Information for Employers
Stepping into... is a paid internship program designed specifically for university students with disability. The program provides a “step into” practical work experience for students with disability who may otherwise face significant barriers to finding employment.
The Program
Stepping into... runs for a minimum of four weeks in either the summer or winter university semester breaks.
Due to the nature of some disabilities, some students may require a longer period, with fewer days worked each week, however the total hours worked should equate to four weeks full time (152 hrs).
How does the project work?
Australian Network on Disability:
- Liaises with universities to distribute information directly to eligible students
- Provides further information to interested applicants, encourages applications
- Evaluates student applications, assesses eligibility, distributes applications to participating firms, depending on areas of interest / relevance
- Conducts access reviews and disability awareness training where appropriate within participating organisations
- Conducts student briefings for all successful students (all cities)
- Liaises with students and organisations to implement reasonable adjustments when and if required
- Maintains regular contact with students and organisations during the program
- Conducts evaluation survey upon completion of program.
Participating organisation:
- Confirms involvement in the program, including the number of students preferred, what time of year would be most suitable, and the work areas that will be involved
- Designs four week (or equivalent) work plan, including clear objectives and outcomes
- Receives completed and vetted applications from AND
- Contacts student(s) to schedule interviews in a timely way
- Conducts selection interviews
- Notifies AND of who they have interviewed & who has been successful
- Notifies all students of the outcome of the interviews, agrees start date with successful student(s)
- Liaises with successful students to determine and implement any required reasonable adjustments
- Arranges for students to be paid for the four week period (salary should be commensurate with other pre-graduate positions)
- Evaluates student’s work (each week and at the end of the program)
- Completes AND evaluation survey at end of program.
University:
- Distributes information from AND to eligible students, through the Disability Liaison Officers, Careers Offices and Faculty staff.
Student:
- Attends the AND student briefing session or makes an alternative appointment
- Attends interviews as requested with participating organisations
- If successful in gaining a position, liaises with organisation to confirm any reasonable adjustments required, attends student briefing
- Adheres to structured work plan as agreed by organisation
- Completes AND evaluation survey at end of program.
More information
For more information, please contact Caroline Kwong at the Australian Network on Disability
Phone: 1300 363 645
Email: caroline.kwong@and.org.au