Employment initiatives for students with disabilities
Students with disabilities can experience greater challenges in securing employment compared with graduates without a disability. The 2015 Graduate Destinations Report showed graduates with a disability in full-time employment at 56.2% compared with those without a disability at 68.8%. Don’t be a statistic. Consider what’s available to support you before you graduate.
We have a number of initiatives to improve the employment outcomes for students with disabilities and help you improve the next steps in your career journey.
What is 'Next Steps'?
Griffith University has a range of services to support positive employment outcomes for students with disabilities including unique partnerships with external organisations. Improve the next steps on your career journey.
Careers and Employment Service
Griffith’s Careers and Employment Service supports students throughout their degree and should be part of your planning towards graduate employment every step of the way. The service can assist with a range of support, including:
- career planning workshops, online resources and one-to-one career counselling
- job readiness skills such as writing cover letters, interview preparation and E-portfolios
- employment support through CareerHub
- support for opportunities such as internships and volunteer work.
University Specialist Employment Partnership
Griffith's University Specialist Employment Partnership aims to deliver an on-campus employment service aimed to meet the specific needs of graduating or graduated students with disability seeking employment.
If you have a disability and you are in the last 60 credit points of you degree, or you have recently graduated (within last 12 months), then this program may assist you. An experienced USEP consultant will work to build a connection between potential employers through timely and appropriate employment service supports.
The USEP will be actively seeking opportunities for you and identify quality employers and working with other parts of the University such as Careers and Employment Service to assist you.
How to register with USEP
Your Griffith USEP Consultant is Natalie Searson. If you want to make an appointment with Natalie please email her at disabilityemployment@griffith.edu.au
Natalie is at Nathan Campus (Student Services) on Wednesdays in N12 (Sewell Building) and at Gold Coast Student Services (G33) on Fridays.
For more information about USEP, visit Mylestones University Specialist Employment Partnerships.
USEP project
Developed and led by the National Disability Coordination Officer Program, an Australian Government funded initiative, in collaboration with university and employment partners.
The Australian Network on Disability is a national organisation that supports organisations to actively recruit and support people with a disability.
For more information contact:
Isabel Heiner
Program Manager, Stepping Into & PACE Mentoring
Phone: 03 9621 2276
Email: isabel.heiner@and.org.au
Queensland Government Graduate Portal
The Graduate Portal allows you to register your interest in all Queensland Government graduate or student opportunities by completing one form.
Your application will remain current until the end of this year and during this time, you will be considered for all graduate opportunities that align with your qualifications.
There are also opportunities for scholarships, vacation employment, industry placements and work experience.
Eligibility criteria apply.
GradAccess
GradAccess is a centralised recruitment stream for people with disability into Australian Public Service graduate programs.
GradAccess is a safe and supported entry point to a fulfilling career in the Australian Public Service. The GradAccess team will offer you friendly and professional support throughout the entire process.
In 2019 six Griffith graduates were successful in gaining employment with the APS.
Applications are closed but keep checking the GradAccess website for more information or the GradAccess Recruitment Team on 02 6202 3966 or via email at GradAccess@apsc.gov.au.
Graduate Careers Australia
Graduate Careers Australia has a range of resources specifically focussed on supports and useful links for graduates with disabilities.
This includes:
- Employment Assistance Fund through Job Access
- Information on Disability Employment Services
- Links to the ADCET Career Toolkit
- Information about your employment rights.
Student Disability and Accessibility
Get in contact with us or book an appointment to see how we can help.
Useful links
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