The purpose of the National Disability Coordination Officer Program (NDCO) Environmental Scan is to provide a contextual analysis of the issues facing people with disability at the NDCO regional level. The NDCO program operates strategically at a local level to improve education and employment outcomes for people with disability from 14 to 64 years. The following information relates to NDCO Region 17 (East Victoria and Outer South East Melbourne) incorporates local government areas East Gippsland, Wellington, Latrobe, Baw Baw, South Gippsland and Bass Coast. Broader information has been included where relevant to provide comparisons to state and national data, where data relates to activities undertaken by people with disability in Vocational Education and Training, and Higher Education.

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The Region 17 NDCO has brought together stakeholders to form a reference group to deliver a Gippsland wide leadership program. The aim of the program is to develop leadership capacity in students with a disability in years 10 to 12 in both specialist and main stream schools across Gippsland.

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‘Supporting Career Planning for Students with Disability’ one day professional development day: Workshop One: Creating Confidence….For Careers Practitioners-facilitated by Andrea Evans-McCall NDCO Region 17: Young people with disability have unique career development needs and will benefit from in-depth career awareness and exploration this workshop will explore the current theory that informs accessible career development. Workshop Two: Assistive technology – a guide to the role new technologies can play in the transitional journey to further training or work-Facilitated by Mark Cottee NDCO Region 15: This workshop is a hands on and will explore the potentials and the limitations when considering assistive technology for students with a disability.

The overall aim of the Passport 2 Employment (P2E) program is for participants to graduate with confidence, positive aspirations and attitudes towards life after school; believe in what they want to achieve and that they can do it! The main objectives of the program included:

The aim of the Inspiring Young People with a Disability events is to raise expectations about the potential for people with disability (this includes individuals, stakeholders and employers). The events link students with successful mentors in the community who can provide information about specific careers or general information about their own career journeys. This is an information and knowledge sharing event giving the students a sense of what’s out there and inspiring them with a ‘can do attitude’. Guest speakers at these events are always a local person with disability who shares their transition story. Participants are provided with a chance to engage in positive social interaction with adult mentors outside their school and family environment. This gives them an opportunity to hear information about their rights and entitlements, supports available, educational options and pathways. The adult mentors range from local councillors, local employers, representatives of industry, TAFE, University, service providers and local community members.

The aim of the Career Café event was to raise aspirations for career development in the community and in families for young people with barriers to learning who are particularly vulnerable to exclusion from career conversations and planning. This event was designed with the specific purpose of engaging the wider community in showcasing young people with barriers to learning in a positive and able context. Young people will be seen as fully able to contribute to the social and economic profile of the local economy which is a fundamental part of leading a normal life.

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What Next East Gippsland Forum, since 2014 the East Gippsland Disability Transition Network has been planning and running The Next? Post School Options information session for parents and educators of young people with disabilities or learning difficulties. It is a free community event, the events focus is to empower students with a disability, their families and those who advise them with knowledge of post-school options and supports that are available.

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The  Region 17 NDCO has collaborated with Pam Anderson Region 16 NDCO to develop a resource to support the ongoing challenge of parent engagement.  Career Conversations workshops and the supporting resources are suitable for anyone who would like to be a competent Career Ally to a young person with a disability. The Workshop runs for two hours, each participant receives a set of career conversations cards designed by the two NDCO’s.

Please make contact if you would like to attend a workshop andrea.evansmccall@skillsplus.com.au

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In 2017 the film ‘Employability’ was produced by EMPLOY-ABILITY Partnership of  Debbie-ann Johnson, from Sale & District Specialist School, Andrea McCall-Evans  NDCO and Leanne Wishart, Rural Access, Wellington Shire. Darryl Whitaker was our cameraman and donated some of the time to help edit the film. The film would not have been possible without the grant from the Commonwealth Bank; we thank them for their generous donation.

The film focusses on the eight employability skills and features a number of young people with disabilities in the workplace.

The Employability Curriculum can be downloaded  https://ndcovictoria.worldsecuresystems.com/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=176293

The employability DVD’s can be found

Whole Film -all eight skills https://youtu.be/vGjNI16pxn8

Communication https://youtu.be/4-vwF4DVAzM

Teamwork https://youtu.be/SJxeSEndST0

Problem solving https://youtu.be/kIysQa3z1Q4

Initiative and enterprise https://youtu.be/zF5uWlKgkwI

Planning and Organising  https://youtu.be/u1Cc98TTXcc

Learning https://youtu.be/Pi5kqlcwvKU

Technology https://youtu.be/Srv94j3WddY

Self-management  www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOBoP0qoFmM

EMPOWERING THE ABILITY IN DISABILITY-Inclusive Employment, Education &Training Forum was held at the Moe Town Hall on the 3^rd December 2015 to celebrate the International Day of People with a Disability. The theme for the event was- Exploring the opportunities for success in Employment Education and Training for people with a disability.  

The keynote speaker was Keynote Speaker Christian Tsoutsouvas from the I CAN NETWORK. Participants took part in a range of workshops held over the day and had the opportunity to chat to a range of service providers.  

Click on the link to view Evaluation Report: http://www.ndcovictoria.net.au/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=145854