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On This Page
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Watch our short introduction video to the DREAM Employment Network
What is the DREAM Employment Network?
“The key to achieving genuine inclusivity in Australia lies in empowerment, collaboration and the breaking down of stereotypes.”
CYDA CEO, Skye Kakoschke-Moore
The DREAM Employment Network bridges the gap between young people with disability who want to work, and forward-thinking employers who recognise that diversity fosters creativity, innovation, and success. The aim of the Network is to build leadership skills, inclusive employment pathways, and opportunities for leadership positions for young people with disability.
The Network aligns with the broader Australian Disability Strategy and was made possible by funding from the Disability Youth Leadership Grant.
How does it work?
Members of the DREAM Employment Network are invited to attend free, online networking events and workshops, and receive a monthly newsletter with updates and links to Network resources.
Resources can also be found on this website and will be updated regularly.
For young people with disability, this is an opportunity to:
- build your leadership skills
- connect and network with employers
- advance your career
- identify what kinds of adjustments will work for you
- develop confidence when talking about your access needs
- learn about your rights and obligations as employees
For employers, this is a unique opportunity to:
- connect with young people with disability
- hear from young people with disability in leadership positions
- learn about benefits of having young people with disability in your workforce and in leadership roles
- learn about reasonable adjustments
- find out how to access funding and support to make your workplace accessible
- get tips on how to support young people with disability to thrive in the workforce
Who can join the Network?
The DREAM Employment Network is for employers and young people with disability.
Young people with disability aged 15-25 years
The DREAM Employment Network is for all young people with disability, whether or not you already have a job. It can support you to develop leadership skills, or to take the next leap in your leadership/employment goals.
Young people with all kinds of disability are welcome. This includes people with:
- neurodivergence
- mental illness
- intellectual disability
- chronic illness
- sensory disability
- physical disability
- any other kind of disability
![Four circular icons in purple, blue, teal and green. A heart in hands, three people side by side, a thinking brain, and a speech bubble.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/icons_1200_heart_people_brain_speech.png)
You do not need to have a medical diagnosis to be part of the DREAM Employment Network.
Employers
An “employer” might be a manger of staff, someone who works in HR, or anyone representing a government, private, non-profit or business workplace that employs staff and pays a fair wage.
Sign up here!
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Joining the DREAM Employment Network is easy and free! Just go to the sign-up form that applies to you 👇
Fill in a few details about yourself and/or the organisation you represent, and we will be in touch shortly with updates and invitations to workshops events!
Everyone who joins the DREAM Employment Network must follow a code of conduct. You can download the code of conduct using the links below 👇
The DREAM Network was launched on Tuesday 5 September 2023. You can watch a video of the launch with captions and Auslan here 👇
Upcoming events and workshops
![Text reads: “Workshop for employers: Diversity of disability and access needs. Wednesday 17 July 10.30am-12pm AEST”. To the right is a photo of a large sunflower next to a green lanyard with sunflowers on it. Below the photo is a purple icon of a key. The logos for the DREAM Employment Network, The Field and CYDA bit bottom left.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/featured_2400_DREAM_wellbeing_workshop-V3-768x402.jpg)
Workshop for employers: Diversity of disability and access needs – continuing the conversation
Accomodating access needs is very often easier than it sounds! This workshop is a unique opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the diversity of disability, how to communicate openly about access needs, and how to effectively accommodate your disabled employees.
![Text on a purple background reads: "Workshop for young people with disability: Resume writing, LinkedIn profiles and how to network. Tuesday 30 July, 4pm – 5:30pm AEST." To the right is a photo of a stack of resumes on coloured clipboards. Below are the logos for the DREAM Employment Network, Enabled Youth Disability Network, and CYDA.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/featured_2400_DREAM_resume_V2-768x402.jpg)
Resumé writing, LinkedIn profiles and how to network
A safe and casual space to speak to the experts, ask questions and practice your skills in resumé writing, LinkedIn and more!
