Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 Outcomes Framework: First annual report

Improving the transition of young people with disability from education to employment requires preparing them for employment. This includes supporting them to access skills development and work experience which can have long-term benefits for their employment prospects and careers (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).

VET graduate employment

VET is post-compulsory education and training that provides people with occupational or work-related knowledge and skills. It includes programs that provide the basis for subsequent vocational programs (SCRGSP 2022). VET courses and qualifications are certificate I, II, III, IV; diploma; advanced diploma; vocational graduate certificate and diploma (ASQA 2021).

The desired key system outcome for this measure is that VET graduates with disability transition into employment on completing their training.

Results at baseline: 2021

• In 2021, 52% of domestic VET graduates with disability aged 15 and over were employed on completion of training. This was 4 percentage points lower than in 2016 (56%).
• There is no clear trend for the period 2016 to 2021, with the proportion showing little change between 2016 and 2019 (Figure 2.6). However, between 2019 and 2020, the proportion dropped 8 percentage points from 53% to 45%, its lowest point, before returning to 52% in 2021 (an increase of 6 percentage points).
• The substantial drop in the proportion in 2020 likely reflects the challenging labour market faced by graduates – caused by the restrictions introduced to control the impact of COVID-19.
• Students with disability have consistently had lower rates of employment on completion of training than those without disability. In 2021, the difference was 23 percentage points (52% compared with 74%). However, overall, the pattern for those without disability over time is similar to that for people with disability. For those without disability, the proportion was higher in 2016 (80%) than in 2021 (74%), with a drop to its lowest point in 2020 (71%).
• In 2021, half of male VET graduates with disability (50%) were employed on completion of their training, while just over half of female VET graduates with disability were employed (53%).
• People with disability aged 25–44 had the highest proportion of students employed on completion of training (58%), while those aged 65 and over had the lowest (27%). The proportion was similar for the youngest age group (15–24 years) (50%) and those aged 45–64 (49%).

Latest results

Updated data are not yet available for this measure. New data for 2022 VET student outcomes are expected to be available in late 2022 and will be included in the 2023 annual report.

Things to consider when interpreting results

• For the purposes of this measure, VET graduates refer to ‘qualification completers’ – that is, students who completed a training package qualification or an accredited qualification. ‘Employed on completion of training’ refers to ‘employed after training’. Data are restricted to domestic students.
• The National Student Outcomes Survey is conducted annually and includes students who completed nationally recognised VET delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs) in Australia. The 2021 survey collected data between June and August 2021 from students who completed their qualifications in 2020.
• This measure does not take into account whether students were employed before training and/or whether they are employed in the same occupation as the training course. The measure also does not capture students who went on to undertake further vocational training.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | VET graduate employment.

Young NDIS participant employment

Successful engagement of young people in the labour market and society is crucial for not only their own personal economic prospects and wellbeing but also for overall economic growth and social cohesion (OECD 2022).

This measure focuses on young NDIS participants aged 15–24. Data are collected from the NDIS Short Form questionnaire and refer to participants aged 15–24 who answered ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Are you currently working in a paid job?’

The desired key system outcome for this measure is that the NDIS supports young people leaving school to prepare for employment.

Results at baseline: 2021–22 Q2

• In 2021–22 Q2 (baseline quarter), 18% of NDIS participants aged 15–24 were in employment. This was 1 percentage point higher than in 2018–19 Q2 (17%).
• There is no consistent trend for the period 2018–19 Q2 to the baseline quarter 2021–22 Q2 (Figure 2.7). The proportion showed a steady increase between 2018–19 Q2 and 2019–20 Q3, rising 1 percentage point from 17% to 18%, before declining to its lowest point (17%) in 2020–21 Q2. This likely reflects the impact of restrictions related to COVID-19 and challenging employment conditions. In 2021–22 Q1, the proportion began increasing, reaching 18% in 2021–22 Q2 (baseline quarter).
• In 2021–22 Q2, a slightly lower proportion of males aged 15–24 were in employment compared with females (17% and 18%, respectively).

Latest results: 2021–22 Q3 and Q4

• In 2021–22 Q4, 18.1% of NDIS young participants (aged 15-24) were in employment. This was 0.5 of a percentage point higher than at baseline (2021–22 Q2) (17.6%), indicating progress since the Strategy began.
• There were similar small increases in both post-baseline quarters 2021–22 Q3 and 2021–22 Q4 (0.2 and 0.3 of a percentage point, respectively). These increases were similar to those seen in the previous quarters 2021–22 Q1 and 2021–22 Q2 (0.2 and 0.3 of a percentage point, respectively).

Things to consider when interpreting results

• Time series analysis for the NDIS data presented here provides a series of data points each representing a snapshot of NDIS participants at a given point in time. This is different from the longitudinal approach taken in NDIS reporting.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Young NDIS participant employment.

Young people in employment

The desired key population outcome for this measure is to see an increase in young people with disability moving from education to employment.

Results at baseline: 2018

•  In 2018, just over three-quarters (76%) of young people with disability aged 15–24 in the labour force were employed. There was no significant change in the proportion across the 3 available time periods 2012 (76%), 2015 (80%) and 2018 (76%) (Figure 2.8).
• Nor was there a significant difference between the proportion of young males with disability in the labour force who were employed (72%) compared with young females (79%).
• There was no real difference in the proportion of young people in the labour force who were employed between those with severe or profound disability (76%) and those with other disability (76%).

Latest results

Updated data are not yet available for this measure. New data from the 2022 ABS SDAC are expected to be available in the first half of 2024 and will be included in the 2024 annual report.

Things to consider when interpreting results

• Young people with disability in the labour force, and/or employment, only measures the subset of young people with disability who are actively seeking work. Some young people with disability will not be seeking work because of the nature of their impairments.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Young people in employment.