Final Research Evaluation Report of Project Employment: Vocational pathways for high school students with disabilities in Perth

People with disabilities are less likely to be in the labour force and more likely to be unemployed than their non-disabled peers. This is the case in Australia, as elsewhere in the developed world. As employment is the main source of income for most people, it is not surprising that people with disabilities therefore are at greater risk of poverty than their non-disabled peers. Transition opportunities from school have been identified as important for positive vocational outcomes for young adults with disabilities. Vocational education and training (VET), particularly apprenticeships and traineeships (A&T) that incorporates work-based learning, is one strategy EDGE Employment Solutions (EDGE) has drawn upon over the past several decades to support persons with disabilities obtaining and maintaining meaningful work. EDGE has also developed and delivered other programs to support young adults with disabilities obtaining and maintaining meaningful work and Project Employment can be viewed as a continuation of EDGE’s commitment to supporting young people with disabilities have positive vocational transitions into meaningful work.