EDGE Employment Solutions – Information for Schools

EDGE EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS enables people with disability to establish careers in open employment that are of mutual benefit to the employee, employer and the community.

ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY have a right to work in open employment regardless of the extent or severity of their disability.

ALL WORKERS WITH DISABILITY have a right to a fair day’s pay as have the employers a right to a fair day’s work.

JOB SEEKERS AND WORKERS must play a central role in planning their own careers.

THE PROMOTION OF JOB SEEKERS with disability for any vacancy must focus on their abilities and economic worth to the employer.

ON-THE-JOB SUPPORT AND CO-WORKER MENTORING are key strategies for equipping workers with the full range of skills necessary to succeed in their chosen careers.

KEY CONTRIBUTORS to a successful career are desire to work, support from significant others, realistic career choice and access to individualised support.

JOB SEEKERS AND WORKERS have a right to privacy, respect and freedom from abuse in all their dealings with the agency.

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EDGE Employment Solutions has a strong commitment to assisting school leavers with disability to make a successful transition from school to work. Students with disability can register with EDGE at any time during their last year of school. While they continue at school, they may be assisted by EDGE to secure part-time paid employment or to undertake a school-based traineeship or apprenticeship. EDGE works with 70 schools around the Perth metropolitan area to assist students with disability to enter the world of work before or after they leave school. The registration process can be initiated on-line by e-mailing registrations@edge.org.au

EDGE also has a strong commitment assisting young people with disability to establish meaningful, productive and sustainable careers in open employment. In the coming years people with disability who have no vocational qualifications will have to compete with more job hunters for less entry-level (i.e. unskilled) positions. These positions are also likely to become progressively less well paid and offer less attractive conditions than semi-skilled and skilled positions. If people with disability do not begin to gain recognised vocational competencies and qualifications as they move through school and into employment, the very real danger exists they may become part of the future working poor in low paid jobs that offer little interest, opportunity or financial reward.

EDGE has established partnerships with 60 Perth schools to assist students with disability to secure school-based traineeships through its popular SWEAT (Supported Work Experience into Apprenticeships and Traineeships) Program.

The SWEAT Program was developed by EDGE in 2007 to assist school students with disability to secure a one-day per week supported work placement in industry over 15 weeks as a prelude to entering a school-based traineeship or apprenticeship. Students have a choice of 19 different occupations in nine different industries ranging from construction, engineering and automotive to hospitality, business administration and warehousing.

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships involve a minimum of 832 hours of paid employment , which provides both valuable work experience and much appreciated income for the apprentice/trainee. The training component is usually undertaken during school hours and can be delivered at the school, on the job or elsewhere.

EDGE currently partners with a number of schools developing School-Based Traineeships for final year students with disability. Any school that wishes to explore working more closely with EDGE to develop School-Based Traineeships can register their interest by calling EDGE’s Manager Customer Relations on 9286 6600.

Even if a student elects not to undertake further vocational education or training after completing the School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship, they will already have developed valuable vocational skills, have a better insight into work, have a more impressive resume, have established a good relationship with EDGE and, for all the foregoing reasons, be far easier to place into a suitable job when they leave school.

EDGE has developed a generic web-site, www.careertips.net.au, that provides practical information and resources for school students with disability who are seeking to make a successful transition from school to work.

EDGE also operates the National Disability Coordination Officer (NDCO) Program throughout the State. The NDCO program is a national program designed to improve transition between school, TAFE, university and employment for people with disability. EDGE auspices all three NDCOs based in Western Australia: one operating across metropolitan Perth and the other two covering the southern and northern regional areas of the state. More information about the NDCO program, and its involvement with schools, can be found at www.ndcowa.net.au.

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