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MORE HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY TO ACCESS EDUCATION, TRAINING AND JOBS

The Federal Minister for Vocational and Further Education, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, today announced $8.7 million in new funding over four years to assist people with a disability to access post-school education and training.

"The Australian Government understands the challenges facing students with a disability and this initiative will assist them to access further education, to achieve in their chosen studies and to move on to suitable employment," Mr Robb said.

"This important initiative aims to overcome the barriers that people with a disability experience in gaining access to, and successfully completing, university study or vocational training, especially in regional, rural and remote Australia."

The National Disability Coordination Officer (NDCO) Programme will fund a comprehensive national network consisting of 31 coordination officers. These officers will offer information, coordination and referral services for people with a disability who are interested in, or enrolled in, post-school education and training.

The NDCO will replace and strengthen the current Regional Disability Liaison Officer and the Disability Coordination Officer programmes and the new funding will provide additional resources, thereby enhancing their capacity to service regions effectively, particularly in rural and remote locations.

The new Programme will commence operation on 1 January 2008, following an open tender process. The current disability liaison and coordination officer arrangements will be extended until 31 December 2007 to ensure no loss of continuity in the provision of services.

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

• People with a disability continue to be significantly under-represented in post-school education and training. While around 20% of the Australian population has a disability, only 5.8% of the total VET population and 3.2% of the higher education population self-identify at enrolment as having a disability.
• This programme will assist people with a disability by improving their transition between school and further education and subsequent employment.

Who will benefit?

• The NDCO Programme will improve transitions for people with a disability between schools and higher education and VET, thereby increasing the participation of people with a disability in post-secondary education and training and subsequent employment.
• People with a disability, their families, support networks, and relevant stakeholders will benefit from the improved coordination and delivery of transition support services for people with a disability within a region.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

• The Government is committing $8.7 million to this initiative from June 2007 to June 2011.
• The additional funding will achieve parity in funding to contracted organisations. It will also provide for all funded organisations to employ a full-time officer to ensure regions are serviced effectively, address issues with the recruitment and retention of staff in remote locations, and support the delivery of a comprehensive national network which builds on the effectiveness of the existing arrangements.

What have we done in the past?

• The Regional Disability Liaison Officer and the Disability Coordination Officer programmes currently fund a network of disability liaison and coordination officers who assist students with a disability to make the transition to post-school education.
• The NDCO Programme will amalgamate these two programmes and will strengthen the successful outcomes already being achieved under these programmes.
• These programmes have not traditionally been funded at the same level.

When will the initiative conclude?

• The Government has approved funding for the programme until June 2011.

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