Join a supportive group of like-minded families creating individualised employment opportunities for their family members with disability.
Apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Group in 2026
About this Peer Group
Finding meaningful employment can be challenging for people with disability, especially those with intellectual impairment or autism.
That’s why we established the Customised Employment Peer Support Group—a supportive space where families can learn, share, and take action toward meaningful, valued employment opportunities for their family members with disability.
This group is designed to help families confidently navigate the Customised Employment process, alongside their family members with disability. It’s perfect for those who are:
- just starting with the Discovery process to identify their child’s interests and employable skills
- supporting high-school students pursuing work experience or casual jobs
- setting up jobs for school leavers or older adults
- exploring self-employment opportunities
- seeking effective ways to support a person already in a job.
Families from anywhere are welcome to join, along with their family members with disability.
Together, we share stories, challenges, suggestions, and successes. This year, each session will feature guest speakers with practical experience in Customised Employment to inspire and guide your journey.
Apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Group in 2026
How meetings work
Meeting facilitator: Fiona McIntosh
- Meetings are free to attend thanks to funding we receive from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing. This peer group is part of Imagine More’s Typical Pathways Initiative Project.
- All peer group meetings are held online via Zoom.
- You will receive an email and SMS reminder before each session.
- Once registered, you’ll receive a Zoom link for the sessions. The same link is used for all meetings.
- To maintain a safe and confidential environment, we don’t record peer group conversations.
- We record guest speakers with their permission.
- If you have any questions about the Peer Group, please contact Fiona McIntosh at fiona@imaginemore.org.au.
Apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Group in 2026
Dates and times
This group meets online on the first Thursday of each month. Confirmed meeting dates for 2025 are:
- Thursday, 5 February 2026, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm AEDT
- Thursday, 5 March 2026, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm AEDT
- Thursday, 2 April 2026, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm AEDT
- Thursday, 7 May 2026, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm AEST
- Thursday, 4 June 2026, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm AEST
Please note that no peer group dates have been confirmed for the second half of the year, as we currently only have funding until 30 June 2026.
Guest speaker topics
Our guest speakers will discuss the following topics to provide practical insights and strategies for creating meaningful employment opportunities.
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
- wish to avoid segregated disability employment models.
If you are not familiar with Customised Employment, please watch this 7-minute animated video that explains the approach.
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 (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 most sessions*
*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 by attending Zoom meetings.
Apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Group in 2026
Comments from past members of the Imagining Home Peer Group
“I found sharing with others, listening to others’ issues and troubleshooting together most helpful”
“I appreciate the positive outlook, overcoming challenges and encouragement to keep on. It’s really important.”
“Thank you to the wonderful facilitators. Fiona is such a patient, knowledgeable compassionate facilitator, always making room for all of us. Thank you very much!”
“Just thank you again for the opportunity and being able to share and brainstorm and work together – great peer support.”
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.
Apply to join the Customised Employment Peer Group in 2026
Other ways to explore Customised Employment
If you’re unable to join the peer group or are looking for additional resources, visit our Essential Customised Employment Resources page. It contains information to help you explore customised employment, including practical guides, videos, and tools.
Please also visit our growing collection of free resources about employment and microenterprise.
If you’d like personalised support, reach out to us for 1:1 mentoring to discuss how customised employment can work for your family. Call the office on 0419 645 816 or email Fiona at fiona@imaginemore.org.au