The Personnel Group welcomes TAFE partnership

The Personnel Group is proud to partner the TAFE Specialist Employment Partnerships (TSEP) project which is a National Disability Coordination officer (NDCO) program initiative, in Wodonga and Wangaratta.

TSEP aims to identify and address the systemic barriers to employment faced by students with disability.

The strategic partnership enables Wodonga TAFE and GOTAFE to have a dedicated TSEP consultant on site to provide specialist employment support to help students with a disability secure employment post study.

Students in their final year of study at TAFE or within 12 months of finishing their TAFE course who identify with disability can register in the TSEP program.

Once in the program, participants are assisted by the campus TSEP employment consultant, Student Services and the Skills and Jobs Centre to find employment in a field that matches their qualification and skillset.

Based on 2019 data, 52.6 per cent of TAFE graduates with disability were employed post-study, compared to 78.8 per cent of graduates without disability.

Region 15 National Disability Coordination Officer Paul Power says TSEP is about narrowing that gap.

“That significant gap shows us there is a genuine need to improve employment outcomes for those with a disability, and TSEP is aimed at addressing this imbalance,” Paul Power says.

“We really want to drive change so people with disability have equal opportunity to access, participate and achieve their goals in tertiary education and subsequent employment.”

For two days a week The Personnel Group community engagement coordinator Tracey Whatley will work as TSEP employment consultant, operating at Wodonga TAFE 1pm to 5pm every Tuesday and at GO TAFE Wangaratta initially 12.30pm to 5pm each Wednesday.

“The post-graduation employment figures are just gob smacking, I’m very excited to be working with TAFE Skills and Jobs Centers and students to try to address that and working with employers to secure career opportunities for participants,” Tracey Whatley says.

Students can self-refer to the program or may be encouraged by TAFE staff to do so.

TSEP can assist in improving jobseeker resumes, interview skills and confidence to discuss disability with employers and colleagues.

Students will be assessed for Disability Employment Service (DES) eligibility during the initial phase and may register with a DES provider directly to continue to receive support after graduating from TAFE.