Students with disability
The Careers Service provides tailored support and resources for students with disabilities to find and secure career-ready placements and employment during and after study.
The three most common areas of assistance provided by the Careers Service for students with disability relate to disclosure, workplace adjustments, and making contact with potential employers.
On this webpage we have information on inclusivity, education to employment, and support and resources for students with disability.
If you would like further support accessing this information, you can request one of our team members to go through this with you:
- Book an appointment by phone: (02) 4921 5588
- Use the Ask a Question button in CareerHub
- Email careers@newcastle.edu.au
An inclusive service
We recognise the diverse talents and abilities of our students and provide inclusive and accessible resources to help you explore, plan and achieve your career goals.
Tailored career support
Book an individual consultation with one of our experienced Employability Consultants. They focus on exploring career options, goal-setting, decision-making, job search techniques, networking strategies, advice on job applications, developing LinkedIn profiles and preparing for interviews. You can discuss how and when to manage disclosing a disability or condition and workplace adjustments to potential employers.
To book an appointment:
- Phone (02) 4921 5588
- Use the Ask a Question button in CareerHub
- Email careers@newcastle.edu.au
You are welcome to bring a support person or your Specialist Peer Mentor to the consultation.
Career expos and events
The Careers team hosts several expos and events each semester, where you can connect with potential employers, discuss job and placement opportunities and make a positive impression. Aim to expand your professional network in your discipline by engaging in conversations with representatives of organisations at events.
Our team can arrange personalised support to ensure you have equal access to these opportunities. If you have specific accessibility requirements or questions about how to engage at events, please let us know and we can provide guidance and support.
Education to employment
We can assist you to:
- Clarify your career goals
- Build a list of employers you wish to target
- Articulate your transferable skills
In addition to career planning you may also wish to connect with:
- Community Disability Alliance Hunter
- Children and Young People with Disability Australia or People with Disability Australia
- The Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training - ADCET has excellent resources for students with disability on employment, including career-ready placements, employment services, programs and information for students starting their career journey.
Career-ready placements
We can provide additional assistance for students with disability who are sourcing a career-ready placement opportunity. Please contact our team for further assistance.
Support for Career-ready placements
Disclosure
Disclosure is a very personal choice. You only need to disclose disability if you think you might have challenges undertaking a role or require reasonable adjustments to do so. If you elect to disclose a disability, this can be done during the recruitment process (from application submission through to interview or job offer) or after you are established in the role.
In addition to the below resources, the Careers Service can provide personalised advice on navigating disclosure in the workplace.
Resources for managing disclosure
- Disclosing your disability information sheet (PDF, 216KB)
- ADCET Resources on Disclosure
- NSW Public Service Commission - sharing your disability information
- Australian Human Rights Commission - identifying as a person with disability in the workplace (PDF, 524KB)
- Prosple - Disclosure of disability: the pros and cons
Student Stories
I’ve had a vision impairment since childhood. I know how to manage my condition at work, and I’ve been employed in jobs before my time at university. I own a screen reader and other devices, and I don’t need future employers to supply further support. My condition is visible to others, so disclosure has been easier for me.
I have been diagnosed with ADHD and I experience social anxiety. I’m on the lookout for employers who are proactive about creating a diverse workplace, but I’m concerned about disclosure, because I don’t want my disability to be seen as a barrier. If I choose to disclose, I’ll focus on the adjustments I’ll need, but I won’t provide lots of detail about my condition.
I’m applying for targeted graduate roles for people with disability, so I’m not concerned about disclosure. I decided to look for positions with access to support from day one. I have applied for other roles without this support, and I’m taking the chance that I could start that conversation once I’m in the role.
Tip:
It can be helpful to write a disclosure statement which outlines the information you wish to share about your disability or condition, the positive aspects of your capabilities, and how you can contribute to the work. In this statement you could also address how you intend to or have already demonstrated how you manage particular aspects of a role as a person with disability.
For example, if you cannot drive due to disability, but you use public transport and coordinate private transport, you can address this. If you require Auslan interpreting in meetings, you could detail how this support is funded and provided. A disclosure statement is often referred to as a strengths-based statement. Writing this statement is useful to gather your thoughts and to articulate what you would want to say if the situation arose. Some students work on this statement and then feel more confident about having the conversation with their manager in person rather than submitting the written statement. Consider what is important for the workplace to know.
The Careers Service can assist you with preparing your disclosure statement.
Workplace Adjustment
People with disability may or may not require workplace adjustment to undertake their duties in a role. Some adjustments can be implemented quite easily, and in fact could be of benefit for many other staff. Other adjustments could be more expensive or complicated to implement and will take time and support from the workplace.
People with disability in employment expected to work 13 weeks or more and work eight hours a week or more may be able to access funding for workplace adjustments through Job Access Australia’s Employment Assistance Fund. The Employment Assistance Fund can provide funding for assistive technology, workplace modifications, Auslan interpreting or disability awareness training for a workplace. Individuals can apply directly for this support, or an employer can complete an application on behalf of an employee.
