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 service. 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 service 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 Mainstream, 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.
Frequently-asked questions
You can find the answers to some frequently-asked questions here, or contact the Programme.
Four-way partnership
There are four key parties involved in the placement of people who experience significant disability under the Mainstream Employment Programme.
Contact the Mainstream Employment Programme
Phone: (04) 917 8185
Fax: (04) 918 0103
E-mail: mainstream@msd.govt.nz
Post:
Mainstream Employment Programme Manager
Ministry of Social Development
PO Box 1556
Wellington 6140
