Background - ASTF Disability Initiative

The Australian Student Traineeship Foundation (ASTF) has been working with the ANTA Disability Forum (recently reformed as ADTAC, Australian Disability Training & Advisory Council) to address the under-representation of students with a disability in vocational learning. The ASTF Disability Initiative has been developed specifically to increase opportunities for school students with a disability to participate in structured workplace learning (SWL).

On 22 November 2000 ASTF (now ECEF) chief executive, Harris van Beek launched the initiative at a national gathering of key disability and education stakeholders. A workshop involving project coordinators and other project partners was held in conjunction with the launch.  A report of the event is available on the VECO Web site.

SWL incorporates on and off the job learning for senior school students which has a pre-determined structured and has outcomes that are recognised. It combines traditional classroom learning with hands-on workplace learning.

As part of this initiative the ASTF is supporting 3 innovative "lighthouse" projects each breaking new ground to increase SWL opportunities for students with a disability. The 3 projects were selected from 85 submissions and are being supported because they have demonstrated best practice that others can emulate and they provide a range of models that can be incorporated into mainstream structured learning programs. The three Lighthouse projects are summarised in the VECO Gallery. 

The initiative has six key components:

2. Facilitating development of strategic alliances between school-industry partnerships and Competitive Employment Placement Training (CEPT) agencies

3. Establishment of a national network, Disability-Forum: Can do VET

4. Development of resources including case studies

5. Contributing to successful implementation of “Bridging Pathways”, ANTA’s national plan of action for increasing opportunities for people with a disability in vocational education and learning

6. Strategic advocacy at State and National levels, with government and industry to gain commitment and support for increasing opportunities for school students with a disability to participate in SWL.