Young people with disabilities struggle to find employment

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Young people with disabilities say they are eager to enter the workforce but are struggling to get a job. A new report has found many of those with disabilities still face cultural barriers and remain unemployed.

Transcript

00:00 Ivy Balavy had a desire to work in healthcare, but it hasn't been easy for the 19-year-old

00:07 who faces learning challenges due to her disability.

00:11 Because some employers didn't have the patients for me.

00:14 Determined to get a job, she signed up to Project Search, an initiative offering work

00:19 experience to people with disabilities.

00:22 I did various internships at the hospital, including orderlies, aged care, sterilisation

00:30 and housekeeping.

00:31 With hands-on skills she was great, but in terms of learning and communication she needed

00:36 some additional support.

00:37 Rahul Singh, who has autism, was also struggling to secure employment, despite having an accounting

00:44 degree.

00:44 I love numbers and I'm pretty good at them.

00:47 It wasn't until he began work experience, others saw his potential too.

00:52 Working in the ACT public service in Canberra.

00:56 He just needed support around the soft skills, communication, because he already had a great

01:02 talent for numbers.

01:03 A new report found Queenslanders with disabilities still face employment barriers.

01:09 Around 70% of participants say they don't believe employers hire people with disabilities.

01:15 Most of the participants were employed in jobs where they were earning less than $75,000

01:20 a year and 20% were at that poverty line.

01:24 It's the first time a survey like this has been done in the state.

01:27 It also highlights the need for more secure housing, economic support and the impacts

01:32 of community attitudes.

01:35 Ivy now works full time, a milestone she credits to a supportive environment.

01:42 Having a job makes me feel useful and independent.

01:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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