What is Open Employment?
When people with and without disability work together in the same workplace it is called “open employment.”
This means that you work in a regular job where you have to apply for the role and get paid according to the position job skills or award.
There are laws called fair work and awards that protect you to make sure you are not treated any differently in the workplace to other employees.
Open Employment is for everyone and is an everyday job. You are paid fairly and to a minimum standard.
Open Employment can also be if you are setting up your own business and are self-employed, receiving no assistance from a government agency or a Disability Employment Service.
How can I get open employment?
The government offers support to get a job through the:
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
- Disability Employment Services (DES) or
- Centrelink through your Disability Support Pension (DSP)
Disability Employment Services (DES) provide a free service to help job seekers find and maintain employment. A DES can help you get ready to start looking for work, help writing your resume, support for job interviews and help you apply for jobs.
Many people with disability when leaving school go through School Leaver Employment Support (SLES) if you are on an NDIS plan. SLES can prepare you for employment and offers all sorts of training including work experience. Flagstaff is a provider of this service.
Another pathway to employment is working with an Australian Disability Enterprise. Here you will learn skills to get you a job including travel training, work skills, safety at work, build your confidence and develop work skills whilst you look for a job in the area you want to work.