Effecting a system change in the delivery of employment services for people with disabilities: a view from Australia

Abstract

The Australian Disability Services Act [24] signalled a dramatic change in the delivery of employment services to people with disabilities. The Act introduced alternative integrated employment options to traditional sheltered employment services. Despite the steady growth in the numbers of disabled people working in the integrated options, a concomitant drop in the number of people in sheltered employment programs has not occurred. Reasons for this are explored in the context of the implementation processes put in place by successive governments. It is argued that the most serious challenge facing contemporary vocational service provisions is the reconciliation of a person-centred values philosophy with services driven by neo-classical economic policies.