![Text reads: "Panel discussion: Different pathways to your future career. Tuesday 6 August, 12pm – 1pm AEST.To the right is a photograph of a fair skinned blond man with very short arms wearing an apron and painting at an easel. Beneath him is a purple graphic of diverging paths and the logos for CYDA and the DREAM Employment Network.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/featured_2400_DREAM_pathways_workshop-V3-768x402.jpg)
What are my options? Hear from our panel on different pathways to your future career
Hospitality and higher education aren’t the only ways to get into employment. Hear from a panel with a diverse range of career journeys.
![Text reads: "Using online job searches to find the right job for you. Workshop for young people with disability. Tuesday 27 August, 5pm - 6pm AEST." To the right is a white laptop featuring a young woman with pink hair wearing a pink hoodie and big blue headphone. She is sitting cross legged on a bed with a laptop in front of her, making notes with a pen and notepad. Below are the logos for the DREAM Employment Network and CYDA.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/featured_2400_DREAM_online_job_search_workshop_V2-768x402.jpg)
Using online job searches to find the right job for you
A workshop to help young people with disability identify their interests, and search for jobs that match up with those interests online.
![Text on a bright green background reads: "Group networking, platforming young voices. A chance for young people with disability and employers to connect and network. Tuesday 10 September, 3pm – 4.30pm AEST." Below are the logos for the DREAM Employment Network and CYDA. To the right is a photograph of hands at computers and mobile devices around a wood table, taken from above, overlaid with a graphic of people in circles, networked together with connecting lines.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/featured_2400_DREAM_group_networking3-768x402.jpg)
Group networking event – platforming young voices
An opportunity for young people with disability to connect and network with employers, talking about their skills, goals and opportunities.
![Text reads: Workshop for young people with disability Exploring you values to find work you care about. Wednesday 18 September, 4pm-5.30pm AEST. The DREAM Employment Network event logo, and the logo for Children and Young People with Disability Australia both sit to the left. To the right is a photograph of a hand drawing a colourful word map of different values in the shape of a lightbulb. Some of the values are “integrity”, “progress”, leadership” and “trust”. Around the word map are a pair of glasses, pens, a magnifying glass, speaking cards and a glass ball.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/featured_2400_DREAM_values_workshop_V3-768x402.jpg)
Workshop: Exploring your values to find work you care about
Back by popular demand! This workshop will give you the tools to identify what is most meaningful to you, and look for work, and workplace cultures, that are in line with your values.
Stats and facts
26% of young people with disability are unemployed (compared to 10% of their non-disabled peers).
Up to 20% of people with disability looking for work are under 25 years.
45% of employed people with disability report unfair treatment or discrimination in the workplace.
Young people talk about employment
![Text reads "The Disabled Employee". Under the text are three stick figures, one with shoulder length curly hair wearing sunglasses, one with long blond hair using a power wheelchair, and one with purple highlights in their hair holding a cane. In the bottom right corner, hands are typing on a laptop with various snacks and computer equipment strewn about.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Disabled-Employee-2500-x-1256-V2-768x402.png)
The Disabled Employee Podcast – Episode 2: Ableism and Adjustments
Thanh, Britt and Dureece talk about accessing reasonable adjustments in the workplace, overcoming internalised ableism and dealing with discrimination in the workplace.
![Text reads "The Disabled Employee". Under the text are three stick figures, one with shoulder length curly hair wearing sunglasses, one with long blond hair using a power wheelchair, and one with purple highlights in their hair holding a cane. In the bottom right corner, hands are typing on a laptop with various snacks and computer equipment strewn about.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Disabled-Employee-2500-x-1256-V2-768x402.png)
The Disabled Employee Podcast – Episode 1: Jobseeking
Dureece, Thanh and Britt talk about discrimination in recruitment, how they prepare for job interviews, and advocating for their rights in the workplace.
![Three images side by side. The first is the words "work place vlog" with some stars above in cut out newspaper font. The second is a photo of a young femme presenting person with shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a rainbow lanyard and holding up a barbie with a bionic leg. In the third image the same young person is pictured above text that reads: "Name: Izzie. Pronouns: She/They. Works at: YDAN". The YDAN logo sits bottom-right. There is a small smiley face to the right.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/featured_izzy_dream_workplace_vlog-768x402.jpg)
Accessible work day tour
Izzie Choate takes us on a tour of YDAN, talking about accessibility in the workplace as part of CYDA’s DREAM Employment Network.
