Youth Cohort
Improving Disability Employment Study
Improving Disability Employment Study
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognises the full participation of people with disabilities in the workforce as a human right. However, young Australians with disabilities are far more likely to be excluded from the workforce than those without disabilities. Reasons for this exclusion likely relate to individual circumstances, workplace factors, and a lack of services and policy; however, these explanations and the links between them have not yet been verified by longitudinal research. Most past research on the employment of young people with disabilities looks at the short-term social and economic consequences of programs or policies and ignores longer-term health outcomes. This is problematic as employment is a critical determinant of future health and wellbeing. Working with our partner organisations, we will:
Answering these questions is critical to attracting and retaining young people with disabilities in the workforce. Helping these young people transition into the workforce will increase their chances of gaining lifetime employment, lead to better health outcomes and reduce their reliance on welfare, health and social services.Â
Professor Anne Kavanagh – University of Melbourne (lead researcher)Â
Dr Tania King – University of MelbourneÂ
Dr Alex Devine – University of MelbourneÂ
Associate Professor Cathy Vaughan  – University of Melbourne