Customised Employment in Australia: Where are we now? Executive Summary

In Australia, people with disability experience an unemployment rate that is more than double that of people without disabilities, with this disparity being particularly pronounced for people with intellectual disability. The USA Customised Employment model is designed to facilitate employment acquisition and maintenance for people with disabilities and has shown promise in the Australian context in achieving award-based open employment outcomes. Despite increased attention to Customised Employment in Australia in recent years and the provision of employment services utilising this approach, Customised Employment lacks legislation and an agreed-upon process with fidelity. Consequently, this study aimed to address two primary questions: How is Customised Employment being implemented in Australia, and are there policy or practical obstacles hindering NDIS participants from utilising funds for Customised Employment?