![Four photographs featuring the same young woman playing Aussie rules football with gusto, running and tackling. She is wearing two different uniforms in different photos, one green, one red. She is fair skinned with short brown hair.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/featured_2400_louise_football-768x402.jpg)
Leadership
Louise Weekley talks about how her idea of leadership has been influenced by her experience of disability and changed over time.
![A young woman with fair skin and long, dark hair, wearing all black and holding a red walking stick, standing in front of a red brick wall. She is looking down at a small dog whose lead she is holding. The dog is jumping at her leg for attention.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/featured_2400_grace_and_dog-768x402.jpg)
The lifesaving impact of representation
Grace Garrahy talks about the lifesaving and life-changing impact of disability representation in leadership and employment.
![Four photographs of smiling young women placed side by side. The first is wearing glasses and a light blue top. She has fair skin and light brown hair and has Down Syndrome. The second is dressed up in an Asian style, high collar, shimmery dress with their hair in an updo. She has dark hair and olive skin and is standing in front of a backdrop with logos on it. The third has shoulder length dark hair and olive skin. She is wearing a blazer with a blue top and standing outside. The forth is on the cover of a magazine, lounging in a white dress. She has long, dark hair and wears very red lipstick.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/featured_2400_advocates_awards-768x402.jpg)
Young disabled advocates honoured during award season
We’re seeing a shift toward young people with disability being acknowledged for their achievements in mainstream award categories (not disability specific!), and we are absolutely here for it.
![Two photographs of a young masculine presenting person with fair skin and light brown hair. The lighting is very blue. On the left they are sitting on an old couch, focussed on a task on a coffee table in front of them. Contextually this may be part of a theatre set. On the left they are standing in front of an empty stage with the lighting grid and empty chairs for the audience visible around them.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/featured_2400_dylan_theatre-768x402.jpg)
The disabled stage managers’ guide
Dylan McBurney offers tips and advice for the workplace, based on their experience as a professional stage manager with disability.
![A smiling girl with glasses, fair skin, thick blond hair and a fringe. She is standing on a porch, wearing a school uniform. There are gum trees in the background.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/featured_1200_ashleigh_school-768x402.jpg)
Enough with low expectations for students with disability
Ashleigh Keating writes about her school experience, and disadvantages faced by young people with disability seeking a career in education.
![A young black woman wearing sunglasses and a black, brown and white striped wool jumper, sitting by a table holding a white cane. There are pot plants dotted around and an indistinct, framed pink picture on the wall.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/featured_2400_young_woman_stting_with_white_cane_and_sunglasses-768x402.jpg)
The constant unknown – what is it like to be a young, disabled jobseeker?
Thanh Autran writes about the difficulty of not knowing if discrimination has occurred after your job interview.
![young person presenting and standing behind a lecturn with a microphone one one side and mini flags of first nation, torres strait and australian flags. Young person is wearing black headphones around their neck and a black print shirt. There is a cyda banner in the background.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1200_featured_xander_nyds-768x402.jpg)
CYDA as my first employer
Xander Wroblewski talks about the difficulty of finding an after-school job, and his experience on CYDA’s Youth Council.
![A young person working in a hospitality setting, slicing bread, young person is wearing a black apron and smiling towards the task they are doing.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1200_featured_em_headspace-768x402.jpg)
Lessons from my first employer
“In my first job, I, unfortunately, experienced a lack of support as a disabled person. I believe that this came from their lack of awareness, not necessarily a place of malice.” Emily Unity reflects on their first experience of employment, what they’ve learned, and what they would do differently now.
![a silver sparkly walking cane.](https://cyda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1200_featured_bethanys_cane-768x402.jpg)
My first job
Bethany Cody talks about her first job, and the value of diversity in the workplace.
We would love your feedback!
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