The Federal government is injecting up to $14.7 million into the second round of grants under the Structural Adjustment Fund, to boost training and skills for people with intellectual disability and high support needs.
The funding aims to create and expand pathways to open employment and assist supported employment workplaces to better meet community expectations.
Announcing the grants, Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth acknowledged that many people with disability want to work but continue to face barriers to finding and maintaining sustainable employment. She said employment rates for people with higher support needs are still “shockingly low”.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to work, and our Government is committed to creating new and diverse employment pathways that support people with disability into work. As we reform the Disability Employment Services sector, it’s vital that we continue to provide extra support for people with higher support needs so they also have the opportunity to find jobs that match not only their skills, but their goals,” she said.
This grant round is accepting applications for projects that support priority cohorts with disability with high support needs including First Nations people, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities, people in rural and remote areas, and people located in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Registered NDIS providers can now apply through the GrantConnect website. For more information on Supported Employment and the Structural Adjustment Fund, visit the DSS website.