Pilot: Small Business Enterprise models of employment for disabled people

External PersonnelStian Thoresen, Errol Cocks, David Gilchrist
Project StatusComplete

Project Summary

While people with disabilities are a diverse group, challenges of social and economic disadvantage are consistently encountered and often linked to poor employment opportunities and outcomes.  The project will explore small business enterprise (SBE) models of employment for people with disability and high support needs to identify the defining characteristics of SBE and good examples of enterprises. SBE refers to a range of employment options that are: a) highly individualised; b) may include ownership or control by the person with disability; and c) generates income for the person.
The study consists of three components: a) a systematic literature review of the international empirical literature; b) four case studies of existing SBE arrangements based on observations and interviews; and c) development of a descriptive SBE framework in collaboration with key stakeholders who have led the development of SBE for people with disabilities and high support needs in Western Australia. Preliminary findings were presented at the 3rd Ratchasuda International Disability Conference in Bangkok in April 2016 and future outputs include a BCEC research report and journal article.