FWS Annual Report 2014/15

Research to Overcome Barriers
ROBE commenced in 2012 with Uni SA and concludes 2015. This independent research
sought feedback from Employers and their employees who have been FWS participants
or are current participants seeking employment. Critical data collected over 3 years has
informed the sector of key barriers and issues to be addressed.
Chairnan’s Report
Findings were submitted to the Australian Journal
of Social Issues for the paper Shaping attitudes with
a National Disability Insurance Scheme. Reviewer
comments include: This manuscript constitutes a
valuable contribution to our knowledge about the
NDIS - particularly given that the NDIS is in it’s early
stages. The topic also makes a useful contribution to
public debate on social policy concerning NDIS.
Key findings to date include:
• Recommendations for policy makers to incentivise
transitionary sheltered employment so that People
with Disabilities (PWD) interact with community
(“Tyranny Of Fit” research paper under review with
journal of Social Policy and Administration)
• Recommendations for employment service
providers to target non - and “light buyers” rather
than their loyal employers, to increase spread
of PWDs in mainstream employment (“Hope”,
research paper accepted for publication 2016
Journal of Social Policy and Society)
• Recommendations that metrics of policy
and performance outcomes avoid reliance
on community awareness, as increase
in awareness have not translated into
workforce participation of PWDs (decline
in employer hiring behaviour) & (Shaping
attitudes with a National Disability Insurance
Scheme paper being revised for resubmission
to Australian Journal for Social
Issues).
• Recommend that policy makers reward
service provider investment in research
as people with disabilities with little
community participation are extremely
responsive to researchers and appreciate
the opportunity research presents to having
their views and experiences be heard (Paper
in draft form).
• Recommendations that policy makers reward
employment service providers for results in
mainstream work placements rather than only
sustained work with a single employer (13, 26
or 52 weeks) or provide long term support for
employers to overcome resistance to hire (“Hope”
research paper accepted for publication 2016
Journal of Social Policy and Society & help wanted
paper accepted for publication 2016 Journal of
Employment Counselling)
• Recommendations that employment service
providers encourage clients to mingle in their
community, rather than just target employers
to increase frequency of interactions between
clients and employers (paper in draft form) &
useful contribution to public debate on social
policy concerning NDIS. I believe the paper can and
should be published by Australian Journal of Social
Issues pending major revisions.
Dr Liz Hemphill
15 7
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