1. Improving training & employment outcomes for people with a disability

2. 2.1% increase in no. students in the public VET system in 2003 → 11.8% increase in the no. students reporting a disability  over 16% of the Australian working age population reports having a disability → only 3.5% of VET students do  VET students with a disability: have completed less formal schooling, are concentrated in lower level courses, have lower subject completion rates, and are less likely to undertake a New Apprenticeship  74% general VET graduates are employed after training → but only 45% students reporting a disability are employed after training 2 What’s the bottom line?

3. 3 What is ADTAC? ADTAC, the Australian Disability Training Advisory Council, is an advisory committee to the Board of ANTA, the Australian National Training Authority. ADTAC has a council of 19 members representing the disability sector, training providers and industry, as well as each state/territory training authority and the four Australian government departments/agencies of most relevance to ADTAC’s purpose and priorities: FaCS, DEWR, DEST, ANTA. ADTAC has a full-time Executive Officer, Julie Mackey, with part-time administrative support (07) 3246 2417 adtac@anta.gov.au www.anta.gov.au/adtac

4. What is ADTAC’s framework? 1. Bridging Pathways: National Strategy, a five-year plan to 2005 to increase opportunities for people with a disability in vocational education and training 2. Bridging Pathways: Blueprint for Implementation, which outlines actions, timeframes and accountabilities 3. the mid-term review of progress which outlined the positive impacts of the Blueprint but also noted that we were still in the early stages of implementation 4. Shaping our Future: Australia’s national strategy for Vocational Education and Training 2004 – 2010 and its underpinning action plan: strategy 4 of 12 focuses on “the whole-of-life approach to disability issues” 4

5. And, in the pipeline: 5. an updated and repackaged Blueprint, designed for use as an engagement tool – currently on its way through ANTA Board, and state/territory CEOs’ Committee to the Ministerial Council 6. a compendium of statistics on people with a disability in VET (1998 to 2003) – analysis of data such as age, disability, region, Training Package, certificate level – due end Sept. 7. a targeted communication plan for ADTAC – underway 8. an analysis of research recommendations to progress – an ADTAC/ANTA collaboration to start Oct 2004, with a focus on drawing out the links to the training/employment connection 5 ADTAC’s framework…continued

6. 1. to create a shared understanding across state, territory and Australian government agencies on the outcomes to be achieved through implementing the Blueprint 2. to monitor the implementation of the Blueprint and its national projects, and advise the ANTA Board on (a) progress and (b) emerging issues 3. to outline key challenges for the VET sector in ensuring that people with a disability are well-equipped to meet future workforce demands 4. to evaluate the success of Bridging Pathways strategies and actions, and recommend future arrangements. 6 What is the purpose of ADTAC?

7. 1. progressing a whole-of-life approach to disability reform 2. measuring what we are achieving 3. delivering on the ground 4. engaging key players 5. improving employment outcomes. 7 What are ADTAC’s priorities?

8. There are three aspects to progressing a whole-of-life approach to disability reform: raising personal expectations, so that more people with a disability feel empowered and ready to participate fully in all aspects of life raising community expectations, so that people with a disability are encouraged and get the appropriate level of support improving service delivery, by co-ordinating policies, programs and services for better outcomes in all aspects of the lives of people with a disability, and at all stages of their lives. 8 1. Progressing a whole-of-life approach

9. We need to keep honing the accuracy and relevance of measures that: track progress and identify trends Why? …to help shape planning, to make it more effective at the national, state/territory, industry and local levels. 9 2. Measuring what we are achieving

10. We need to keep focused at the national, state and territory levels to make sure that resources and supports are readily available at the point of delivery. This includes: increased availability and suitability of core products and services a co-ordinated professional development strategy for teachers and trainers better co-ordinated funding and purchasing models. 10 3. Delivering on the ground

11. We must make sure that everyone who needs to be involved is involved, and in the most appropriate way. We will focus on activities that emphasise the benefits to business of employing skilled people with a disability: engaging key stakeholders, including labour market intermediaries, the new Industry Skills Councils, and employers in industries that provide pathways for people with a disability, or in emerging/growth industries with potential using creativity and persistence to try to gain the support of leading personalities, or to co-ordinate advertising sponsored by governments, industries and major enterprises. 11 4. Engaging key players

12. Our goal is to help people with a disability into meaningful jobs, so we need to keep working on initiatives such as those that: support school-to-work transitions, and motivate businesses to employ people with a disability. 12 5. Improving employment outcomes

13. Why did we revise Bridging Pathways? We wanted: an up-to-date resource that explains a complex environment in plain language a document which is engaging and inspiring something that looks at the ‘ human ’ side of improving outcomes for people with a disability in VET a resource that acknowledges progress but stirs people on to achieve much more and one that is firmly anchored to Shaping our Future, the national strategy for VET, so it lives far beyond 2005. 13

14. How was Bridging Pathways revised? One of the most important issues was that of ownership by stakeholders, including states and territories…where the policy ‘rubber’ hits the implementation ‘road’. It was essential that our state/territory and national partners were closely involved at all stages, so Council members: were closely involved in setting the parameters of what we wanted the end-product to do had many opportunities to provide input were encouraged to share drafts within their networks. 14

15. Where are we up to? Revision is completed On its way through the ANTA Board and CEOs Committee to the Ministerial Council Announcement of a 9 October federal election may cause a slight delay in Ministerial endorsement We are optimistic that 3 December is still a realistic launch date…International Day of People with a DisAbility is too good an opportunity to miss 15

16. What now? Bridging Pathways is all about improving employment outcomes for people with a disability who are gaining skills through vocational education and training It’s about improving pathways and supports for people with a disability so they gain skills that are valued by industry It’s about encouraging businesses to see the benefits of employing skilled people with a disability And it’s about helping industry to see that disability reform is all about investment, not cost people with disabilities are assets for business. 16