Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice

16/04/2025

🌟 Unlocking Potential Through Customised Employment with CDERP Work First 🌟

At CDERP Work First, we know that meaningful employment starts with understanding the whole person — their skills, interests, strengths, and support needs.

That’s why we use the Discovery Process — the heart of Customised Employment.

🔍 Discovery is not a test or assessment — it’s a guided exploration that uncovers: ✔️ What people do well
✔️ What they love doing
✔️ Where they shine — at home, in the community, and through real-life experiences

It’s about listening, observing, and walking alongside someone to build a clear picture of who they are — beyond a resume or job description.

From there, we customise roles that are a genuine fit — for both the individual and the employer.

💼 This approach leads to better job matches, greater satisfaction, and more inclusive workplaces.

✨ At CDERP Work First, we’re building futures where everyone belongs.

15/04/2025

What's the difference?

11/04/2025

CDERP Easter Trading Hours. Have a Happy and Safe Easter, Everybody.

11/04/2025

What an incredible two days at our recent Collaboration in Employment (CE) Conference! 🌟

CE is all about bringing together people with lived experience, service providers, employers, researchers and policymakers to drive better employment outcomes for people with disability. Over two inspiring days, we explored new ideas, challenged assumptions, and shared real-world strategies to strengthen collaboration in this space.

Attendees praised the valuable content, relatable and knowledgeable speakers, and the wealth of perspectives that truly enriched the experience. Sessions like The Job Ready Trap sparked deep thinking and important conversations about how we approach disability employment.

A huge thank you to our presenters, panelists, and everyone who joined us — your contributions made this event such a success.

We’re already looking forward to continuing the conversation at our annual retreat in October — we hope to see you there! 🍂

04/04/2025

For anyone with an interest in delivering person centred employment practice, here's an opportunity to upskill.


Customised Employment Training.jpg

02/04/2025

Another outcome from our conference and research. We're past admiring problems, we develop research and practice based solutions to real world problems.

Customised Employment Quality Assurance Framework: Integrating ACRE Competencies, CEOFECT, and the Discovery Fidelity Scale – Australia. The Customised Employment (CE) Quality Assurance Framework©, a unique amalgamation of international best practice standards, is designed to ensure the delivery ...

02/04/2025

We had an incredible conference last week, bringing together participants from across Australia and around the world to delve into the principles and benefits of true Customised Employment. This approach focuses on tailoring employment opportunities to align with the unique strengths and interests of individuals with disabilities, fostering meaningful and sustainable employment outcomes.
The Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice (CDERP) has been instrumental in advancing Customised Employment in Australia. Their Work First program exemplifies how research translates into practical solutions, creating meaningful employment and career pathways for individuals with disabilities.
We are inspired by the collective commitment to enhancing employment practices and policies, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the workforce.
For a deeper understanding of CDERP's approach to Customised Employment, you can watch this informative video:

Dr Peter Smith, CDERP Director, discusses what underpins the CDERP-certified Discovery and Customised Employment Programs. Global standards and a rich histor...

30/03/2025

Easter Closure Days

27/03/2025

One of our core values at Team Aysh Pty Ltd is INNOVATION - we encourage innovative solutions and creative problem solving to build opportunities that are as unique as Aysh himself.

We are excited to be exploring customised employment with Aysh. We are getting started with a provider, but in the meantime Team Aysh are also undertaking the training and working toward accreditation.
This will mean we will be among some of the only qualified practitioners in customised employment in Australia! Doesn’t get much more innovative than that!

This week I am in Melbourne for the Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice Customised Employment Conference. The room is full of researchers, providers, and advocates - all looking for ways to provide equitable, supported options for individuals with complex support needs.

We are exploring how Team Aysh can contribute to the work in this space, which may include supporting others or being involved in research.
Stay tuned because the innovation is just ramping up!

26/03/2025

🚀 The Customised Employment Conference Starts Tomorrow! 🎉

Join us for an incredible exchange of world-leading expertise and local insights at the Customised Employment Conference! 🌏💡

📅 Date: Kicking off tomorrow!
📍 Location: Guide Dogs Centre, Kew

We’ll be diving deep into the latest in NDIS, Individualised Employment Approaches (IEA), and ADE/Supported Employment (SE) applications, with thought leaders from around the globe and key local contributors.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and shape the future of inclusive employment!

21/03/2025

🌟 It’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week! 🌟
Neurodiversity is all about recognising and embracing the diverse ways our brains work. It’s time to move beyond awareness and take real action to create inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive!
At the Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice (CDERP), we champion Work First Customised Employment—a person-centred approach that supports neurodivergent individuals to find meaningful work on their terms.
✅ Strengths-Based – Focuses on what people can do, not what they can’t
✅ Personalised – Jobs are tailored to individual skills and interests
✅ Sustainable – Creates long-term employment success
Let’s break down barriers and build truly inclusive work environments. This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, let’s commit to action! 💙♾️
👉 Join us at the upcoming Customised Employment Conference! Learn from experts, connect with like-minded professionals, and be part of the movement for inclusive employment.
📅 Details https://college.cderp.com.au/conference-2025/

27-28th March 2025. Join us for the Customised Employment 2025 conference live. Held at Guide Dogs Victoria, 2-6 Chandler Highway, Kew, it will be the Customised Employment event of 2025. Add it to our annual Retreat in October; it will be a banner year for authentic Customised Employment! Two days,...

18/03/2025

🚀 Customised Employment: Your Strengths, Your Future
At Work First Employment, powered by CDERP (Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice), we are revolutionising disability employment with a person-centred, evidence-based approach. Through Customised Employment and Employment Counselling, we focus on uncovering your unique strengths, interests, and aspirations—because you deserve a role that truly fits you.
✅ Tailored support for self-managed & plan-managed NDIS participants
✅ Career pathways for all ages – from teenagers to adults
✅ Discovery process that puts YOU at the centre of the journey
💡 “Every individual has employability potential. Our role is to match their strengths, skills, and ideal working conditions with the needs of employers. It’s about creating mutual success.” – Jenny Argaet, Work First Employment Manager
🌟 CDERP’s Work First Program: A New Standard in Disability Employment
The CDERP Work First Program is built on the belief that everyone has the right to meaningful, paid work. We take a zero-exclusion approach, ensuring that disability, age, or perceived barriers never limit your opportunities. Our holistic, research-driven methodology integrates local and global best practices to create sustainable employment pathways.
Through our Discovery Process, we:
🔹 Explore your passions, skills, and ideal work conditions
🔹 Develop tailored employment opportunities beyond traditional roles
🔹 Empower you with self-advocacy skills for long-term success
Our Glide In program also provides early career guidance for school-age participants, helping them transition smoothly into post-school employment or further education.
At Work First & CDERP, we don’t just find jobs—we create meaningful career paths that empower individuals and strengthen communities.
🔹 Looking for a future where your abilities shine?
🔹 Ready to take control of your employment journey?
Let’s make it happen—together. 💼✨