Start: Fri 13 Feb, 2026 09:30 End: Fri 13 Feb, 2026 17:00
Location: Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton ACT
Presented by: Therese Fimian, Randy Dicks
Practical ways to support people with disability into real, valued work, no matter their starting point
Are you supporting a young person or adult with disability to explore work and employment? If so, we hope you’ll be able to join us for a full-day in-person workshop in Canberra in February 2026!
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to support someone with disability into real valued work, no matter their starting point.
You’ll hear from two of the world’s most experienced Customised Employment practitioners about how they help people with significant barriers to employment find valued roles, strong workplace matches, and genuine belonging.
Customised Employment is a practical, strengths-based way of helping people with disability find meaningful, paid work by closely examining their interests, skills, and conditions for success, and designing or matching tasks that genuinely support a business.
It’s an approach that has been used in the US for 35 years to great success, and it works just as well on Australian soil!
We’ve invited Therese Fimian and Randy Dicks, of US-based Marc Gold and Associates, to Canberra to deliver this full-day workshop. They bring decades of hands-on practice from working alongside people with disability, their families, schools, and employers, including people with high support needs.
This session is all about the how. Through case studies and practical examples, Therese and Randy will walk you through how to:
- turn everyday interests and skills into real tasks that an employer needs
- create a list of well-matched employers and turn it into real job leads
- spot opportunities where an employer’s needs match a person’s strengths, so both benefit
- build independence and meaningful workplace relationships
- handle workplace challenges, make the most of learning opportunities, and build on successes.
This day is ideal for anyone who wants to see Customised Employment done well, with honesty, creativity, and deep respect for each person.
Workshop details
- Friday, 13 February 2026
- Please arrive at 9:00 am for a prompt 9:30 am start
- This event ends at 5:00 pm
- Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
- This is a ticketed event; details below
- Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea will be provided
- This event has been designed for families, Customised Employment practitioners, support workers, Inclusive Employment Australia providers, and anyone supporting a person with disability into work.
Tickets
Please read these options carefully before you register. If you have any questions about ticket pricing, please contact Anne at anne@imaginemore.org.au
There are two categories of tickets available.
- People with disability and their family members: People who are attending to learn about Customised Employment for a family member with disability.
- Professionals: Anyone attending this workshop for the purpose of their work. This category will include education and service professionals, support workers, service providers, government representatives, and people who are attending as employees of other organisations.
People with disability and family members
*To ensure the price is no barrier to attendance at this workshop, we invite people with disability and their family members to nominate their own ticket prices. Pay what you can easily afford.
This flexible pricing is strictly available to people with disability and members of their families only.
Indicative pricing: People with disability and their families are welcome to contribute any amount between $0.00 and $150.00*
Professionals
This pricing is for support workers, teachers, service providers, government representatives, etc.
- Individual professional – $200.00
- If this price is a barrier, please contact Anne at anne@imaginemore.org.au to discuss.
Good to know
- Please secure your registration early, as seats are limited.
- You might also be interested in attending a half-day workshop by Therese and Randy the day before. Working together: Schools, families, and Customised Employment is designed for educators and career advisers, but families are warmly encouraged to attend. Learn more on our website
- We have been able to keep the ticket prices low (and flexible for people with disability and their family members) thanks to funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing through an Individual Capacity Building grant. This workshop is part of Imagine More’s Typical Pathways Initiative Project.
- This is a fully catered event with limited places. No matter which ticket category you have purchased, we ask that you give us as much notice as possible if you are unable to attend. You can read our refund policy here.
If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact Fiona McIntosh at fiona@imaginemore.org.au
Meet the Speakers
Therese Fimian
Therese has worked in the disability employment field for 25 years, overseeing national workforce, research, and demonstration projects and programs to increase access to employment and economic empowerment for individuals with significant disabilities.
For nearly ten years, Therese directed a national Customised Employment initiative through which jobs and internships were customised and strong partnerships with businesses were established across multiple states. She has worked with national and state agencies to develop and improve strategies, policies, and practices to increase interest in—and access to—resources and services that lead to competitive, integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.
Therese joined Marc Gold & Associates in 2019 and became president of the organisation in 2022.
Randy Dicks
Randy’s work in the human service field is vast, ranging from working with the homeless, victims of sexual abuse, those with criminal histories, and those who experience mental health, physical, and intellectual disabilities.
Although varied in experience, his work has always focused on each individual, their goals and needs, and tailoring services to what will work best for them. He strives to implement this philosophy every day, through Customised Employment.
Randy has found that Customised Employment truly is a way to help people with significant barriers to employment find meaning and purpose through a job in the community, earn real wages, and live the life they envision for themselves.
Randy joined Marc Gold and Associates (MG&A) as a consultant in 2013. He is a lead instructor for MG&A and the director of MG&A’s Performance-Based Certification program.
Randy has extensive experience in hiring and creating large teams focused on outcomes. This includes oversight of budgets upwards of $70 million, writing and implementing agency policies and procedures, and serving on external boards/committees to advance disability services. His experience includes analysing and designing infrastructure to meet the needs of growing organisations, ensuring budget adherence, managing program operations, and diversifying funding sources for growth and sustainability.
