From September 2 to 6 this year, Women’s Health Week is taking centre stage. At Youth Projects, we are spotlighting the untold stories of young women living with disabilities, who face unique and ongoing challenges to find and sustain meaningful employment.

Employment remains a significant challenge for young women with disabilities in Australia, with only 51% employed compared to 72% of women without disabilities (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). This disparity highlights the barriers they face, from inaccessible workplaces to limited opportunities. In fact, young women with disabilities are twice as likely to encounter obstacles when seeking work, making it even more crucial to provide tailored support and create inclusive environments where they can thrive (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2021).

In addition to the general challenges many Australian women face, young women with disabilities experience added barriers in employment and education. They have the right to choose their work, access the same job opportunities as others, receive equal pay, and get the support they need to succeed in their roles. This includes ensuring the workplace is accessible and can cater to individuals needs. However unfortunately, this is not always the case for our clients.

For young women like ZamZam (21), the journey has been anything but easy. Diagnosed with a mental health condition while working in an unsupportive environment, she found herself struggling. “They weren’t accommodating. I couldn’t handle the workload,” ZamZam shares. She needed guidance to navigate her diagnosis, studies, and employment prospects.

That’s where our Youth Disability Employment Services team stepped in. With the dedicated support of a Youth Coach, Emma, ZamZam began rebuilding her confidence and exploring new opportunities.

“It’s not always just about jobs,” ZamZam says. “The team at Youth Projects provide me with a safe space to talk about anything. They listen. They don’t judge.”

With the job market being highly competitive, it can be particularly challenging for young women with disabilities to find employment. That’s why Youth Projects staff research the job market to identify entry-level opportunities that align with clients needs. After undertaking a values alignment survey, and leveraging her bright and bubbly interpersonal skills, ZamZam found herself interested in the childcare and hospitality sectors. With significant government funding flowing into the childcare sector, ZamZam and her coach explored childcare traineeship opportunities and consulted with various childcare providers to determine if this field might be a good fit for her.

Over the past year, Youth Projects has engaged with over 3,000 young people, engaging 1,049 in meaningful employment and 216 in education pathways. ZamZam is currently working with her coach to find pre-employment training options in the childcare industry.

Youth Projects work very closely with local employers to understand your organisational and business needs, goals and capacities to determine the most suitable young jobseeker to fill or create an opportunity for a young person in your industry. Have a chat to our Youth Employer Leadership team to find out how hiring a young person can significantly benefit your workforce.

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