Continuous improvement
Standard 5: Participation and integration
How Standard 5 applies to all service types
Each person with a disability is supported and encouraged to participate and be involved in the community.
Standard 5 context
Policy and program context forAustralian Disability Enterprises
The Australian Government recognises that the quality and sustainability of employment outcomes for people with disability are enhanced by physical and social integration with other employees without disability. While the capacity of Australian Disability Enterprises to facilitate such integration varies depending on the nature of their business, they have a responsibility to respond to barriers that limit opportunities for physical and social integration.
A holistic approach to service delivery recognises the importance of both immediate employment outcomes and the barriers that limit the range of available employment opportunities. In practice, this means that individual Employment Assistance Plans should have references not just to the barriers that impact on immediate employment goals and opportunities, but on the sustainability of these opportunities. Regular reviews of employment goals and opportunities are needed to ensure supported employees are supported in making informed choices about either continuing with existing employment opportunities or pursuing alternative employment opportunities which offer greater physical and social integration with people without a disability.
The capacity of an Australian Disability Enterprise to offer employment opportunities which support greater physical and social integration will vary depending on their FaHCSIA contractual obligations and the nature of the business. Supported employees will need to have access to appropriate information about the scope of opportunities that are able to be offered so they can make informed decisions about whether an Australian Disability Enterprise will meet their needs.
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Policy and program context for Disability Employment Services providers
The Australian Government recognises that the quality and sustainability of employment outcomes for people with disability are enhanced by physical and social integration with other employees without disability. While the capacity of services to facilitate such integration varies depending on the nature of their business, all services have a responsibility to respond to barriers that limit opportunities for physical and social integration. Integration into the wider community and the achievement of social outcomes increases the likelihood of participants to find and maintain sustainable employment.
A holistic approach to service delivery recognises the importance of both immediate employment outcomes and the barriers that limit the range of available employment opportunities. In practice, this means that individual employment plans should have references not just to the barriers that impact on immediate employment goals and opportunities, but on the sustainability of these opportunities. Regular reviews of employment goals and opportunities are needed to ensure participants are supported in making informed choices about either continuing with existing employment opportunities or pursuing alternative employment opportunities which offer greater physical and social integration with people without a disability.
The capacity of a service to offer employment opportunities which support greater physical and social integration will vary depending on their integration with other services and complementary programs. Participants will need to have access to appropriate information about the scope of opportunities that a service is able to offer so they can make informed decisions about whether a service will meet their needs. It is acknowledged there may be other factors, in addition to the providers ability to integrate with other services, which may impact on their capacity to offer employment opportunities'.
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