Customised Employment – School to Work webinar series

Customised Employment is an employment strategy or approach that starts with the person with disability and finds work that will match their unique interests, contributions and needs, while also offering real value to the employer.

This series

This Series of webinars explores Customised Employment as an approach families can use to create employment or self-employment for a young person with disability.

Consisting of four webinars, the series is based on publications by Marc Gold and Associates, the pioneers in Customised Employment.

Each webinar focuses on a different phase of the customised employment process. It is recommended participants attend the entire series if possible, however this is not required.

Sessions will be recorded and replays available for a limited time.

The webinars:

Discovering the Person – Thursday 2 June 2022, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Creating Job Opportunities – Thursday 9 June 2022, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Finding Job Support Staff – Thursday 16 June 2022, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Setting up for Success – Thursday 23 June 2022, 12:00 – 1:30 pm

1.Discovering the Person
Discovering the Person is the foundation for customised employment planning: finding the information you need.

2.Creating Job Opportunities
Creating Job Opportunities is about engaging with potential employers, how to find areas of benefit to the employer & how to move forward and negotiate with an employer.

3.Finding Job Support Staff
Finding Job Support Staff is about accessing providers, hiring directly or how to go about arranging your own supports.

4.Setting up for Success
Setting up for Success covers how to set up effective on-the-job supports that lead to employment sustainability including job analysis, training strategies & natural supports.

Topics will include:

These webinars focus on the phases of customised employment and build on the foundational School to Work webinars.

The series includes:

Further ways to explore the young person’s interests
How to translate everyday life activities into employment skills
Effective ways to capture and share information from the Discovery process
How to help employers uncover valuable employment opportunities in their organisations
How to develop a customised plan for employment
Creating a visual resume
Negotiating job tasks and conditions with employers
Guidelines for effective and respectful on-the-job training
How to find great job supporters
You’ll see how local and international families are applying the Customised Employment process with great success.

The material is based on publications by Marc Gold and Associates, the pioneers in Customised Employment.

About the Presenters:

Gina Barwell-Pickup started at CRU in August 2020 as a consultant in the ‘School to Work’ project. Since studying business at university, Gina has held a broad range of roles in a variety of industries including hotels, education and in State government and small business. Additional experience in recruitment and as a careers consultant will equip her well to assist students to get ready for work. Gina is passionate about the value of employment for people with disability and is currently supporting her own teenager on this journey.

Casey Northam is a Community Resource Facilitator with CRU. Casey has worked in community development and social justice focused roles and is an experienced group facilitator and trainer. After a brief stint as a Local Area Coordinator, Casey worked with individuals with disability and families and facilitated the co-design of information and resources by and for LGBTIQAP+ people with intellectual disability. Casey is passionate about all people having what they need to pursue a meaningful life as determined by them.

Who Should Attend?

The information in this series is primarily for families. Students with disability, career advisers, school staff, and services that support people with disability will also gain much from attending.

This webinar series will also be presented by School to Work consortium partners; Family Advocacy (Resourcing Inclusive Communities) in NSW and Imagine More in the ACT.

What do I need to participate?

We will be using the video meeting platform Zoom to host the webinar.

You will need access to:
• a computer or iPad/tablet or smart phone with internet access;
• speakers/sound

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your ability to participate.

About CRU:

For over 30 years, Community Resource Unit has been working across Queensland to help people with disability take control of their lives and take their place in their community.

CRU (QLD), Resourcing Inclusive Communities, an initiative of Family Advocacy (NSW) and Imagine More (ACT) will work together on a new three year project called ‘School to Work’.

'School to Work’ aims to inspire, increase confidence and motivate students with disability to seek and find meaningful employment with the help and support of their family and community.

The project is being provided as part of the Community Inclusion Capacity Development program through The Department of Social Services.