Safeguarding the future conference - Canberra, 23-24 May 2024

Customised Employment Peer Support Group

Customised employment peer support group 2024 logo

 

Join a supportive group of like-minded families creating individualised employment opportunities for their family members. We welcome people who share our vision of employment for people with disability.

Apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Group in 2024


It’s often difficult for people with disability to find meaningful employment, especially those with an intellectual impairment or autism. That’s why we established the Customised Employment Peer Support Group.

The group helps families brainstorm possibilities and develop strategies to achieve their family member’s employment goals. It will suit families who

  • are just starting with the Discovery process to identify their child’s interests and employable skills
  • have high-school students who want to do work experience or get casual jobs
  • are setting up a job for a school leaver or older adult
  • are setting up self-employment
  • need an effective way to support a person already in a job.

We provide a friendly space to share stories, challenges, suggestions, and successes with other family peers. Occasionally, we invite guest speakers, including recognised authorities in Customised Employment.

You’ll learn practical skills such as asking for work experience or employment opportunities.

Apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Group in 2024

About this Peer Group

Jan Kruger and Fiona McIntosh

  • Meetings are free to attend, thanks to Department of Social Services funding
  • All peer group meetings are virtual meetings using the Zoom platform
  • You will receive an email reminder and Zoom link before each session
  • We don’t record peer group conversations because families often share information about their personal circumstances.
  • If you have any questions about the Peer Group, please contact Fiona McIntosh at fiona@imaginemore.org.au.

 

The Customised Employment Peer Group is facilitated by Jan Kruger and Fiona McIntosh.

Apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Group in 2024

Dates and Times

This group meets online from 12:30 to 1:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month. Confirmed meeting dates for 2024 are

  • Thursday, 1 February 2024
  • Thursday, 7 March 2024
  • Thursday, 4 April 2024
  • Thursday, 2 May 2024
  • Thursday, 6 June 2024

Before you apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Support Group

You’ll get the most out of this peer group if you are familiar with Customised Employment.

Before you apply to join this peer group, please watch these presentations.

Allocation of places

This Peer Group is popular, and places fill quickly. We’ll create a waitlist if the number of applicants exceeds the available places. If places become available during the year, we’ll offer them to people on the waitlist before advertising more broadly.

Places will be allocated to people who

  • want to pursue or are actively pursuing any stage of Customised Employment for their family member in 2023 (this includes Discovery, work experience, job development, and job support)
  • have attended previous Employment Peer Groups
  • reside in the ACT and the surrounding region.
  • can commit to attending each session*

*We understand that sometimes unexpected absences will occur. Please only apply if you are confident you can attend most peer group sessions.

Please note that peer sessions are not recorded due to the personal nature of the conversations. The only way to participate is via live attendance.

Apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Group in 2024

Comments from past members of the Imagining Home Peer Group

“(This group provides) collaboration and solidarity, vulnerability and a safe place. Brainstorming together, mutual support, the positive element that Fiona and Jan bring – their smiles. Lifts us up. :)”
“(The peer group facilitators) all are excellent, they truly listen”
“I think working with people at different stages (of their Customised Employment journey) is quite valuable, gives hope and encouragement and you aren’t alone at any stage.”

Our vision for employment for people with disability

Imagine More believes that all people with disability can work. We believe in everyone’s right to

  • access meaningful work and
  • be paid at least award wages and
  • enjoy workplace conditions that enable them to give their best at work.

To help a person find meaningful work, we must first:

  • understand who the person is
  • identify their strengths, attributes and interests
  • match these to a job or business idea that has the right conditions for success
  • identify the best person to mentor the person in their job.