Organisational and policy barriers to transitioning from supported into open employment for people with an intellectual disability

Research has shown that people with an intellectual disability prefer more choice with employment options and more community facing roles, rather than just traditional supported employment roles.

However, data reveals that transition rates from supported to open employment in Australia remain very low, findings which are consistent with international evidence.

To understand more about the current organisational and policy barriers that prevent the transition from supported to open employment, a team from CSI Swinburne interviewed a range of people to understand their perspectives.

These people included:

• People with an intellectual disability
• Staff from supported employers or ‘Australian Disability Enterprises’ (ADEs)
• Staff from open employers like ‘Work Integrated Social Enterprises’ (WISEs)

From these interviews, four key policy and organisational barriers were identified that are contributing to low transition rates for people with an intellectual disability. These are:

1. People with an intellectual disability not feeling supported in an open employment workplace
2. Open employers lacking the knowledge and experience in being able to successfully recruit and retain workers with an intellectual disability
3. Insufficient career preparation for young people with an intellectual disability while they are still at school
4. Inflexible funding models and supports that make it more difficult to transition between supported and open employment opportunities

DOWNLOAD THE RESEARCH PAPER

The research paper published in the Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability unpacks these key barriers in more detail with quotes from participants about their experiences, and examines some of the policy implications of the findings.

The researchers highlight a particular need for more flexibility in how funding can be used to support employment outcomes and the need for more support in the open employment context.

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