Youth Employment Program for d isadvantaged y outh w ith d isabilities

1. Youth Employment Programfor disadvantaged youth with disabilities

3. Introduction – the international/national context & youth employment • History of the development of the approach • YEP - (a program for disadvantaged youth with disabilities) - What it entails: the importance of the relationship and taking individual approaches - Barriers along the way - Why it is working: the rewards and benefits • Moving forward

4. Global Employment Trends for Youth 2013 a generation at risk International Labour Organization 2013 First published 2013 The global youth (15- 24 years) unemployment rate, estimated at 12.6 per cent in 2013, is close to its crisis peak. • As many as 73 million young people are estimated to be unemployed • The ratio of youth to adult unemployment rates. Young people continue to be almost three times more likely than adults to be unemployed, and the upward trend in global unemployment continues to hit them strongly • There is growth in the number of young people neither in employment nor in education or training - the so called “NEET” group. • NEET are particularly at risk of both labour market and social exclusion, as they are not improving their future employability through investment in skills or gaining experience through employment

5. Youth Unemployment in Australia • Youth un-employment is low by international standards • Australia’s youth unemployment rate and long-term unemployment compare favourably to the OECD average However: • Young people now account for 40% of all unemployed people in Australia • Youth unemployment rate is 16% - this is unacceptably high – three times higher than the national unemployment rate • Approximately 60,000 of young Australians are long term unemployed • The youth unemployment rate relative to the overall unemployment rate is higher than the OECD average • Despite a recovery to overall employment youth unemployment remains above pre- GFC (global financial crisis) levels Helen McLaren Youth and Inclusive Education Group Department of Education Jobs Australia Conference 2013

6. The proportion of 15-19 year olds who are inactive (i.e. not in the labour force or full-time education) now exceeds those who are unemployed. Source: ABS 6291.0.55.001 - Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery, May 2013

7. Types of disabilities affecting young people

8. Youth with disabilities Throughout the world, youth with disabilities are dropping out of school and being excluded from the economy Youth with disabilities: • commonly face more discrimination and severe social, economic and civic disparities as compared with those without disabilities • often experience exclusion, isolation, and abuse • have more pronounced inequality in education, relationships & employment • often experience societal ignorance of disability resulting in their needs being unrealized, leading to a loss of self-esteem, self-worth and creating social isolation • have higher unemployment rates than people without disabilities in every society • experience unique issues not shared by their older counterparts

9. Youth with mental health issues (and disorders) • In 2007 one in four young Australians aged 16–24 years had a mental disorder (approximately 26% or 671,000 young people), according to figures by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, accounting for the highest burden of disability among young people (Begget al. 2007; Patel et al. 2007a) • Anxiety disorders were the most common, affecting 15% of young people • Substance Use disorders affected 13% of young people with Harmful Use of Alcohol the most common Substance Use Disorder (9%) • Around 6% of young people had an Affective disorder with Bipolar Affective Disorder and Depression (3% each) the most common Affective disorders

10. In what ways can the young person with mental health issues be affected? • psychological growth and development • health-care needs • involvement with the justice system AND • educational and occupational attainment

11. Youth with disabilities & workTransition into working life and financial independence • Youth with disabilities more than OFTEN: • are excluded from community participation and interaction in their formal school years • face a difficult period of upheaval and uncertainty as they transition from school to achieving successful employment and independent living • find the transition into adult independence in the real world extremely challenging as they face discrimination and attitudinal barriers • AND • generally face greater employment uncertainties and hiring disparities during economic downturns and shrinking labour markets.In such scenarios, youth with disabilities face even greater discrimination in hiring practices

12. Youth with disabilities & workTransition into working life and financial independence Young people with disabilitiesface formidable barriers when looking for employment WHY? negative perceptions of youth with disabilities and misconceptions held by employerse.g. • they are less productive than their peers • require too much assistance • their presence in the workplace will affect the employer's image and/or • concerns over initial hiring costs (e.g. building ramps, accessible IT, workplace accommodations) National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (NCWD) for youth - Fact Sheet NOTE: studies that show that people with disabilities are just as productive, dependable, and less absent from work than workers without disabilities (Du Pont 1993; Zadeck & Scott-Parker 2003)

