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The NSW Council for Intellectual Disability (NSW CID) has taken a central role in issues relating to employment opportunities for people with intellectual disability for many years, in particular through our VOICES forums and Pathways to Employment Summit in September 2006. People with intellectual disability are grossly under represented in open employment. This is of particular concern to NSW CID as adequate support is not being offered to remedy this inequity. Without access to secure, fairly paid employment, people with intellectual disability are unable to move out of a poor socio economic situation; a situation which has become accepted by the wider community. NSW CID lobbies against the disincentives and barriers that have made open employment an unachievable goal for most people with intellectual disability. We believe these barriers and disincentives have little to do with the person’s capacity, relating instead to the lack of adequate protections and support in the workplace. Telling the Federal Government about EmploymentThe Australian Federal Government have put out the Australian Social Inclusion Agenda, aiming to address some of the most important social barriers in Australia. Within this they have made a commitment to develop a National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy in order to address the barriers that people with disability and mental illness face when tryin to gain and maintain employment. A briefing paper containing the terms of reference for the Strategy was circulated for public comment and submissions from anyone interested were encouraged. NSW CID developed a submission containing four parts. In the first part we highlighted the issues people with intellectual disability generally face when trying to find and retain employment. The second part looked at some international models of support currently enabling people with intellectual disability to work. The third part reflected a personal story of employment and the final part contained the most recent VOICES forum report on the issue of employment. To read NSW CID's response click on the following links:
International research on models of support in employment
Michael's story - in his own words
VOICES forum report on employment
To read about the National Mental Health and Disability Strategy click on the following links:
National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy Terms of Reference For more information please contact NSW CID on 02 9211 1611 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it National Pension ReviewThe Australian Federal Government are currently undertaking a national review into all social income payments. The review will look at all pension payments, income support payments and concession payments. This includes essential payments relevant to people with intellectual disability including the Disability Support Pension, Carers Payments and the Mobility Allowance. The aim of the review is to determine what levels of income support and allowances are appropriate, including the base rate of payments, what frequency payments should be made and the structure of payments with the stated intention to improve the financial circumstances of recipients. NSW CID made a submission to the review highlighting the significant barriers people with intellectual disability and their carers face in accessing wealth and the high cost of disability. We noted the difficulties people with intellectual disability face when trying to attain employment, the low wages received in Business Services and the loss of income many carers experience when caring for a loved one with disability all resulting in reliance upon social income support. We believe that whilst initiatives aiming to support people with disability into work are essential the reality is that many people with intellectual disability and their carers will need to access income support for a small, or long, period of time. Payments must therefore be high enough to cover the cost of disability and the general cost of living, afford the individual a life comparable to other people in the community and not be diminished if other support services are also needed, such as those provided by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care To read the NSW CID submission to the National Pension Review click on the link below:
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