Wednesday 21st August 1 – 2pm AEST
People with disability from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds are significantly under-represented within the disability service system and continue to have high needs which are not being met.
In NSW, 15.3% of people born in non-English speaking countries report a disability but are three times less likely to use a Government funded disability service than those born in an English-speaking country
Graduates from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds (NESB) are even less likely to be employed post study than graduates with disability Only 74.2% of people from NESB have any type of employment at all (full-time, part-time or casual), so for graduates with disability who are also from a NESB background the challenges to successfully transitioning to qualification related employment are significant
Only 53.4% of working age people with disability living in Australia are actively participating in the workforce, compared to 83.2% of all working age Australians
Over 4 million Australians (1 in 5 people) have disability and may need assistance to access and participate in tertiary education and subsequent employment
In 2017, people with disability represented only 8.2% of all students participating in vocational education and training, and only 6.55% of all students participating in higher education
Graduates with disability are less likely to be employed post study than other graduates, with only 61.5% of higher education graduates with disability employed full-time and only 53.5% of vocational education and training graduates with disability employed post study
Additionally, for people with disability from a CALD background looking to transition from education to employment, the following factors often contribute to the challenges they face:
- Negative employer attitudes
- Different cultural understandings of disability
- Lack of appropriately skilled employment services for graduates with disability
- Different cultural values and beliefs underpinning help-seeking behaviour
- Inaccessible and non-inclusive recruitment practices
- Lack of cultural competence amongst service providers
The NDCO Program has partnered with Settlement Services International (SSI) to present this webinar which will explore the intersectionality between culture and disability. The seminar will discuss current challenges in service delivery and provide insights to address the gaps experienced by people from a CALD background with disability who are looking for employment post education and training. The seminar will also promote cultural awareness and competency in supporting people with disability from CALD backgrounds to successfully transition from tertiary education to subsequent employment.
Concluding with time for audience questions and answers, this webinar will bring ideas and best practice suggestions to career and equity practitioners, employers and employment services, and disability service providers in Australia.
The webinar is:
- Free
- Auslan interpreted and live captioned
- Recorded
About the presenters:
Karen Bevan | General Manager – Service Delivery (Community) @Settlement Services International
Karen combines her deep experience in the NGO sector with qualifications in human rights law and communications to play a key role in strategy, advocacy and policy. Karen oversees SSI’s employment, disability and child and family services across NSW.
Kylie van Luyn | Employment Services & Social Enterprise Director @Settlement Services International
Kylie has an extensive history in executive leadership, working with a wide range of not for profit and NGOs in the employment, disability and social enterprise sectors. She has deep experience across employment and disability programs and a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and social impact. Kylie’s early career experience has given her a strong grounding in working in cross cultural environments and supporting people through their settlement journey, as well as supporting people with disability and the most disadvantaged in society.
Link to register: Register now for this webinar
Illawarra Interagency 