Schools project - Inclusive career development

Schools project - Inclusive career development

With the support of Gandel Foundation we have embarked on a project to support schools to implement evidence-based and effective, school to work transition and career development for students with a disability.  For students with disability, the education, skills, and attitudes developed through school are closely linked to getting a job when school finishes. Not transitioning well from school to work can lead to economic, social and personal disadvantage for young people. These low levels of engagement in education, training and employment have a big impact on young people with disability over their lifetime, with only 53% of working age people with disability employed compared to 80% without disability.

There is a strong relationship between career development, effective transition supports and engaging in work experience during secondary school, with post-school employment for young people with disabilities. We will be developing resources for schools that support the development of career education, pathways planning, and work readiness for students with disability. All resources will be informed by contemporary research and knowledge.

We will also develop a tool for current school career/transition specialists and school leadership teams to assess themselves against international benchmarked policy and practice in Pathway planning.

Our project has been supported by Gandel Foundation and we have partnered with The Australian Centre for Career Education (ACCE) and University of Newcastle. Our aim is to develop tools that are underpinned by evidence-based practice, work for school, are effective and sustainable. To find out more about the project please get in touch with Amy Scott, Partnerships & Project Coordinator, Ticket to Work on 0491 213 520 or amy.Scott@bsl.org.au