Government reimburses training costs for people with disability

Australian Government funding of $200,000 over the next four years will further support people with disability working within the disability sector.

The Minister for Community Services, John Cobb, today said the funding would reimburse training and certification costs for successful disability service Consumer Technical Experts (CTEs).

‘CTEs are people with disability who have experience and knowledge of the disability employment sector, who are employed as members of audit teams to conduct Quality Assurance audits of those services,’ Mr Cobb said.

‘With this funding, the CTEs will be supported in achieving the necessary skills and attributes to continue to participate in Quality Assurance audits of disability employment services.

‘CTEs have an important role in the audit process and all team members are assessed on knowledge, skills and personal attributes in order to be certified under the recently developed Audit Personnel Certification Scheme by 30 June 2007.

‘The Quality Assurance audits assess disability employment organisations’ compliance against the Disability Service Standards, which enhance the delivery of services to people with disability.

‘It is appropriate to announce this funding as we celebrate International Day of People with Disability to recognise the significant contribution made by audit team members with disability, in maintaining the quality of employment services,’ Mr Cobb said.