Youth Projects commenced a new employment program for young people with a disability in partnership with CoAct. We have scaled up to open the new service in 9 locations across the North West and East of Melbourne.

Being the only at risk youth-specialist in the region that provides additional wrap around support, this new service enables us to continue providing life changing opportunities for every young person between the ages of 16 and 25.

During the first 12-months of the service, we were able to actively support 86 young people aged between 16 and 25 who identify with a diagnosed disability. Of those, 35% secured meaningful employment outcomes and 10% reengaged with education or training within the first six months.

Collaborating with employers and young people, we have seen 67% of those convert into sustained employment (the national average sits at 53%).

Common misconceptions exist that disability is physical. The graph below highlights the disabilities that are prevalent in our disability employment service, but not commonly or easily recognisable.

Our new disability employment service encourages people to have open discussions around the disclosure of disabilities in employment to achieve more inclusive and meaningful outcomes for young people living with a diagnosis.

If you'd like to find out more about our disability employment services, please contact our DES Team via [email protected].