Extra funding for disability employment

Nearly $5 million in extra funding to help people with disabilities find work was announced today by Federal Minister for Community Services, Larry Anthony.

Mr Anthony made the announcement in his opening speech to the ACROD 2000 Employment Forum in Darwin – a meeting of disability employment service providers.

The funding, to be distributed to high need areas across Australia, will provide employment help to people with disabilities looking for work and will also be used to help employment providers improve their service.

“This Government wants to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to participate fully in the community,” Mr Anthony said.

“This is all about helping people with disabilities find work.”

Mr Anthony said the funding would be spread across various projects, including:

• Almost $3 million to provide help in areas where more employment assistance for people with disabilities is needed;
• $1.2m to establish a system to ensure the network provides a quality service;
• $300,000 to study the key features of open employment services;
• $200,000 to study the work participation of people with disabilities on income support; and
• $300,000 for employment assistance in rural and remote areas.

“I am particularly pleased that people with disabilities living in more isolated areas of Australian will benefit from the initial $300,000 funding, which will grow to $1.5 million in 2002-03,” Mr Anthony said.

“The increased funding, in addition to $16 million for the Case Based Funding Trial and $10 million for the Assessment and Contestability Trial, highlights this Government’s commitment to improving opportunities for those with disabilities.”