For those who find fulfilment in helping others, a career as a disability employment consultant can be extremely gratifying. Around 1 in 5 people in Australia have some form of disability, and disabled people have always faced challenges in learning work skills and finding jobs. Disability employment specialists help disabled persons looking for jobs, and employers looking to hire the right people for the right jobs. Simply put, they are motivated professionals who strive to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Read on to find out how you can have a successful career in assisting disabled people to find employment.
What is Disability Employment Services?
Any condition that restricts a person’s mental, sensory, or mobility functions is considered a disability. Disabled individuals in Australia have higher unemployment rates and struggle to get employed in the country’s workforce. That is where DES (Disability Employment Services) providers or providers of disability employment services come into play – to help people with a disability manage and overcome their barriers to find and succeed in employment.
Leading DES organizations have skilful employment and support services professionals across the country providing assistance to disabled people to prepare for, find, and keep a job. If you are driven and focused on helping people of all abilities live their best lives, employment services can be a fulfilling career choice for you. Assist job seekers in identifying their skills, improving their employment capability, and connecting with employers.
Roles and Responsibilities of Disabled Employment Specialist
When a disabled person registers with a Disability Employment Services provider, they are assigned a dedicated employment consultant to help them find a job that suits them. With proper support and guidance, people with disabilities can work in every industry and in various roles.
As a disabled employment specialist, you will work with prospective and current employees to help them gain the education, knowledge, and skills necessary to find employment or keep a current job. Additionally, you’ll be required to provide regular, ongoing support in the workplace. You can help a disabled person by assessing that individual’s level of employability and deciding relevant education or training programs that would enable them to reach their professional goals.
The main responsibilities are:
- Helping job seekers find suitable jobs
- Helping employers find suitable employees
- Identifying the kind of work a disabled person can do
- Finding ways for disabled persons to overcome hurdles to seeking employment
- Connecting with employers and convincing them to employ disabled professionals
- Advising employers on legalities, and both employers and disabled jobseekers on financial assistance
Plus, DES providers can also help job seekers with:
- Writing resumes and job applications
- Providing training to perform well in job interviews
- Meet local employers
- Transport, tools, and costs towards uniform
- Managing health issues that are probably making it hard to get work
Benefits of Working as Disabled Employment Specialist
When you start work as an employment consultant, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for career progression within your company, as well as across companies dedicated to changing lives through work and health.
Employment consultants have access to internal training, upskilling, and can apply for external training, funding, and/or study time away from work.
There can be significant transfer and promotional opportunities for professionals working with large DES providers like atWork, which has more than 300 locations across Australia.
Like in most industries, performance incentives like bonus payments are awarded to employment specialists upon successfully achieving identified targets. You will also enjoy benefits like paid parental leave, a decent salary package and perks, and opportunities for professional growth. If you’re driven and wish to be a part of positive changes in the country’s workplace landscape, you can have a fulfilling career as a disability employment specialist.