The Andrews Labor Government is supporting people with Down Syndrome and other intellectual disabilities to skill-up and secure paid employment.

Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Anthony Carbines today announced an investment of $2.1 million in the Inclusion Foundation’s Impact21 program, as fourteen young adults graduated from the program ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on Monday.

Ten of the 12 graduates from the program’s first group have now found sustainable employment.

The program is building work-ready graduates with industry-relevant skills, confidence, independence and social connections with employer partners including PwC, JB Hi-Fi and Sodexo.

The unemployment rate for people living with disability is about three times higher than the average unemployment rate in Victoria.

Impact21 addresses this challenge by developing work-ready graduates with relevant skills, growing their confidence, independence and social connections.

The program also builds the readiness of employers, so they are confident and capable in sustaining a diverse workforce.

This increased investment in the Impact21 program brings the Labor Government’s total funding support for the initiative to more than $3.3 million since November 2021.

The program is just one way the Labor Government’s $619 million investment in Jobs Victoria is helping to support people with disability. The $250 million Jobs Victoria Fund includes wage subsidies of up to $20,000 for employers who hire a person with disability.

Employers and people looking for work can register on the Jobs Victoria Online Hub. Information on other free employment support services is available at jobs.vic.gov.au.