Integrated Practical Placement (IPP) program

 

Helping school leavers and young people who have a disability gain work experience and qualifications

The Integrated Practical Placement (IPP) program is a partnership between Holmesglen Institute, WISE Employment and host employer partners the City of Monash (Active Monash), The Royal Children’s Hospital and The Royal Melbourne Hospital to help school leavers and young people who have a disability gain work experience and qualifications.

The program provides a unique opportunity for young people and school leavers living with disability, to gain practical work experience while studying Certificate I in Work Education at Holmesglen Institute. By bringing the classroom to the workplace instead of on-campus, Holmesglen Institute students experience working life practically for three terms in their chosen departments and a variety of career interests.

WISE provides IPP program participants with job coaching and ongoing employment support

WISE, via Disability Employment Services (DES), plays a collaborative role in the IPP program by identifying and referring job seekers aged 18-22, who have a mild intellectual disability, learning difficulty or other disabilities to the IPP program as participants. We serve as a job coach throughout the IPP program on an ongoing basis, to help ensure that participants build a career plan and transitions into a workplace and roles that suit them. It is important that participants feel supported in their role – we stay in contact with them and their employer regularly and assist when needed.

Participants who complete the supported placement program have shown promising results, with success rates of gaining mainstream employment up to 80%.

Employer partners help school leavers and young people who have a disability gain valuable work experience

City of Monash - Active Monash

We are delighted that the City of Monash (Active Monash) is coming on board for the 2021 IPP program (spaces for 2021 are still available; please apply by/before 11 December 2020 by calling Jan on 0412 216 204, Kym on 0439 531 613 or contacting Holmesglen Institute). For young people who have mild intellectual disability, learning difficulty or other disabilities, who are interested in the sports and recreation industry and can swim well already, the Active Monash Program will provide valuable work experience working in locations across the City of Monash – Oakleigh Recreation Centre, Clayton Aquatics and Health Hub and Monash Recreation Centre.

Participants will achieve qualifications during the year to kick-start their sport and recreation career including:

  • Certificate I in Work Education
  • AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety
  • Lifesaving Victoria Pool Lifeguard Award or equivalent
  • Senior First Aid and CPR
  • Sports-based coaching and umpiring courses (TBC)

The Royal Children's Hospital and The Royal Melbourne Hospital

The Royal Children’s Hospital and The Royal Melbourne Hospital will provide Holmesglen Institute students who have mild intellectual disability, learning difficulty or other disabilities and who are interested in obtaining experience in the health sector with a variety of diverse roles across the hospitals.

Roles include human resources, medical records, allied health, volunteer and family services, the early learning centre, kitchen, mailroom and equipment departments. The placements at the hospitals cover kitchens, support services, ward clerks, patient service assistants (orderlies), hospitality, administration, IT, mailroom administration, sterilisation, theatre technicians and more.

Enrol in the Integrated Practical Placement (IPP) program or find out more information

Enrolments for the 2021 program open 19 November and close 11 December 2020, with the next intake in February 2021. People aged 18-22 who have mild intellectual disability, learning difficulty or other disabilities should please contact Jan on 0412 216 204, contact Kym on 0439 531 613 or email Kym to discuss program eligibility, information and next steps.

Become an IPP program employer partner

The IPP program has achieved great results in kick-starting careers of young people who would normally achieve low employment outcomes due to their barriers. The program gives them valuable work experience and awareness of the job market not normally accessible to them. Industry sources who have benefited from employing these graduates have commented on how well prepared they have been compared to other early school leavers.

The benefits of supporting the IPP Program as a host employer provides an enriching experience for staff and helps organisations drive cultural change encompassing diversity and inclusion. Holmesglen Institute and WISE Employment provide both person-centred coaching during the program and post-placement student support.

There are scheduled 3 x 9-week rotations divided by school terms, the shifts are 5 days per week from 11am to 3pm. The students attend class at the host employer premises before and after their rotation each day.

Organisations with more than 1,000 staff and who can provide a diverse range of jobs that could transfer to other employers after the course are encouraged to come on board. Please contact Kym on 0439 531 613 to learn more about participating as a host employer and making a difference to the lives of school leavers and young of people who have a disability.

Read more about the successful job outcomes and work experience results the IPP program has delivered for young people who have a disability:

 

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