The Customised Employment Model

The Customised Employment model at Ability Works operates on a fortnightly cycle of CE Engagement Coordination and CE Counselling alternating weekly. This therapeutic support from a registered counsellor paired with the exploration of Vocational Themes and potential workplaces with a CE Engagement Coordinator ensures that clients feel supported and confident to find meaningful and sustainable career paths with Customised Employment.

• Long-term, sustainable career pathways
• Employment Counselling to support skills and goals
• Build capacity and confidence in employment skills
• Community-based appointments – we meet you where you are
• Engage with employers in your local community
• Explore Vocational Themes with Discovery visits

“Customised employment with Ability Works was an absolute game changer for me. After years of struggling to find any job opportunities, Anna and the team were able to find me many amazing possibilities tailored specifically to my wants and needs. Their professionalism and support were paramount to helping me regain my confidence and re-engage with employment.”

– Sam, Customised Employment client at Ability Works

Employment Counselling is a collaborative process that involves building a therapeutic relationship, setting goals, and working on skills that relate to the employment goals. Using self-determination as a foundation of the practice is essential as it builds skills to independently self-led goals during their time in Customised Employment and (most importantly) afterwards.

Key Elements:

• Self-exploration and self-awareness
• Motivation and organisational skills
• Self-determination
• Self-advocacy skills
• Workplace skills
• Working on any skills that support employment goals

The NDIA, through research led by the University of Melbourne, found that approaches like Individual Placement and Support (IPS), and Customised Employment are effective in helping people with disabilities find and keep jobs. This aligns with Ability Works’ Customised Employment approach, which integrates Employment Counselling with the CE methodology and the IPS principles.

T. Riesen et al (2015) provided descriptive evidence of CE practices improving integrated employment outcomes such as wages, hours worked, and quality of life

“The success stories were amazing. People had micro-business enterprises and others found successful, meaningful, award-wage employment, which gave us hope. We linked Will with one of the customised employment support providers and staff visited us at home. They talked to us about the ‘discovery’ process and worked with Will to discover his likes, dislikes, strengths, what work means to him, and his support needs. It was a great process, and it really helped to build an employment picture for Will.”

Source: NDIS website story

“NDIS encourages participants and providers to build employment capability and capacity through work experience and customised employment to improve the likelihood of succeeding in sustainable employment.”

Source: NDIS Research webinar: Participants in employment

According to the survey data, one of the most under-represented groups in Australian workplaces are people who identify as having a disability or neurodiverse. More than three quarters (76%) of survey respondents perceive that both Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people who identify as having a disability or neurodiverse (76%) are under-represented in their organisation.

– Australian HR Institute. THE STATE OF Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Australian Workplace. 2023.

As an employer, hiring neurodiverse individuals through Customised Employment can bring significant benefits to businesses. By tailoring job roles to the unique strengths, skills, and abilities of neurodiverse candidates, you gain access to fresh perspectives and innovative problem-solving approaches. Customised Employment ensures that the work environment is fully supportive and accommodating, leading to higher job satisfaction, increased productivity, and reduced turnover. Additionally, it demonstrates your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, enhancing your reputation and attracting a broader talent pool that can contribute to your organization’s long-term success.

Benefits

• Diversify your workforce
• Creating valuable employment opportunities for people experiencing barriers to employment
• Gain skilled employees
• Employees passionate about the field
• Employees supported by counsellors and Customised Employment specialists
• Employer support from disability employment experts
• Accommodations mapped out collaboratively Job enjoyment and longevity