Grant for disability employment skills gap training
Grant for disability employment skills gap training
A State government grant helps Ability Works address the disability employment skills gap for employers with much-needed training.
Ability Works’ Inclusive Design team successfully won a significant grant from the Victorian government. The Skills Solution Partnership grant from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), focuses on building knowledge and skills in areas and industries with defined skills gaps. Through the Customised Employment service, Ability Works identified that employers do not feel confident and competent to employ people with disabilities.
“There is a fear that managers will say or do the wrong thing. There is a desire for employers to improve disability inclusion, but they want to engage a knowledgeable and trusted advisor,” says Sue Boyce.
Ability Works has partnered with Swinburne University to co-design and build a Disability Skills Assessment & Evaluation Platform, comprising:
- A Disability Inclusivity Scale to survey organisational knowledge and skills.
- A tailored, actionable report recommending practical initiatives, training and resources to improve disability inclusion and workplace practices.
- Disability inclusion consulting services including accessible workplace assessments, accessible branding and communications, inclusive recruitment templates, accessibility policy development and implementation and digital accessibility strategy.
- Stackable micro-credential training courses specifically designed to support leaders, HR professionals, marketing and communications executives, procurement managers, inclusion and capability advisors with disability inclusion practices to improve disability employment.
Over the next year, Ability Works will work to refine and accredit professionally targeted micro-credential courses, including,
- Disability Inclusion Foundations
- Accessible Workplace Practices (Standard & Advanced)
- Inclusive Recruitment
- Disability Inclusion for Leaders
Industry partners, Transurban, The IVE Group, Laverton Community Integrated Services, have helped pilot the Disability Inclusivity Scale and micro-credential training.
Following project completion in June 2025, disability inclusion consulting and training services will be offered by Ability Works to purpose-driven organisations.
Contact Natalie Collins and the Inclusive Design team for more information, InclusiveDesign@Ability Works.com.au