Improving Disability Employment Study

IDES is a national study of first-time jobseekers with a disability.

Australians with disability are less likely to be in paid work and relative to other Australians they are more likely to be over-educated for their jobs, have lower earnings and poorer job satisfaction.

Previous research on employment services for people with disability has collected data from service providers and employers.

IDES is a longitudinal study which aims to provide evidence about how people with disability find and sustain long-term employment. This research investigates the financial and health impacts of different employment outcomes on people with disability. The findings outlined in our reports identify ways to improve employment for people with disability and suggest changes to employment policy and models of service delivery.

This is the first study in Australia where detailed data is collected from people with disability who attend employment services.

The main objectives are to identify the following:

1. Jobseekers’ aspirations and expectations of employment services and workplaces
2. Individual and service-related characteristics supporting jobseekers in gaining and maintaining employment
3. The characteristics of workplaces, jobs and employment services that contribute to sustained and meaningful employment

Further information

If you have any questions about the study, please contact (03) 9035 4554 or email stefanie.dimov@unimelb.edu.au