Melinda Davenport

Jobsupport

Jobsupport began as a demonstration project for the Federal Government to show that people with a significant intellectual disability could achieve open employment. The project was very successful, and Jobsupport has continued to be an industry leading Disability Employment Services provider. Jobsupport has the highest job placement and job retention rate in Australia for job seekers with intellectual disability. Jobsupport has the highest 52-week employment outcome rate in Australia. Jobsupport's Transition service was established in 1997. It began as a pilot project for Family and Community Services to show that many people in state funded post-school activity programs could achieve paid employment, with appropriate support. A network of Transition to Work services were developed throughout NSW from this pilot, with Jobsupport being the most successful in achieving open employment outcomes. The current School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) funding within the NDIS is based on the NSW Transition to Work services model. The success of the Jobsupport program in Sydney led to the expansion of the service to Melbourne and Brisbane.