community Services / Bundaberg, Gin Gin, Childers

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT - EMPLOYER SUPPORT

When employing a person with disability, employers may be eligible for financial assistance, such as:

Restart Wage Subsidy / ·  Payments of up to $10,000 to employers if they hire an eligible jobseeker aged 50 or older, including those with disability, on a full time basis, and retain that person for 2 years.
http://www.employment.gov.au/restart-wage-subsidy
Supported Wage System / ·  A productivity based wage assessment system for people with disability.
http://jobaccess.gov.au/content/supported-wage-system
Wage subsidies / ·  Payments made to eligible employers to help cover the costs of paying wages in the first few months of employing a person with disability.
http://jobaccess.gov.au/Employers/Financial_help_and_wages/Help_with_wages/Wage_subsidies
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program / ·  Payments made to employers who employ apprentices with disabilities.
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/business/services/centrelink/disabled-australian-apprentice-wage-support
Employment Assistance Fund / ·  Reimburses employers for the cost of work-related modifications and services required for employing people with disability e.g. modifications to the physical work environment or work vehicles, AUSLAN interpreting, disability awareness training and communication devices.
http://jobaccess.gov.au/content/employment-assistance-fund-2

HANDY WEBSITES

·  www.ndco.stepscs.net.au – National Disability Coordination Officer Program

·  www.adcet.edu.au – Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training – information and resources for Disability Practitioners, Teachers and students on inclusive practices within the post-secondary education sector

·  http://www.lwb.org.au – provides care and support services across Australia in disability services, home and community care for older Australians; support to refugees and asylum seekers. LWB also work in the areas of mental health, homelessness and youth justice and have a strong commitment to Reconciliation and delivering culturally sensitive programs.

·  www.youthconnect.com.au – works with community to provide all young people with the skills and knowledge to support them to manage a successful pathway through secondary education, further learning and employment.