13. Youth with disabilities & work Their greater participation in the workforce is needed! • The employment levels of people with disability has an overall positive impact on both the amount of goods and services the economy can produce and the demand for these goods and services • The Australian Productivity Commission’s (2004) review of the Disability Discrimination Act referred to a number of submissions that supported this view: “The enhancement of the economic and social participation of people with disabilities contributes to both the supply and the demand side of the economy. Greater participation of people with disabilities in training, education and employment directly affects the productive capacity of the nation” (Submission 172)

14. Youth with mental health issues Employment is important - intrinsic benefits • Being employed can be an important step for: • recovery • improving self-esteem • confidence building and, • reducing psychological distress • Despite the ongoing lay belief that the best thing for people with mental illness is to take time out from the stresses of work and recover, it turns out that young people with psychosis and other mental illnesses really want work to be a part of their recovery

15. Youth with mental health issues Employment is important Conversely, unemployment increases the risk of: • developing mental health problems, and • is associated with increased rates of depression and suicide as well as higher use of health services and hospital admission

16. Employment is therefore vital for maintaining good mental health and promoting recovery from mental health problems

17. What do best practice countries do? • High national priority is placed upon trying to ensure that school-to-work transitions are effective. • There is a focus on preventing disengagement. • Networks of nation-wide services that track and rapidly contact young people who disengage. • Integrated youth support service separate from public employment provider • Mutual obligation approach • Strong apprenticeship systems Helen McLaren Youth and Inclusive Education Group Department of Education Jobs Australia Conference 2013

19. Shouting Stats

20. Solutions Asset Mapping Identifying needs funding values resources collaboration Strength-based Existing infrastructure Diversity Belonging Networking ideas community Competition top down vs bottom up EMPOWERMENT Social Justice Systems building capacity Innovation … “lets start with a conversation” Technical Jargon….!!!!! These words sound great in meetings..!!!

21. ….Program proactively works through the tensions whilst transitioning from school to employment….!!

22. Bridging the gap from school to employment Taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone is not easy for anyone…!! Why does it seem easy for others…?? What’s going to happen….?? What skills do I need…?? What am I good at…?? What will others think of me…?? Where is the support….???

23. Those Ideologies…!! What’s your stance..?? Actually…….

25. Overarching Standpoint There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people’ (Thomas Jefferson 1743 – 1826, 3rd president of USA)

26. Reflection is the key to everything……..!!!! The world is what you think of it….so think of it differently and your life will change…. Where do I start…? OMG WTF LOL Just do it…..!!

27. Relationship is Key to Engagement Seek to understand not seek to be understood

28. Increasing aspirations Embedding self-confidence Improving self-esteem Raising achievements Tolerance and Resilience Person-centred planning Employment prospects Self-determination Psycho-social Ongoing support Life skills Responsibility Career planning Building networks Didactic support Personal development Breaking barriers Personalised/Individualised Coaching Self Esteem and Self Worth Mentoring

29. Characteristics • Generational differences • Its not how good you are its how good you want to be • A person who doesn’t make any mistakes is unlikely to make anything • Authentic & Genuine • If you can’t solve a problem then you are playing by the rules…. • If you want to be interesting be interested…..!!! • It’s right to be wrong • Take risks • Success is going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm • Doing relationship not a telling relationship • Role-modeling • Fail… Fail again ….fail better • Focus on the outcome • Task orientated • Facilitate not dictate • Check-in • Practical understanding • Transparency - Why are we doing this? Pointers

30. Promoting independence stems from going on the journey with people and during times of distress providing the guidance and support through a positive-working relationship…!!

31. Collaboration Bridging the gap