Challenge Community Services, will receive $70,000 in Federal Government assistance to provide greater opportunity for people with disability to participate in work.

The funding forms part of the Coalition Government’s $19.6 million Economic Participation of People with Disability grants.

Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said the $70,772 grant to Challenge Community Services will support the organisation’s Regional Entrepreneurship Challenge (REC) project for people with intellectual disability to improve their prospects of employment.

“Challenge has long been an invaluable part of our local community here in Tamworth and across the New England,” Mr Joyce said.

“This announcement will further help people with disability realise their ambitions of increased participation in the community through securing a job.

“I am proud to see this excellent project receive funding which will help build the capacity of businesses and organisations to employ people with disability through community engagement, improved resources and training.”

The grant is funded under the Coalition Government’s Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program. Unlike the rest of the NDIS, ILC grants are not for individuals – they are for organisations to carry out activities in the community.

The grant round also supports the work of the recently established NDIS Participant Employment Taskforce. Since it was announced in December last year, the taskforce has been delivering changes that open the way for better employment outcomes.

“The taskforce, together with grants like this, are providing more options for people with disability to participate in work as we continue to implement Australia’s world-leading NDIS,” Mr Joyce said.

Project description:

The Regional Entrepreneurship Challenge (REC) involves the delivery of a 48-week face-to-face entrepreneurial training course for 20 young people with intellectual disability in the New England region of NSW. The training will be supported by a Program Facilitator and Disability Mentors.

REC also includes an app designed specifically for people with intellectual disability called Better Goals. This will provide a platform for course participants to improve their digital literacy and planning skills as well as record their goals, feelings, interactions and networks. The REC will culminate in the development of a microbusiness or the pursuit of self-driven employment for each participant.