Mainstream Employment Programme
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About the Mainstream Employment Programme
The Mainstream Employment Programme provides a package of subsidies, training, and other support to help people with significant disabilities get work in the State sector. By taking part in the Programme, employers are tapping into the benefits of employing someone with a disability and future-proofing their workforce.
What the Mainstream Employment Programme provides
- A 100% salary subsidy for the first year of employment, and 50% of the salary for the second year.
- Funding for external training for Mainstream participants and their direct supervisors.
- Induction training for Mainstream participants and their supervisors.
- Funding to meet participants’ adaptive technology or specialised assistance costs.
- An advice and referral service for employers and Mainstream participants.
- Follow-up support for participants and their direct supervisors.
Why the Programme exists
- Mainstream helps to ensure that the State sector workforce reflects the make-up of the people it serves.
- It empowers employers to feel confident about giving work opportunities to people with disabilities.
- It gives people with disabilities and little work experience the chance to show they are an asset to the workforce.
- It is a stepping-stone to independent sustainable employment for people with disabilities.
Features of the Programme
- It's a four-way partnership among Work and Income, placement specialists (disability employment experts), employers, and people with disabilities.
- Positions must be created and are outside of the staff allocation or staff cap.
- The specially-created positions are tailored to the skills and aptitude of the participants, and the needs of the employers.
- Participants are not expected to be 'job-ready' when they start. They are trained on the job and have access to extra training funding from Mainstream.
- Pay is comparable to the pay of others performing similar duties.
- Knowledge and skills are built up over time, with the support and goodwill of co-workers.
- After two years, it is expected that participants will be much better equipped to compete for advertised vacancies.
- No guarantee of on-going employment is expected but most participants go on to get sustainable employment.
- Mainstream participants work throughout New Zealand, from large cities like Wellington to small centres like Kaikohe.
Questions and answers about Mainstream
You can find the answers to some common questions here, or contact Work and Income.
Four-way partnership
There are four key parties involved in the placement of people who experience significant disability under the Mainstream Employment Programme. You can read about their roles and responsbilities below.
Contact the Mainstream Employment Programme
Phone: 0800 559 009
| If you're deaf, hearing-impaired or find it hard to communicate by phone you can contact us on: | |
|---|---|
| Deaf Link free-fax | 0800 621 621 |
| Telephone typewriter (TTY) | 0800 111 113 |
| Text | 029 286 7170 |
| MSD_Deaf_Services@msd.govt.nz | |
