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:

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

Learn more

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
Student Stories
Student with vision impairment

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.

Student with social anxiety and ADHD

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.

Student navigating disclosure

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
Neurodivergent student

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.

Student attending industry expo

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.

Student finding career-ready placement

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.