The Minister for Disability Services, Kristina Keneally, will today present certificates of achievement to 100 people who have successfully achieved open employment through the Iemma Government’s Transition to Work program.
Ms Keneally said that the Transition to Work program provides invaluable support to people with intellectual disabilities by helping them acquire the skills and abilities necessary to enable them to move into employment.
“Being active in the workforce and participating in social activities has a real and positive effect on people’s health and wellbeing by improving self-confidence and creating a sense of belonging,” Ms Keneally said.
“The latest 100 people to successfully complete the Transition to Work Program did so with the assistance of Jobsupport – they now have a much brighter future, thanks to their own personal effort and the employers who have seen the value these people are to our community.
“I make special mention of Mr William Nass, the one-hundredth person assisted by Jobsupport to enter paid employment through the Transition to Work program. Some of the people receiving awards today have now been in the workforce for 10 years.
“And I take this opportunity to commend those employers who have helped people with disabilities find meaningful employment, in particular those who have employed more than one person with a disability, and those who have employed someone for more than 10 years.”
Ms Keneally said that there are around 12,000 people with a disability who are unemployed in NSW.
“That’s an unacceptable nine per cent unemployment rate - three per cent higher than the state average - and under the NSW State Plan the Iemma Government has committed to closing the gap between people with a disability and the overall community by 50 per cent by 2016,” Ms Keneally said.
“The Transition to Work Program is a key component of our plan to achieve this state plan target and since its inception in 2005, 692 people have entered the Transition to Work program, and more than half have since moved into employment or further education.
“Jobsupport’s assistance with the Transition to Work Program played a key role in achieving this great result, operating in Bankstown, Hurstville, Liverpool, Miranda, Blacktown, Chatswood, Parramatta, Rockdale, Fairfield, Campbelltown and Sydney City.”
Representatives from the NSW Department of Education and Training, the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and DADHC will be attending the ceremony.