The NSW Public Service Commission has a great resource on some workplace adjustment examples, and ADCET offers step-by-step information on requesting workplace adjustments.
Tip:
Your disclosure or strengths-based statement can also clarify the workplace adjustments you’re requesting. These adjustments may be different to those that were appropriate for you as a student. Adjustments can include physical access, adaptive technologies or other special equipment. Adjustments can also be for your environment such as noise, lighting, seating plans, methods of staff communication, deadlines, and flexible hours. The Careers Service can assist you with preparing your workplace adjustment request. Consider what you need to be able to perform the role at your best.
Making contact with potential employers
Many work experience opportunities start with informal conversations, not just through advertised roles. You could reach out to potential employers by calling them, starting a conversation at an event, emailing them, on LinkedIn, or asking a mutual connection to introduce you. This is also your chance to make a positive impression and to find out more about the organisation and how you could contribute to their goals.
You may wish to search for organisations that are disability aware. The Careers Service can assist you with preparing for and managing interactions with potential employers and placement hosts. Consider your key messages, which area of the organisation you best fit, and the most appropriate way to initiate the contact.
For more information, check out our networking resources on CareerHub. JobAccess also has some information on employers promoting workplace diversity.
Student Stories
I had anxiety about approaching an organisation for my placement. I wasn’t sure who to contact, or how they would respond. My course coordinator helped me find an organisation, and once I mapped out how I would talk about my disability, it wasn’t so scary. I ended up chatting with a manager about their support processes over coffee and it was a great conversation.
I found the Expo overwhelming with many employers and students everywhere. One of the Careers Service staff could see I was about to bolt and asked me if I wanted some help to navigate the venue. I kept my focus on several organisations that best suited my interests, and I figured out what to say to introduce myself. The stallholders were great at making conversation and I ended up with six contacts for gradate roles.
I didn’t have any industry contacts, so I used LinkedIn to find University alumni who are in roles matching my career goals. The Careers Service helped me develop my profile and gain some traction. I worked on drafting my messages to make sure they were concise, and I was shocked when I started getting responses! I’ve scored two offers for a career-ready placement from these conversations.
Tip:
Before you start contacting employers, you will ideally have your resume, cover letter and any other job documents reviewed and ready. This also applies to your LinkedIn profile, and practising your interview technique in preparation. Then, be strategic about which organisations or teams within the organisation you wish to approach. Do your research, keep records of your contacts and conversations. Work on your ‘pitch’ and be ready to talk positively about your workplace adjustments. Not every contact will lead to an offer of work, but it helps to keep an open mind about opportunities that are suggested by your contacts that you otherwise may not have considered.
We know this can be overwhelming to have to organise on your own though, or it may be extra challenging to complete fully with certain disabilities. Remember the Careers Service is here to help at any stage of this process.
Support and resources
There is a wide range of support and resources available to you both within and outside of the University.
GradWISE is a graduate program, designed to empower graduates and university students living with a disability, mental, physical health condition or injury aspire, develop and thrive in graduate jobs and entry level employment.
Specialisterne Australia assists businesses in recruiting and supporting people on the Autism spectrum. You can view current opportunities, tips and resources.
The Field Jobs provides job postings from inclusive employers.
Australian Government’s RecruitAbility aims to attract and develop applicants with disability and facilitate cultural changes in selection panels and agency recruitment.
NSW Government is committed to increase roles held by people with disabilities in the public sector to 5.6% by 2025.
Disability Employment Services (DES) support people with a disability find work and keep a job.
JobAccess is the national hub for workplace and employment information for people with disability, employers and service providers.
Stepping Into Program is a national initiative by the Australian Disability Network which offers practical paid work experience and mentoring opportunities for university students with disability who may face significant barriers in gaining employment.
PACE Mentoring Program matches job seekers or people who have had a recent career break to mentors within their membership organisations to help prepare for the world of work.
The Careers Service supports you in increasing your employability and achieve career success. Talk to us about how to make the most of opportunities to manage your career development if you are experiencing disability, regardless of whether the condition is permanent, fluctuating or temporary. Book an appointment via telephone (02) 4921 5588 or via Ask A Question on CareerHub.
AccessAbility - Register for adjustments and/or support based on your needs, whether you have a permanent disability, temporary injury, or condition impacting your studies. Accessibility also offer support if you are a primary carer of someone with a disability or medical condition.
Academic Learning Support - Get assistance for academic writing, mathematics and statistics, research and referencing, study techniques, certain course content, and much more.
Counselling - Taking care of your mental health is critical to navigate your studies and other life experiences. Counselling provides a range of services including online tools, workshops and appointments to support your University journey.
Australian Disability Network – Student and job seeker resources
Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET)– Resources on disclosure
Hunter Diversity and Inclusion Collective– Talking Inclusion Podcast
DREAM Employment Network– Resources for young people with disability
Employment Assistance Fund– Financial help for eligible people with disability to purchase work-related modifications and equipment
Employable Me Australia– ABC series following six individuals with disabilities on their journey to finding a job
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