The Australian Government agency FaHCSIA implemented a 18-month pilot traineeship program for people with intellectual disabilities in 2009. The program was informed by recommendations to employ people with disabilities across the Australian Public Service. Five trainees were initially selected to complete a Certificate II in Business Administration while working in various FaHCSIA branches. The program provided training, mentoring and support for both the trainees and their supervisors. Most trainees successfully completed the program, with some obtaining ongoing employment. The pilot was successful in demonstrating an inclusive employment model, and informed future disability employment initiatives across the Australian government.

1. CASE STUDY
PILOT TRAINEESHIP
Embracing people’s
talents regardless of
Ability or disAbility
Faith Maddalena

2. The Department of Families, Housing,
Community Services and
Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)
• FaHCSIA is the Australian Government's main source of advice on
social policy and manages about one fifth of the federal budget
• FaHCSIA works in partnership with other government and non-
government organisations managing a diverse range of programs
and services designed to support and improve the lives of
Australians
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

3. Pilot Traineeship for People with
Intellectual Disability
• In August 2009, FaHCSIA employed five people with intellectual
disability to complete an 18 month traineeship
• The traineeship included completion of Certificate II in Business
Administration
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

4. Where did the idea come from?
• Management Advisory Committee 6 (MAC6) Report on
Employment of People with Disability across the APS
• Objective 4 – Special employment measures to employ people
with intellectual disability
• Supported by special measures under the
Public Service Commissioner’s Directions 1999
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

5. 2009 - 2011 People Strategy
An attractive and flexible employment framework:
• Developing a traineeship for people with intellectual disability
• The traineeship program was the first of its kind in the APS
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

6. Inception
• Consultation over some months to discuss how APS may meet
the objectives of the MAC6 Report with:
o a number of APS Agencies
o the Australian Public Service Commission
o Capital Careers – Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
o the Australian Network on Disability (AND)
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

7. Initial steps
• Discussions with Senior Management on how best we could
achieve MAC 6: Objective 4
• Proposal to FaHCSIA Executive Management Group requesting a
budget commitment to implement the Pilot Traineeship
• FaHCSIA Senior Disability Champion announced the program on
International Day for People with Disability, 2008
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

8. Partnering with Managers
In April 2009, an information session was held for interested
managers with key external stakeholders invited including:
• CEO - Australian Network on Disability (AND)
• Director - Capital Careers (RTO)
• Chair - Network of Employment and Training Agency's (NETA)
Expressions of Interest received from various Branches in FaHCSIA
Five Branches in FaHCSIA successfully nominated to take a Trainee
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

9. Training for Supervisors
All supervisors in successful areas attended training in:
• Fostering and promoting an inclusive learning culture
• Acknowledging and respecting individual differences
• Provide instruction in a safe and comfortable environment
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Managing a person with disability
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

10. Advertising
Positions were advertised using the Special Measures in:
• The Australian Public Service Gazette
• The FaHCSIA website
• The Canberra Times
• Disability Works Australia
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

11. Interviews and Selection
• Forty applicants
• Twenty candidates were interviewed over two days
The panel included:
• Chairperson – Manager from Disability and Carers Policy Branch
• Suzanne Colbert – CEO of Australian Network on Disability
• Faith Maddalena – Work Life Diversity Team, People Branch
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

12. Commencement and Induction
• Five trainees commenced with the Department on 10 August 2009
• A two-week, modified induction process, included:
• OHS
• Fraud and Protective Security
• Code of Conduct
Celebration and launch of the program with the then FaHCSIA
Secretary Dr Jeff Harmer and distinguished guests
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

13. Business Certificate II
• Training sessions were conducted fortnightly
• JCE Positive Outcomes was the Registered Training Organisation
responsible for the training
• Training was part of work - the trainees were paid to attend
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

14. Mentoring Program Implemented
Each trainee was linked to a mentor, trained specifically in
mentoring staff with disability, with the aim of:
• a better experience of work
• improved retention and
• better career outcomes after the traineeship
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

15. Progress = Change
Along the way there have been a number of changes:
• One trainee resigned
• A new trainee commenced in February 2010 - employed using the
order of merit
• Supervisor Changes
• A change in the Registered Training Organisation
• One trainee moved to Perth, continuing his traineeship in the
FaHCSIA Perth State Office
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

16. Review and Lessons Learned
Findings for future programs – AND review of Traineeship included:
• A structured process to support unsuccessful applicants
• Mandatory training for managers and supervisors
• Introduction of work trials for preferred applicants
• An extended timeframe for induction
• Improved communication processes between stakeholders
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

17. Achievements
September 2009, the Traineeship raised in Senate Estimates
• Morning tea at Parliament House with then Parliamentary
Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Bill Shorten; and Senator
Mitch Fifield, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities
• Program nominated for a diversity@work Employment and
Inclusion Award in 2010
• Supervisors nominated for an ACT Chief Ministers award 2010
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

18. Achievements – continued
• The ACT Chief Minister’s Department implemented a program
modelled on FaHCSIA’s in 2010
• Several other departments have expressed interest in piloting
similar programs
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

19. Success
• Four Trainees graduated as completing the traineeship 2011
• A Graduation Ceremony held with Senator the Hon. Jan McLucas,
Disability and Carers Parliamentary Secretary attending
• The then Secretary Dr Jeff Harmer announced on - going
positions to successful graduated trainees, under the:
o Circular 2010/2: Engagement of people with disability
through disability employment service providers
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability

20. Future Programs
• FaHCSIA has endorsed Future Programs with the next program to
commence in 2012
Questions?
Embracing people’s talents, regardless of ability or disability